Kaman Looking Great

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 October 12, 2003   E-mail story    Print  
 

CLIPPER REPORT
Rookie's Efforts Earn Good Notices
  
      Times Headlines  
  
Some of Phil's Words Lack a Sense of Order
 
  
Jackson Nearly Ready to Cut to the Chase
 
  
Rookie's Efforts Earn Good Notices
 

By Jerry Crowe, LA Times Staff Writer


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."