CLIPPERS NOTEBOOK : FITCH'S ROTATION TOUGH TO FIGURE.Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer There's been one theme to Bill Fitch's playing rotation so far this season for the Clippers. Be ready. Friday night, Eric Piatkowski Eric Todd Piatkowski (pronounced IPA: /ˌpaɪətˈkaʊski/) (born September 30, 1970, in Steubenville, Ohio) is an American National Basketball Association player with the Phoenix Suns. , who in the first three games was the second-to-last man off the bench, found himself in the middle of a heated battle with the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Knicks. Piatkowski played 25 key minutes, including the fourth quarter and overtime. Piatkowski didn't play in the opener and played just briefly last Saturday against Utah. ``I can't remember the last time I had so much fun,'' said Piatkowski, who scored five points against New York. ``When I get here, I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if I'm going to play or not. All of a sudden, I'm playing in overtime.'' Fitch also played rookie center Lorenzen Wright Lorenzen Vern-Gagne Wright (born November 4 1975) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. After being selected seventh overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1996 NBA Draft out of the University of Memphis, the 6'11" (2. in the second quarter. He scored six points in seven minutes against Patrick Ewing Patrick Aloysius Ewing (born August 5, 1962) is a retired American professional basketball player. He played most of his career with the National Basketball Association's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle SuperSonics and Orlando Magic. . But Wright never appeared in the game after that. ``I played him because I wanted to win,'' Fitch said. ``But I didn't want to put him in the situation in the fourth quarter against Ewing. I wanted to help keep his confidence and his teammates confidence in him.'' Meanwhile, Stanley Roberts Stanley Corvet Roberts (born February 7 1970, in Hopkins, South Carolina) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Orlando Magic in the 1st round (23rd overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft. practiced on Saturday despite a sore back. Roberts rebounded from a dismal three first-half minutes with a strong performance in the second half. That still has not prompted Fitch to start Roberts. Fitch will go with the same 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 tonight against Minnesota, and Kevin Duckworth Kevin Jerome Duckworth, aka The Duck (born April 1, 1964 in Harvey, Illinois) is an American former professional basketball player at center in the National Basketball Association, most notably a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. will start at center. Harrick reaction: Clippers guard Darrick Martin's reaction to the firing of UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX coach Jim Harrick Jim Harrick (born July 25, 1938 in Charleston, West Virginia) is a former college basketball head coach who coached at Pepperdine University, UCLA, the University of Rhode Island and the University of Georgia. : ``I was really surprised. I didn't know what was going on,'' the ex-UCLA guard said. ``It's really bad timing and it's going to hurt the program in the long run. I understand they had a pretty good recruiting class lined up.'' Extras: Both Malik Sealy and Loy Vaught stayed after practice on Saturday to work on their jump-shooting. Sealy is shooting 17 for 47 for the season while Vaught missed all five of his field goals on Friday and has not had a consistent offensive game yet. ``I think Loy mastered part of his game but needs to improve in the others,'' Fitch said. ``He's got to expand his game.'' Not so soon: Brent Barry said he doesn't expect to be back for Tuesday's game at Vancouver, the first game he could become available after being activated from the injured list. MINNESOTA AT CLIPPERS Tipoff: 6 p.m., Sports Arena. TV/Radio: No TV; KNEWS (540 AM/1260 AM). Timberwolves (2-2) update: Minnesota completes a four-game road trip tonight against the Clippers. Minnesota has been one of the surprise teams in the conference, beating Phoenix and San Antonio, while losing to Portland in overtime and the Lakers in the last few minutes. The Timberwolves are led by forwards Tom Gugliotta and Kevin Garnett. Rookie Stephon Marbury could play after missing all but eight minutes this season with a sprained ankle. Clippers (2-2) update: The next four games should be a huge determinant of where this club ranks in the Western Conference. Vancouver, Seattle and the Lakers follow Minnesota. Coach Bill Fitch will go with the same starting lineup as the previous four games. But look for Bo Outlaw to play key minutes down the stretch as he has in the first four games. CAPTION(S): Box Box: MINNESOTA AT CLIPPERS (see text) |
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