Dooling Working on Consistency

If you watched rookie point guard Keyon Dooling early in the season, you would know he’s a much better player than he has been showing lately. With starter Jeff McInnis playing so well since the All-Star break, Dooling’s playing time has been cut and the rookie admits he has been struggling.

“I think I hit the [rookie] wall people are always talking about,” said Dooling, who has not played more than 17 minutes since Feb. 14. “The minutes were not there and I lost some things. It hurts your game when you are not playing.

“I know that in order for me to become the kind of player I want to become, I have to be a threat shooting the basketball. So every day after practice, I shoot as many shots as I can.”

Coach Alvin Gentry and assistant John Hammond have talked to Dooling about his shooting form, which has developed a hitch, especially on free throws.

“I find myself going too fast lately,” said Dooling, who had eight points in 14 minutes Monday night against Denver. “I was trying to make a conscious effort of trying to play better and that makes you tighter. I just have to relax and play.”

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The Clippers’ “Late Night Hoops Program” is entering its eighth year and tonight, assistant coach Dennis Johnson along with Lamar Odom and McInnis will take part in the league’s opening night at Harvard Recreation Center in Los Angeles.

They will join Mayor Richard Riordan and Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas to introduce the program for over 250 league recruits from various gangs and drug-impacted housing projects in Los Angeles.

The league will run for 16 weeks and finish with a championship game and all-star game.

For more information: (213) 742-7500.