Losses hurt. However, when teams give up great leads before they can figure out what’s going on, those losses are infuriating for a coach. The Los Angeles Clippers were up 23 points towards the end of the third quarter. From there till the end of the game, the under-duress Phoenix Suns lifted by Kevin Durant extinguished the lead. The Clippers lost by three points, the third time in 19 games when leading by over 20 points.
Normally, Ty Lue is composed after losses. But the Clippers have been well off course since the All-Star break. Tonight, they let slip a chance to win just their second game since the season resumed. Likewise, the renowned head coach was in no mood to spend time answering questions. But when asked what he felt went wrong, Lue didn’t show any mercy toward his players.
“Just play through the game. Play the game the right way, play through the game. Whatever works, whatever the defense gives you take it and not force and not do dumb s**t. It’s that simple just play through the game that’s all you got to do,” Ty Lue said about where the Clippers could improve this season.
Dec 31, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; LA Clippers head coach Ty Lue in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
This was a sight even the reporters weren’t truly prepared for. From a basketball standpoint, Lue’s fuse to tolerate mistakes is high. He thinks those help a team grow and realize their identity. But losing when up 20+ points and breaking down on both ends is not acceptable. So when a reporter asked him how he manages to stay level-headed in such times, Ty Lue admitted his true feelings.
“I’m frustrated now so what about that? Yeah, frustrated now but you know it is what it is,” Tyronn Lue said in reaction to the loss.
The Clippers fell flat today
Ty Lue’s anger is fully understandable. Prior to the All-Star break, the Clippers were a different team altogether. Even when without Kawhi Leonard, they were coordinated and in sync on both ends of the floor. As a team defense, they ranked second, posting a 108.3 defensive rating in their first 54 games.
Then the short All-Star break gave the team the opportunity to recover and reconvene, this time with The Klaw being a regular in their rotations. That so far has amounted to a 1-6 record. Tonight’s loss though stings even the players. Center Ivica Zubac looked drained from the loss.
It was difficult to point out just one thing that the team needs to improve to regain winning momentum. However, Zubac nailed it as far as what’s worsened the most. “Defense man. I think defensively we got to be better. We did pretty good on defense for the first I would say 2 and a half quarters but you know we got to play 48th minutes. I think offensively we were better tonight but we just gave up too much out of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth,” the Clippers center revealed.
From being the second-ranked defense, the Los Angeles Clippers have ranked as the fight worst since the All-Star break. They have a defensive rating of 118.8 in those seven games. It’s worse than the last ranked defense from before the All-Star break. Tonight, their defensive breakdown allowed the Suns to score 43 fourth-quarter points.
That’s the most points they have conceded in the fourth quarter all season. But being awful on the defensive end doesn’t help melt away a 23-point lead. Offensively, the Clippers were equally as preposterous. They scored just 22 points, shooting 30% from the field, cramping themselves in the process.
Several things need to change. Or rather, the Clippers just need to find their cohesion once again. Such moments of lapses have led them to fall below the sixth seed and in the Play-In Picture. A string of wins, something the team is capable of could help rejuvenate their confidence and also stepping out of their rut.
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