CLIPPERS NOTEBOOK: NO POSITIVES WITH OLOWOKANDI'S INJURY.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer Clippers coach Alvin Gentry Alvin Gentry is an American professional basketball coach, and college basketball player, who has led three different NBA teams. He served as an interim coach for the Miami Heat at the end of the 1995 season, and later coached the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers. dismissed the question as preposterous. Michael Olowokandi Michael Olowokandi (born April 3 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria), nicknamed The Kandi Man is a Nigerian professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He currently is a free agent. went on the injured list Friday with a sprained left knee. Because Olowokandi has said he will not be back as a Clipper next season when he becomes a free agent, and because fans often boo the center, the coach was asked whether there was any silver lining silver lining n. A hopeful or comforting prospect in the midst of difficulty. [From the proverb "Every cloud has a silver lining". to Olowokandi's being off the floor. ``There is no silver lining, no,'' Gentry said. About the booing, Gentry said, ``That's the fans' prerogative. He just has to play and perform. Hey, they boo me, too.'' Olowokandi must miss at least five games. The earliest he can return is Feb. 12 against Washington. It is uncertain how long Olowokandi will be sidelined. He will have diagnostic arthroscopic surgery Arthroscopic Surgery Definition Arthroscopic surgery is a procedure to visualize, diagnose, and treat joint problems. The name is derived from the Greek words arthron, which means joint, and skopein, which means to look at. Monday to determine the severity of the injury. Worse-case scenario: he could miss up to two months. Olowokandi is averaging 12.3 points and 9.9 rebounds. He was replaced in the starting lineup For the line of action figures, see . A starting lineup in sports refers to the set of players actively participating in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes Friday by Sean Rooks Sean Lester Rooks (born September 9 1969 in New York City) is a retired American basketball player at the center position in the National Basketball Association. He attended the University of Arizona and was drafted in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. . --Welcome back: As Olowokandi went on the injured list, the Clippers activated Cherokee Parks Cherokee Bryan Parks (born October 11 1972, in Huntington Beach, California) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1995 NBA Draft. , who has played in seven games this season. The forward said he wasn't upset about his lack of playing time because he knew the situation when he signed in the offseason. Parks appears to be a fan favorite. He often gets cheered, even when he's not in the game. ``I'm a good company guy,'' he said. ``I talk to everybody. I'm a people's player. I stop to talk to everyone when I see them, and I like doing that.'' When asked whether there was any chance he could get booed like Olowokandi, he laughed. ``I haven't played in two weeks, so I just hope to make it where they don't boo,'' Parks said. --On the road again: The Clippers had two home games this week but leave this morning for Toronto and the start of a three-game trip that takes them into the All-Star break. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: MICHAEL OLOWOKANDI Clippers center went on injured list and could be out as long as two months. |
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