CLIPPERS NOTEBOOK: MOBLEY IS READY FOR A ROLE CHANGE.

Byline: JOE STEVENS Staff Writer

SANTA BARBARA -- Conversations about science fiction don't often surface in Clippers training camp. But in a roundabout way, Cuttino Mobley brought up time travel and the idea that he's being asked to go back to the past and do things he did early in his career.

As Mobley enters his second season with the Clippers, he says he has a firmer idea of what his ``old-school'' role will be this season and he likes that security.

``I shot a lot of 3s before I came here, but we're not really a 3-point shooting team,'' Mobley said. ``Now, I got to revert back to my first few years in the league, slashing to the basket, things like that, using my pull-up jump shots, being more aggressive and playmaking.''

Last season, Mobley shot and made the fewest 3-pointers in his career since his 1998-99 rookie season. He averaged 14.8 points per game, fourth on the team behind Elton Brand, Corey Maggette and Sam Cassell.

That average also was the lowest since his rookie season, and he says he doesn't have a problem with the lower number.

``Last year, I was trying to fit in,'' he said. ``We had a lot of scorers, a lot of guys who could put the ball in the hoop. You just try to find your niche.''

Part of Mobley's role was as a reliable defender. Even though he is a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, he often guarded much taller small forwards and power forwards and frustrated them.

With Cassell, Mobley also brought much-needed veteran leadership and a huge appetite for winning. That appetite was not exactly satiated with the Clippers enjoying their best season in team history last season. Now, he says it's important that he and his teammates not get big heads from their success.

``You did well last year,'' Mobley said. ``It's over with. You're back to the old Clippers now.''

Many happy returns: Corey Maggette returned to training camp Saturday, after missing two days of practice to fly home to Chicago for a family medical emergency. Tim Thomas also returned, after having oral surgery Thursday.

Maggette played in an intrasquad scrimmage in front of season-ticket holders at Santa Barbara City College, but Thomas sat out as did Cassell (strained calf), Aaron Williams (sore lower back) and Zeljko Rebraca (sore lower back). Rebraca is not with the team as he undergoes treatment in Los Angeles.

In the scrimmage, Brand proved to be a bear for his teammates to defend, and 33-year-old veteran Lamond Murray, who has a non-guaranteed contract, showed he could still consistently make jump shots.

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