Oct. 29--The start of the season ended one bit of drama that had been grating on Doc Rivers.
The Clippers coach no longer has to answer questions about who will start at small forward. At least for the moment.
Rivers went with Lance Stephenson at the position as expected against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena on Wednesday night, though he noted he could also use Paul Pierce or Wesley Johnson as the season progressed.
"We have so many guys," Rivers said, "there's a lot of guys that could play in that spot."
Rivers explained his decision by saying he liked the way games flowed for both the starters and reserves whenever Stephenson started.
In recent weeks, Rivers had greeted questions about his final starter with mild exasperation, saying it was more important who finished games than who started. The issue seemed to be more important to the players.
Stephenson has said he preferred starting because it allowed him to get into a better rhythm. While remaining agreeable to coming off the bench, Pierce acknowledged it would be an adjustment after starting 1,240 of his 1,250 NBA games before this season.
"It's all about the mental preparation," Pierce said.
Vote of confidence
C.J. Wilcox was inactive for the Clippers' opener and doesn't figure to play much in the coming months, barring a spate of injuries.
That doesn't mean the Clippers don't still believe in the potential of the shooting guard they selected last year in the first round of the draft. They exercised his $1.2-million option for the 2016-17 season, providing a reward for his persistence in workouts.
"If you're not playing and you still get your contract extended, I think that means something," said Wilcox, who averaged 2.0 points and 0.4 assists in 4.8 minutes per game as a rookie. "I've got to keep doing what I've been doing."
Wilcox said team executives told him to keep improving, something he hopes to do by spending more time in the Development League. He played in only five games last season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, who no longer have a direct affiliation with the Clippers.
Rivers said he doesn't like the new D League format because teams don't play the Clippers' system and can't guarantee playing time. The coach said he has discussed buying a D League franchise with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer to better control the environment in which the team's young players can develop, but nothing appears imminent.
Form makeover
DeAndre Jordan was not eager to discuss the new form on his free throws, in which he has lowered his release point by at least several inches.
"Is my percentage better?" the Clippers center asked. "That's all that matters."
It was in the exhibition games, with Jordan making 10 of 20 attempts, a slight improvement over his career accuracy of 41.7% entering this season. He missed all three of his free throws against the Kings on Wednesday.
Asked what prompted the change, Jordan said, "I don't know. I've just been shooting. It kind of happened."
Clippers assistant coach Armond Hill has been working extensively with Jordan on his new mechanics.
Etc.
Clippers rookie Branden Dawson was also inactive Wednesday, but that wasn't an indignity compared to his locker, which consisted of a chair against the wall with a name strip above it.
ben.bolch@latimes.com
