Rookie’s Efforts Earn Good Notices

Chris Kaman knows how to make a good first impression.

In his professional debut, the rookie center from Central Michigan scored 17 points in 21 minutes Friday night in the Clippers’ 88-85 exhibition loss to the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. He made six of eight shots.

“He still runs around sometimes like a chicken with its head cut off,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said of Kaman, a 7-footer who was the sixth pick in the June draft. “But he had a great game. The things we need from him he can give us.

“He runs the floor. He has great hands. He has the ability to put the ball on the floor and he can make the pass. He understands those types of things. And he can finish around the basket; he’s going to make some shots.

“And at some point in time he’ll slow down a little bit and he’ll start catching it and recognizing, ‘What should I be doing right here?’ Don’t feel like you’ve just got to do it right away.... He makes me nervous.

“But it was a great effort. That’s really what we want out of him.”

Said Kaman, who has been bothered during training camp by back and calf injuries: “I just wanted to play, you know. I’ve been plagued with injuries lately and that’s not been my past.... So, it was good to get out there.”

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Glen Rice was scheduled to arrive from Miami this morning and practice with the Clippers for the first time this afternoon.

Asked how he planned to use the three-time All-Star, Dunleavy said, “We’ve got to find out first of all what kind of shape he’s in. Obviously, he’s got a great outside shot, so you’re going to try to bring him off screens, get him open. He can post up against certain matchups.”

Dunleavy said he did not anticipate making Rice, 36, a starter.

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In two exhibition games, Corey Maggette has made two of 18 shots.

“Part of it’s my fault,” Dunleavy said. “I haven’t focused on him, in getting him the ball.... We could probably set him up with some better looks at times. It hasn’t been a focus right now. We may do that a little more for him.”

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Over his 14-year career, Rice has made 40.2% of his three-point shots, the same as former Clipper Eric Piatkowski.... Rice’s signing expands the roster to 18 players, worsening the odds of Marcus Hatten, Quinton Ross or Tremaine Fowlkes making the final cut to 15 for the regular season. Fowlkes, a holdover from last season, is the only one of the three with a contract that’s at least partially guaranteed.... Olden Polynice, 38, has sat out both exhibition games. “I know what he can do,” Dunleavy said. “I don’t need to beat him up in the preseason.”