Cassell takes it easy on Kaman

As the Clippers’ vocal leader, point guard Sam Cassell has often praised and admonished his teammates on the court.

Cassell focused much of his energy on center Chris Kaman last season because “Kaman can be one of the best big men in this league, and I want to help him get there,” Cassell said.

This season, however, Cassell has been noticeably easier on Kaman, who is off to a slow start.

Why the change?

“I stay on Kaman more than anybody, but now’s not the time for that,” Cassell said. “He’s working on some things, he’s working real hard, and I have complete confidence in him. Like I said, it’s just not the time to get on him now.”

In the team’s first seven games, Kaman is shooting 37.5% from the field and averaging 7.4 points and 6.0 rebounds.

The fourth-year player’s minutes have decreased from a personal-best 32.8 last season to 24.1 so far this season because of his ineffectiveness and foul trouble. But the Clippers are committed to Kaman, whom they rewarded with a five-year, $52.5-million contract extension that begins next season.

“He’s coming to work and he’s working hard every day,” Cassell said. “He’s getting his shots in practice and he’s doing the things he’s supposed to do. Only good things are going to happen when a guy does that.”

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The Clippers acknowledged they lost their composure late in the third quarter of Tuesday’s 112-90 loss to the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center.

They are eager to revert to form tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers.

“We definitely want to put forth a better effort,” Cassell said. “The key is understanding why we lost and then going from there.

“We’re trying to build a mansion, so we’ll regroup like we always do. We’ll go back out and put another brick in the wall.”

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TONIGHT

vs. Philadelphia, 7:30, Channel 5

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 790.

Records -- Clippers 5-2, 76ers 4-4.

Record vs. 76ers (2005-06) -- 1-1.

Update -- Star 76ers forward Chris Webber has reportedly expressed frustration to Philadelphia management about his reduced role with the team. Webber, a five-time All-Star, has a salary of $20.7 million this season and is owed $22.3 million next season under the final year of his contract.

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jason.reid@latimes.com