Hopes were very high for the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of last season.
By the end, they were once again dashed.
Tough competition and more injuries plagued the team and they didn’t even make it out of the first round of the playoffs.
Even worse, they weren’t led by Kawhi Leonard or Paul George during their short postseason run, as both were on the bench because of injuries.
Head coach Ty Lue spoke to Showtime Basketball, per Clippers UK, about what needs to change.
Lue told both Leonard and George that the team has to “approach the regular season in a different way.”
He went into more detail about his plans: “Let’s be serious about it, let’s not wait to the playoffs because it matters.”
Ty Lue confirms that he told Kawhi Leonard and Paul George that the Clippers need to take the Regular Season more seriously.
Via #AllTheSmoke @shobasketball pic.twitter.com/okiingQ7HI
— Clippers UK (@ClippersUK) July 26, 2023
While this is music to the ears of many Clippers fans, many more are probably very frustrated that Lue is just now figuring this out.
All season long, people were wondering when the Clippers would be fully functioning.
The coaching staff kept Leonard on the bench a lot as a way to ease him back into playing regularly after missing last season.
But his time away from the court during the regular season only hurt the Clippers.
When the playoffs approached, they were scrambling for wins in order to avoid the play-in games.
Lue proposes that the team works harder during the regular season, secures a playoff spot early, then allows Leonard and George to rest.
It’s a smart approach, but is it too late?
If this had been the Clippers’ plan last season, things could have ended very differently.
Now, optimism around this team is at an all-time low for many.
The fanbase – and perhaps the front office – are beyond frustrated and need to see some definitive results from the team immediately.
NEXT: Tyronn Lue Makes Strong Statement On Russell Westbrook's Impact With Clippers
