Disappointment only grows with Kaman

At 7 feet 6 and 310 pounds, Houston center Yao Ming is an imposing figure. And Yao’s shooting and passing skills pose additional challenges for opponents.

That aside, though, the Clippers expected center Chris Kaman to provide more than the four points and two rebounds he had in Wednesday’s 92-87 loss to the Rockets at Staples Center.

Kaman has been among the team’s biggest disappointments this season and rarely plays well against Yao, but Wednesday’s performance was especially bad with the Clippers in a tight race for the Western Conference’s eighth and final playoff berth.

“Whether it’s eating glass [rebounding], defending, blocking shots, playmaking or making shots, you’ve got to do something,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “There’s some aspect of the game where you have to be contributing to get playing time right now.”

The 7-foot Kaman was so ineffective in 17 minutes that Dunleavy figured the Clippers would be better off with the 6-8 Elton Brand defending Yao in the second half.

Brand gave the Clippers a better effort than Kaman (Yao appeared embarrassed and angry when Brand blocked one of his shots and the crowd roared), but Yao finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

With only 11 games remaining, the Clippers (34-37) have a one-game lead over the Golden State Warriors for the conference’s final playoff berth. The Clippers need everyone to pitch in now, players said.

“You’ve got to have the ‘dog’ in you right now,” Cuttino Mobley said. “Nobody is going to give anything to us, so we’ve got to go take it.”

Kaman established career highs last season, averaging 11.9 points and 9.6 rebounds while making 52.3% of his field-goal attempts. He also had a personal-best 29 double-doubles in 78 games.

This season, he’s at 10 points, 7.7 rebounds and 45% shooting from the field -- the worst mark of his four-year career. In 64 games, he has only 10 double-doubles.

General Manager Elgin Baylor and Dunleavy thought so highly of Kaman that they persuaded owner Donald T. Sterling to reward the former first-round draft pick with a five-year, $52.5-million contract extension that begins next season.

Dunleavy and assistant coach Kim Hughes are part of Kaman’s support system, and they’ve continued to encourage him. But with the clock ticking loudly, it’s about results now, Dunleavy said.

“These games are too important,” Dunleavy said. “Everybody who comes in has to contribute. I can’t wait for it to happen ... you’ve got to do it. You’ve got to bring some form of energy to contribute.”

*

Backup point guard Sam Cassell sat out his third game in a row because of back spasms, prompting Dunleavy to go with starter Jason Hart for 43 minutes against Houston.

Daniel Ewing is better suited to play the other guard spot, so it seems Dunleavy will lean heavily on Hart the rest of the way.

*

Brand made only the second three-pointer of his career at the buzzer in the first quarter against Houston. Brand’s first three-pointer came against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 11 last season.

TONIGHT

at Sacramento, 7:30, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Arco Arena.

Radio -- 1110.

Records -- Clippers 34-37, Kings 30-40.

Record vs. Kings -- 1-1.

Update -- The Clippers have lost 14 in a row at Sacramento. They last defeated the Kings on the road Nov. 7, 1997.

[email protected]