Clippers’ update: Kim Hughes on Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman

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Without shooting guard Eric Gordon, the Clippers have looked even more adrift than ever during this odd season.

Gordon, who had missed the last five games with a sore right leg, will be back in the lineup tonight against the Hornets. The Clippers are 4-13 without him this season.

Gordon’s impact is undeniable.

“It gives us a great chance to win,” Clippers interim coach Kim Hughes said. “Without Eric, we’re very limited at the two and three position.

“I expect him to struggle like he does most of the time like he does coming back from injury. He’ll defend. He’s one of those guys – Chris Kaman too – coming off of two or three days not playing, they both struggle with timing.

“But he’ll guard. He’ll allow one of our guys who was starting to move back to the bench. Make us stronger throughout the bench.”

Speaking of Kaman …

The Clippers’ center stood out on the five-game trip. And not in a positive way.

“He’s really struggled,” Hughes said. “He’s struggled shooting the ball. He’s struggled on the weakside defense. His on-the-ball defense has been good. His weakside rotations have been slow. To me it looks like he’s played with low energy.”

There is, however, a solution. They plan to cut back Kaman’s minutes ever so slightly.

‘I think he’ll come out after eight minutes, maybe seven,’ Hughes said. ‘Maybe cutting down his minutes by one and a half or two total minutes, cutting down his rotation minutes, he should have more energy. He has to for us to be effective.’

-- Lisa Dillman