Get out of Craig Smith's way

He is the guy you always wanted on your team on the playground. Failing that, you hoped to simply avoid serious injury against him.

Consider big-bodied Craig Smith's impact, thus far: One of the newest Clippers has already taken out rookie Blake Griffin (four days before training camp) and, on Friday, Marcus Camby, though that was more of a fluke when Camby sprained his left ankle near the end of practice.

No wonder they call this guy Rhino. He is 6 foot 7, 250 pounds and generally, only one guy gets up after a Smith collision ... and it's usually Smith.

"He's solid. He's a (Charles) Barkley type," teammate Al Thornton said. "He knows how to use his body."

Thornton laughed, adding: "I try not to get in his way. Once he gets a head of steam, it's a wrap."

-- Lisa Dillman

Photo: Clippers' Craig Smith, right, drives to the basket as Golden State's Kelenna Azubuike, left,  and Corey Maggette, center, defend during a preseason game on Oct. 4. Credit: George Nikitin / Associated Press