Butler ready to face down Lakers

Los Angeles Clippers All-Star Caron Butler demonstrates a lay-up to a student during a clinic held at the Mount Qingcheng High School in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province on Friday. The clinic was the launch of Butler's three-day charity tour with NBA Cares to bring relief after the damage of the devastating earthquake in Sichuan four years ago. Provided to China Daily

In China on a charity tour, Clippers forward talks about cross-town rival.

Caron Butler, for one, isn't afraid of the new-look Los Angeles Lakers.

The Los Angeles Clippers forward, who is in Sichuan province as part of an NBA charity tour, said he's impressed the Lakers were able to add former MVP guard Steve Nash and All-Star center Dwight Howard to the already potent combination of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.

"The Lakers made a huge move in the summer. It just encourages other teams all around the league to work harder," Butler said after instructing more than 160 students at a clinic at the Mount Qingcheng High School in Dujiangyan on Friday. "It's great for the fans. The cameras are going to be rolling. It's great for the game. I am excited to see the start of the season."

The clinic launched his three-day tour of China, which also includes a visit to the finals of the Yao Foundation Hope Primary School basketball season in Leshan on Saturday and a charity promotional event in Chengdu on Sunday.

Butler is a former Laker who joined the team as a backup for Bryant in 2004 after the much-hyped combination of Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton flamed out in the NBA Finals the season before.

He knows a team that's strong on paper has to be tested on the court.

"The Lakers have to work out the chemistry putting Steve, Dwight and Kobe together on the floor," he said.

"That's what the training camp is for, like I said. Every practice, every shoot-around will count. It really matters."

Drafted by the Miami Heat as the 10th overall pick in 2002, Butler was traded to the Washington Wizards after his one-year stint with the Lakers and reached hit his prime, being named to the Eastern Conference All-Star reserve roster in 2007 and 2008.

The prolific scorer and solid defender signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the Clippers last December after helping the Dallas Mavericks claim the title the summer before.

Returning to the Staples Center as a Clipper, Butler fueled the stellar duo of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin with experience while helping the team earn its own place on the Los Angeles stage next to the Lakers.

Butler shrugged off the Lakers' big offseason.

"No, we only talked about us," he said when asked whether he discussed the revitalized rivalry with Paul and Griffin.

"We had a solid foundation to build upon and we added some versatility in the summer. I think we will make a lot of noise in the West this year."

The Clippers brought back forward Lamar Odom from Dallas, lured veteran Grant Hill from the Phoenix Suns and signed free agent swingman Jamal Crawford from the Portland Trail Blazers and the blue-collar Ronny Turiaf from the Heat.

Butler said the team's goal is to "win the whole thing all the way", but he remains cautious.

After edging out the Memphis Grizzlies 4-3 in the first round of the playoffs last season, the Clippers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals.

"Going through what we went through last year. Playing against the really good San Antonio (Spurs), which pointed out a lot of deficits in us," he said. "We knew as a team collectively, what we need to do better. We come back with a different mind frame and we got ready for the challenge.

"Every team goes through the transitional period. I think a training camp and more time to gel along with the new pieces, it will be a great year for us."

The Clippers will be in China during the preseason for two games against Miami.

"We are very confident we can beat the Heat," said Butler, who will return to play the two games on Oct 11 in Beijing's MasterCard Arena and Oct 14 in Shanghai's Mercedes-Benz Arena.

"Preseason is the time for you to establish yourself and get back the rhythm. They are the world champs. It will be a great test game to play against those guys. We just expect to get better every game in preseason and continue to make progress."

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn