Editor's note: During the NBA regular season, Dr. Jack Ramsay makes a house call with an ailing team. This week, he gives advice to a team and its coach -- the Los Angeles Clippers and interim head coach Dennis Johnson, who replaced the fired Alvin Gentry last Monday.

The Symptoms

	DJ must inject enthusiasm back in the lifeless Clippers.

Dennis Johnson took over the coaching reins when the team was 19-39 and in last place in the Pacific Division, had lost 14 of its last 17 games, had three key players hurt (Elton Brand, Michael Olowokandi and Lamar Odom) and was soon to begin a six-game road trip. Not a pretty picture.

Johnson began his job with 24 games left in the season -- 24 games to show he can bring the team together and erase the "interim coach" label that follows his name at the moment. The Clippers lost the first game under his direction at home to New Orleans, 111-108, then followed with a blowout 99-80 loss at Washington.

Losing is an infectious malady in the NBA, where so many games are played. The disease tends to spread from player to player, sapping their energy to perform with intensity. Then on long road trips, like the one the Clippers are on now, there is a tendency to roll over and accept defeat when their opponent jumps out to a lead quickly. The Clippers have shown symptoms of that ailment. Johnson will have to come up with an effective antidote for that malaise.

Johnson will also have to deal with a general disenchantment with the way the franchise is run. There appears to be a feeling of futility among the players that, regardless of how well they play, owner Donald Sterling won't pay to keep the best talent together. Upcoming free agent Olowokandi has stated repeatedly that he won't return next season; and it appears likely that Brand, the team's best player, will play elsewhere, too.

The Diagnosis
The Clippers entered this season with optimism following their 39-43 record in 2002, and the acquisition of point guard, Andre Miller, who led the league in assists per game (10.9), while scoring 16.5 points a game for Cleveland. But the team was stricken with injuries from the very beginning, and Gentry was never able to get an effective team game going at either end of the court.

Johnson was Gentry's assistant and knows he has a monumental task. After his appointment, Johnson talked about getting the players to pay better attention, pick up their defensive intensity and play hard throughout every game.

Those are vague references. Players will pay attention if they think what Johnson says makes sense and is attainable. Of all the Clippers' deficiencies, team defense needs the most work. The Clippers give up four more points than they score (97-93), and are outshot from the field .442 to .435. If those numbers are reversed, the wins will follow. If Coach DJ can find a way to do that, he'll have the job next year.

The Clippers can score. They have six players who average double figures -- from Brand's 18.4 average to Quinton Richardson's 10 points a game. Marko Jaric is next with a 9.2 average. But the offense lacks crispness and direction, and general shot selection often leaves something to be desired.

The Cure

	If Michael Olowokandi returns, will he play hard for an interim head coach?

Johnson must show his players that he's now the team leader, and no longer an assistant coach. He must insist on their maximum effort in every game. He cannot allow his team to merely "play out the string" as the season winds down. He must organize the limited practice times efficiently, drill his players on the aspects of individual and team basketball that need attention, and be decisive in the way he directs the team in games. His players want him to be firm, fair and up front in his dealings with them. Whatever team rules he deems necessary must be applied equally to every player on the squad -- from the first to the last. Those are qualities that players respect.

A coach's strongest hammer over his players is his allotment of playing time. Every player wants to be in the starting lineup, and those that don't start want to log significant minutes off the bench. Johnson must establish a functional game plan and delegate player responsibilities to carry it out. He must decide on a starting lineup and a rotation of players off the bench. He must let it be known that those players keep their status only as long as they work hard to carry out the game plan. Sloppy performance or half-hearted effort by any player gets him an immediate seat on the bench. Dennis Johnson must take charge!

Johnson has been waiting for this opportunity for years. I hope he makes the most of it. But the clock is ticking ... only 22 games are left.

Dr. Jack Ramsay, who is an NBA analyst for ESPN, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.