Clippers, and Baron Davis, just can’t get anything going, lose to Dallas, 99-83

Paging John Lucas for an emergency point guard consultation. . . .

While the faltering Baron Davis isn’t the only reason the Clippers are 0-3 — he has plenty of company on the listing ship — his near absence in the first half Sunday against Dallas was particularly alarming.

Davis didn’t score until there were about six minutes left in the third quarter. That was bad enough, but was made even worse when the other starters went south fast in the Mavericks’ eventual 99-83 victory at Staples Center.

The Clippers’ bench — with two rookies — outplayed the starters in the first half, going eight for 18 from the field. The starters were seven for 29. At least Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro went more quickly and stayed longer with the kids, tapping into their energy.

It was a tough go for rookie Blake Griffin, who was defended at times by 7-foot-1 Tyson Chandler and made only four of 15 shots. Still, he kept grinding away and came close to his third double-double in as many games, finishing with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Davis had plenty to say in the aftermath. He talked about the team’s needing “grow up,” said the woes weren’t the responsibility of “all one person,” and preached patience.

Saying the right things hasn’t been the problem for Davis. Doing the right things, well, that’s been hit or miss without his mentor Lucas in his ear constantly, holding him accountable. Lucas wasn’t retained on the coaching staff this season.

Still, maybe that’s what Del Negro was doing when he stopped Davis for a chat on his way out of the locker room after the game.

Interestingly enough, the quietest Clipper a lot to say.

Eric Gordon, after scoring nine points on two-for-nine shooting, on whether he was out of rhythm: “No, not at all. I didn’t take that many shots. And all we did was pound it in and try and create off that. That was about it.”

How much did this have to do with Dallas and how much was self-destruction?

“We’re beating ourselves,” Gordon said. “We beat ourselves every game. It’s been like that from Game 1. I thought that [in the opener against Portland] we actually did work hard as a team. We broke down from time to time. But that was the only game where we played hard.

“We played terrible — everybody.”

Chris Kaman, an All-Star last season, has failed to find his shooting touch in three games. He was five for 15 and had 13 points and 13 rebounds. “Inside it’s killing me,” he said.

“Maybe it’s the beard,” he said, joking. “Maybe I’ve got to get rid of the beard. It’s frustrating for me.”

Yes, it is early. But these things have a way of snowballing, especially with a difficult early schedule.

“We’ve got to get it figured out sooner than later,” Kaman said. “We’re going to be sitting in a hole if we keep going like this. We’ve got some veterans on this team that have to step up a little bit, myself included.

“We’ve got to play the right way. We’re making too many mistakes out there. Just dumb shots. Something just doesn’t feel right for me, and I’ve got to get it figured out quicker.

“I know I can play basketball. I know what I’m doing. . . . I’m missing shots I normally knock down.”

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

twitter.com/reallisa