CLIPPERS MIDSEASON REPORT: A STERLING EXAMPLE OF INCOMPETENCE.

Byline: Randy Hill Staff Writer

The Clippers, who typically reach midseason form on the opening day of training camp, have mushed into the NBA's official intermission at a gaudy 11-38.

It's high time to make peace with the consequences:

--Chris Ford is a goner.

--Derek Anderson looks like a goner.

--Maurice Taylor sounds like a goner.

--Rookie Lamar Odom is in a funk.

So let's gang up and blame owner Donald T. Sterling. He put his foot down (several times) to secure Ford's hiring in January of 1999. He took the low (payroll) road when his personnel experts wanted to hire a playing veteran or two as spotters for their certifiable young hotshots.

But before placing all of the responsibility for this stinker on Sterling's doorstep, let's first take a few swings at his co-conspirators. It's possible to suggest Sterling is getting what he's paying for, but it might be hard to believe the man hasn't been slightly ripped off.

The sideline leadership has been the equivalent of putting a Universal Studios tour guide in charge of open-heart surgery. The on-court execution has been torture on witnesses. The fraternity spirit of training camp has morphed into a ball-hogging bonanza.

For irony, let's hark back to October, 1999 . . . Week 1 at Camp Clipper.

``We don't have Clipper Syndrome,'' Taylor said between sworn oaths to leave via free agency because Sterling didn't offer to extend his contract to the tune of $70.9 million over six years. ``Most of us haven't been here that long.''

With 20 defeats in their last 22 games, it might be time to notify the next of kin: Clipper Syndrome is heavy upon the land. Looks terminal.

Let's grade the symptoms:

Power forward: We start with Taylor, who's quick to say he's having a career year. Fans are quick to notice the lack of offensive flow when ``Mo'' gets the ball. Taylor is averaging a team-leading and career-high 17.5 points per game, but his board work (6.6, also a career best) ranks last among the league's noteworthy power forwards in rebounds-per-minute. Grade: C

Small forward: Odom has freaky skills at 6-foot-10 but lacks the emotional skill at age 20 to avoid looking miserable while the beating goes on. He averages 16.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists - nice numbers that have been harpooned by an 8.6 scoring average over six games this month. Odom is a scrapper when it's time to play, but his midrange game requires the after-hours work he has yet to put in. Grade: B-minus

Center: If judged as the No. 1 pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, Michael Olowokandi (9.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 45 percent from the field) could be considered a bust. If defined by his progress through just six seasons in semi-organized basketball, he would be rated inconsistent. If Olowokandi ever learns to defend without inviting referees to pick on him, and play with more passion than confusion, he'll be a solid NBA post man for many years. Grade: D-plus.

Shooting guard: Free-agent-to-be Anderson (16.8 points) publicly insists he'll consider returning to the Clippers. For this notion to even approach reality, Sterling must be convinced to pay about $50 million for seven years. Meanwhile, Anderson's interest in sharing the ball has decreased in (perhaps) coincidental proportion to the increase in losses. Grade: C

Point guard: Injury-cursed Eric Murdock is a wily veteran in Wile E. Coyote's body. Troy Hudson is a shooting guard (38 percent from the field, 30 percent on 3-pointers) in a point guard's body. As a playmaker, Hudson's report card should read ``Pass? Fail.'' Grade: F-plus

Bench: Rating this contribution seems unfair, because injuries have eliminated the Clippers from achieving any near-depth experience. Strongman Brian Skinner has missed 23 games (ankle), and bad health for the starters - Taylor (9 games, foot/flu/hand), Anderson (11 games, concussion/ankle) and Murdock (10 games, knee, ankle) - has wrecked the bench continuity. Grade: D-minus.

Coaching: Ford's trusted assistant, Jim Todd, now has the console, backed by ex-Celtics star Dennis Johnson, who used to be Ford's trusted assistant in Boston.

Todd is a splendid person who is adored by his players but probably not enough for them actually to pass the ball and play convincing defense for an entire game. Grade: F (for Ford and fired)

Ownership: Sterling is a model of consistency. Grade: Incomplete.