I'm standing at halfcourt at Southwest College in Los Angeles, talking with Clippers head coach Alvin Gentry. He's understandably upset at his team's less-than-stellar road record. He knows how to fix it, but isn't sure if they get it.

"We've got to overcome the fact that things aren't comfortable on the road," says Gentry. Like, seriously. The Clips are 4-15 away from Staples and have just embarked on a seven-game road trip that will tell a lot about this young team.

Of course, they are the youngest team in the NBA. "We've got to stop using that as an excuse," coach insists. The road is hard in this league, that much is true.

I finish my interview with Gentry and we head for the door. On the way out we walk by starting point guard Jeff McInnis who is lying on a cushioned trainer's table getting a full body massage from a blonde masseuse. His head is buried in the sports section. "Tough life, Jeff," says Gentry. McInnis sighs.

Road? What road?

Chris Palmer covers The NBA Life for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at christopher.palmer@espnmag.com.