Kaman still hesitant on vocal leadership

The play, frustration and biting comments after Monday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves all pointed to that of an emerging vocal team leader.

Center Chris Kaman called the listless first three quarters (the Clippers trailed by 11 heading into the fourth) disappointing and said they were playing like one of the worst teams in the league.

But Kaman, in his fourth season, isn’t ready to label himself a team spokesman yet.

“I’m still hesitant as far as how that’s going to go,” Kaman said. “We have a lot of older guys, a lot of veterans with more years than me, and everyone has their own opinion on what should happen and what shouldn’t.

“For me, I just try to do my job and what I’m supposed to do and I still have things to figure out in that other area.”

Coach Mike Dunleavy said Kaman would have to develop his leadership skills.

“In order to be a team leader, you have to be really vocal,” he said. “He’s been absolutely great for us in what he does on a nightly basis. He understands stuff and sees stuff, but I don’t think that is in his nature right now, to be a guy out there giving commands and directing things.”

But would he like to see it?

“You would love to see that is the case, but you’ve got to have the personality, and it’s going to be one of those things where he is going to have to develop that,” Dunleavy said.

“He’s got the IQ. He sees it and understands it and he is smart about suggestions. I think he has to get a little bit comfortable in his own right because in a sense, it’s going out on a limb a little bit to do that. You are taking a chance you could be wrong and say the wrong thing and a lot of guys don’t want to be put in that situation.”

Dunleavy had a message for his team during halftime Monday after they missed 10 three-point shots.

Move in.

“I told them that at halftime, it’s got to be either a great look or you have to step in,” Dunleavy said.

Still, they clanked four more in the second half to finish 0 for 14 from behind the three-point arc.

“You’ve got to move the ball around and look inside,” Dunleavy said. “You can get that shot almost any time.”

Forward Tim Thomas, nursing a sore knee, said he will be out tonight against the New Orleans Hornets and would use three days worth of practice to prepare himself for Sunday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

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TONIGHT

vs. New Orleans, 7:30, FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Clippers 10-19, Hornets 20-11.

Record vs. Hornets -- 0-1.

Update -- The Clippers lost, 99-89, on Nov. 24 to the Hornets in a game that touched off the seven-game home losing streak that ended Monday. The Hornets’ Chris Paul is first in the league in steals (2.97 per game) and third in assists (10.0).

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jonathan.abrams@latimes.com