The LA Clippers look to fix chemistry issues heading into 2020-21
The chemistry issues of the LA Clippers have been talked about ad nauseam since they were eliminated from the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets “last season,” but one major question remains; have they have done enough in the offseason to overcome such woes?
The biggest change made during the offseason was the firing of former head coach Doc Rivers, followed by the hiring of Rivers’ protégé and former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue, who also had a ringside seat for that Game 7 collapse against the Nuggets.
Lue is now tasked with being responsible for breaking the bad habits this team acquired once Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were signed and traded for last offseason, respectively.
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All the perks, and preferential treatment Leonard and George received, which inevitably played a starring role in the team’s demise, and caused dissension in the locker room, must now be put to rest, at least partially if not altogether by coach Lue.
Lue was able to step into a not so great situation in Cleveland and get his superstar Lebron James, to buy into him as a coach. Lue was able to challenge Lebron and get more out of Lebron than any other coach had, to that point.
Getting Leonard to buy into the team, and become the leader they need on the court, maybe the toughest part in this transition for Lue as head coach of the Clippers. And yes, practicing regularly is part of that whole leadership thing we always hear so much about in professional sports. Leonard is known as a lead by example type leader and not a vocal one.
Attending practices and not canceling them as well as showing up for the team plane on time. Allegedly Leonard and George were allowed (subscription required) to sub themselves in and out of games at their behest. These extra perks will likely need to be eliminated if the Clippers want to make their first-ever conference finals appearance.
We now know that Leonard and George were a package deal, and therefore George also received many of the same perks, but unlike Leonard, George has not played up to the level the Clippers front office expected. For the most part, Leonard delivered as many expected last season, aside from a horrible game seven against the Nuggets.
George had a lackluster bubble performance altogether, and like most of his teammates, likely never wanted to be in Orlando in the first place.
Getting George back on track and playing the way he knows he is capable of may prove to be one tough obstacle coach Lue faces this season.
If there is one thing we know, it’s that Lue can manage stars and egos. He was able to manage James and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland and we all know how that ended. But he managed it well enough to get a championship out of that deal.
One of the biggest understatements ever is the type of a special person it takes to manage some of these huge egos and personalities that we laud in professional sports. To not only manage them but also win championships while managing them is truly a feat to behold.