Kaman, who returned to the lineup 10 days ago, played well. He scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but the short-handed Pistons won 108-90 as Antonio McDyess scored 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.

The Pistons were without Rodney Stuckey (flu), Richard Hamilton (groin), Rasheed Wallace (calf) and Allen Iverson (back). But Will Bynum (22 points), Kwame Brown and Walter Herrmann picked up the slack.

Kaman is happy to be playing again, he's just not so joyful about his team's situation.

"Obviously, we're not making the playoffs or anything, so it's go out and play hard, build some chemistry with my teammates and give ticket-holders something to watch," he said.

It has been another trying year for the Clippers, especially with Kaman missing 48 games. His almost season-long battle with plantar fasciitis has been taxing to the team and the player. And the pain remains.

"It's scar tissue from the tear that was in there on the tissue over the (left) foot," he said. "They tell me the pain from that will take a year to go away."

The past year has been especially strange. Kaman closed out last season -- his best statistically with 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game -- confident the Clippers could be a playoff team this year.

Dirk Nowitzki had talked him into playing on Germany's national team in the Beijing Olympics. Kaman, whose grandparents were born in Germany, played well.

He had missed several games at the end of last season because of injuries, and the Clippers were not especially happy he played in the Olympics. But he came back healthy and was getting to know his newer teammates when he injured his left foot.

"I couldn't do anything for quite a while, especially after I tried to come back too soon," Kaman said. "I stayed around the house and watched movies. I watched the games."

The games bothered him. The losses piled up. Others were injured.

"It's a tough situation because we're a good team on paper, but it's not transferring to the court," he said.

Kaman likes coach Mike Dunleavy, who also is the general manager, and Dunleavy likes him back. The lack of wins (17-52) and a dressing down of the team this month by owner Donald Sterling has some wondering about their futures.

"I don't think (Dunleavy) has been given a fair shot, because he hasn't had the team he put together," Kaman said.

Kaman has three years remaining on a five-year $53 million deal, and said he did not worry much when his name came up in trade talks.

"It's a business," he said. "I just worry about playing."

Dunleavy, meanwhile, likes his team and wants to see what it can do in complete form. That means Kaman in the middle for more than just the reduced minutes doctors are allowing.

"Every game, he is getting a little bit better, getting his timing and conditioning back," Dunleavy said. "He's been very positive for us."