It’s one big struggle for Kaman, Clippers

On the Clippers’ long list of problems, the poor performance of center Chris Kaman might have moved to the top Sunday afternoon in a 94-80 loss to the Indiana Pacers in front of 12,489 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Kaman continued to struggle on a disappointing trip for the Clippers, missing 11 of 14 shots from the field. He scored 10 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, but Kaman’s inefficiency played a big part in the Clippers being out of sync on offense.

Again, Kaman failed to anchor things inside while Elton Brand rested, and the Clippers didn’t keep pace with the Pacers, who got 21 points from Jermaine O’Neal and 20 from Mike Dunleavy Jr. in ending a losing streak at three games.

Jamaal Tinsley contributed 10 points and 15 assists for the Pacers, who led by 20 at halftime, 23 in the third quarter and maintained at least a seven-point cushion in the fourth. The Clippers shot 36.8% from the field and Indiana scored 21 points off 20 Clippers turnovers.

Cuttino Mobley scored 23 points for the Clippers, who dropped to 2-4 on a seven-game, 12-day trip -- their longest of the season -- that ends tonight against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Brand had 14 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots.

The Clippers are assured of finishing under .500 on the trip, and Coach Mike Dunleavy is 0-6 against Detroit in his Clippers tenure.

Although the Clippers have room for improvement in many areas, Kaman must re-emerge from his long slump for them to succeed, his teammates said.

And it seems Kaman feels similarly.

“I know I can play better than this,” Kaman said. “I know what I’m capable of, so I should play better than this. It’s just ... it’s frustrating.”

In six games on the trip, Kaman has made only 34.6% of his field-goal attempts while averaging 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds. On the season, Kaman is at 44% shooting from the field, 9.7 points and 7.8 rebounds.

In addition to his shooting problems in Sunday’s game, Kaman went one for 11 in a loss to Toronto on Feb. 4 and one for six in a defeat at Cleveland on Wednesday. Moreover, Kaman often has missed layups and shots within five feet of the basket. “I haven’t finished the way I know I can,” he said. “I just have to keep working on it. I know I can do it because I’ve done it in the past.”

Kaman established career-highs last season, averaging 11.9 points and 9.6 rebounds. He also had a personal-best 29 double-doubles. He has eight double-doubles this season.

General Manager Elgin Baylor and Dunleavy thought so highly of Kaman that they persuaded owner Donald T. Sterling to reward the 7-foot, 265-pound player with a $52-million contract extension.

Kaman is close with Dunleavy and assistant coach Kim Hughes, who have continued to encourage the four-year veteran to be aggressive. Nagging injuries have affected Kaman’s conditioning and stamina, the Clippers said, but Kaman in a recent interview alluded to “some other things going on” that have contributed to his decreased production from last season.

Kaman declined to elaborate, but earlier in the season acknowledged he struggled to find his place in the offense. Because of Kaman’s ineffectiveness, Dunleavy often has used smaller lineups that have not included Kaman.

But Dunleavy’s commitment to Kaman hasn’t wavered.

“I know he has the skill, I know what he can do, so that’s not what this is about,” Dunleavy said. “The ability is there, that’s never been in question, he just has to get comfortable again.”

jason.reid@latimes.com

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KEYS TO THE GAME

* Chris Kaman’s shooting slump continued. He went three for 14 from the field and has made only 34.6% of his field-goal attempts on the trip.

* Turnovers. The Pacers scored 21 points off 20 Clippers turnovers. The Clippers had only 13 points off 11 Pacers turnovers.

* Long scoring runs. The Pacers outscored the Clippers, 28-6, in the final 8:40 of the second quarter, including 16-0 to end the half.

JASON REID

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Bad stretches

How the Clippers have fared in back-to-back games this season:

*--* DATE OPPONENT RESULT Nov. 1 at Phoenix L, 112-104 Nov. 2 Denver W, 96-95 Nov. 21 at Lakers L, 105-101 Nov. 22 Seattle L, 95-85 Nov. 25 at Minnesota L, 104-96 Nov. 26 at Denver L, 103-88 Nov. 28 at Sacramento L, 93-80 Nov. 29 Memphis W, 105-90 Dec. 2 Lakers L, 97-88 Dec. 3 Orlando W, 116-91 Dec. 8 at San Antonio L, 111-82 Dec. 9 at Memphis W, 89-82 Dec. 22 at Dallas L, 115-83 Dec. 23 at Houston W, 98-83 Dec. 26 at Utah L, 102-92 Dec. 27 Boston W, 100-77 Jan. 2 at Orlando L, 91-86 Jan. 3 at Miami W, 110-95 Jan. 5 at Washington L, 116-105 Jan. 6 at Atlanta L, 86-74 Jan. 27 Minnesota L, 101-87 Jan. 28 at Seattle W, 98-76 Feb. 6 at New York L, 102-90 Feb. 7 at Cleveland L, 94-77

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Source: NBA.com