Young, athletic and learning -- that's the situation former Pistons coach Alvin Gentry faces with his Clippers.

Not your typical Clippers, this team has a bunch of talent. With the addition of Elton Brand from Chicago, the Clippers (13-11) are keeping their fingers crossed that they can play well enough on the road to make the playoffs.

"The West is just so tough," Gentry said Sunday as the Clippers beat the Pistons, 82-77, at the Staples Center. "You've got the Lakers, Sacramento, San Antonio, even Phoenix and Minnesota. We've been good at home, and we had our first winning season at home in six or seven years last season, but we've got to find a way to get it done on the road. We're a young team and we've had some good games on the road, but we have nothing to show for it."