Livingston focuses on his role of helping the team win more games

In the Clippers’ last four games, Shaun Livingston averaged 16 points and eight assists. Overall, he’s averaging personal bests at 9.3 points and 5.2 assists.

The third-year player has been more aggressive on offense as a starter, and that’s what Coach Mike Dunleavy envisioned when he promoted Livingston to the first unit in place of Sam Cassell, who has been injured for most of the season.

Despite his individual success, however, Livingston said only two numbers matter to him: 0-4. That’s the Clippers’ record in their current losing streak, and Livingston takes the team’s poor performance personally.

“You know, everybody has been asking me about how I’m playing, how I feel starting and all of that, but that’s not really what I’m thinking about,” he said. “For me, it’s not about how I’m scoring or what the numbers are, it’s just about winning. It’s about what I’m doing to help the team win.

“We’re not winning right now, we’re just not getting it done as a team, but I really feel that’s on me. I mean, it’s not all on me, but I’m the point guard. When you talk about teams winning and losing, you usually look at the coach and the point guard.”

The Clippers have struggled shooting from the perimeter, and their inability to stretch defenses has enabled opponents to double- and triple-team Elton Brand. Again, Livingston said he must do more to help his teammates.

“If the offense isn’t working, if we’re not getting it done, then it’s up to the point guard to get everyone involved,” he said. “That’s what I have to do, that’s my job, because we’ve got to make it easier on Elton.”

Since becoming a starter, Livingston, who the Clippers have declined to include in trade proposals for Philadelphia’s Allen Iverson, has continued to work individually with assistant coaches after practice. He said he’s determined to help the Clippers get back on track.

“We can’t complain about our injuries, the schedule or anything like that,” Livingston said. “We’re going to have a tough schedule because we play in the Western Conference, so we just have to deal with that.

“Right now, it’s all about playing with a sense of urgency. We can’t take anything for granted, we have to play every game hungry and ready. We’re not where we want to be, and we’re sure not where we expected to be, so we all have to step up.”

jason.reid@latimes.com