Kaman gets good review

Eyebrows were raised when Coach Mike Dunleavy praised the performance of struggling center Chris Kaman in the Clippers’ 122-110 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at the Air Canada Centre.

Dunleavy’s comments were considered surprising because Kaman missed 10 of 11 shots from the field, scored two points and grabbed seven rebounds in 20 minutes. But Kaman’s statistics told only part of the story, Dunleavy said.

“I looked at it as he had a really good game from the standpoint that he made very good decisions,” Dunleavy said. “His skill level isn’t the issue. He’s got the skills.

“His decision making is the issue. We’ve just got to get him to calm down and get back into his groove.”

Kaman’s production is down from last season, and he has often appeared frustrated on offense.

Rewarded with a $52-million contract extension before the season, the 7-foot, 265-pound player is averaging 9.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.48 blocked shots in 28.5 minutes.

Kaman displayed some nifty post moves against Toronto, the Clippers said, but struggled with his shooting touch around the rim.

“Six of his shots were down in the hole, we had pretty much counted ‘em, and somehow they came out,” Dunleavy said. “Sometimes when things haven’t been going good for [a player], and it’s a little bit of a confidence issue that creeps into your mind, that has a tendency to happen to you.

“It’s almost like the ball knows you’re not confident and it just comes out. I told him that they were great shots and great execution, which was what I was really happy about.”

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Despite losing to the Raptors, the Clippers continued to express confidence about performing well on their longest trip of the season.

The team is 1-1 on a seven-game, 12-day trip that continues tonight against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

“As long as this basketball team keeps doing the right things, we can definitely have a good trip,” guard Sam Cassell said. “You’re not going to win every game on a trip; it doesn’t work that way in this league.

“But with the things we’ve been doing, with the way we’ve played lately, there’s no reason we can’t have a good trip. We just have to remember that.”

TONIGHT

at New York, 4:30 PST,

FSN Prime Ticket

Site -- Madison Square Garden.

Radio -- 710.

Records -- Clippers 24-23, Knicks 21-28.

Record vs. Knicks -- 1-0.

Update -- Center Eddy Curry has averaged 23 points as the Knicks have won two of three. Elton Brand scored 32 points Dec. 31 in the Clippers’ 90-80 victory over the Knicks at Staples Center.

jason.reid@latimes.com