Ty Lue and the Los Angeles Clippers are two wins away from the NBA Finals.
Their run during this postseason has been phenomenal.
The first two series this postseason saw them down 0-2 in each series.
However, the Clippers came back to win both of those series.
Now they are on the cusp of making a historic comeback once again.
This time it is returning from a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals.
Lue has done a great job leading this team so far.
Now there is a question that some have.
How is he better than Doc Rivers with this team?
Rivers is known as a great coach and one of the most respected of his generation.
However, he failed with this same group to make the Conference Finals.
He blew a 3-1 lead in the second round and was fired because of it.
Most expected this team to be the exact same, but they are simply not.
Why is that the case?
History Is Important
History tends to repeat itself within the NBA.
That is where these two coaches and their resumes come into play.
There were no big changes to the Clippers roster.
Their only move was going from Rivers to Lue.
The difference between these two are the resumes.
Sure, Lue does not have an extensive resume, but he does have a great one.
Just look at his record when his back is against the wall.
Ty Lue is calm under pressure.
He's 10-2 all-time when facing elimination and 3-0 so far in the 2021 playoffs. pic.twitter.com/8b12HtcLVn
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 29, 2021
Rivers on the other hand has a tendency to let up and be taken advantage of when he is up in a series.
He has blown a 3-1 series lead on multiple occasions.
Even look at this year with the Philadelphia 76ers.
They were the number one seed and were supposed to at least coast to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The 76ers were upset by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round.
In that same timeframe, the Clippers came back twice and are trying to fight back once again.
Lue is not scared of the pressure, whereas Rivers is.
Adjustments
Adjustments are vital for a team’s success, especially in the playoffs.
Lue is not afraid to adjust within a series.
He has been able to tinker with lineups to find the right rotation.
That is a knock on Rivers as a coach.
Hey #Sixers fans I know we’re mad at Ben Simmons, but let’s talk about Doc Rivers. Yeah, I brought receipts…
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) June 21, 2021
He is stuck in his ways.
When Rivers has a rotation; that rotation will not change regardless of the series.
Luke Kennard did not play for most of the first round.
Lue decided it was time to usher him in and he has been playing great since.
DeMarcus Cousins is not meant to play certain teams, or in certain games.
However, Lue is not afraid to put him out there in the right matchup.
Rajon Rondo has not been contributing, so he is out of the rotation as of now.
Rivers decided that his 10-man rotation was still the answer all the way to a Game 7.
Lue is not afraid to make changes.
Rivers is willing to go down with what is already going on.
Not making adjustments gives other teams the chance to counter your moves.
Lue understands that and has shown that Rivers was not capable of that.
NEXT: 2 Ways The Clippers Can Climb Back Against The Suns