The Clippers have had a hard season, but head coach Ty Lue hasn't given up.
To say the Los Angeles Clippers have had a disappointing season would be an understatement. Currently sitting at 6-21, each game seemingly brings a new level of disaster to their brand of basketball.
Their most recent loss, a 122-101 thumping at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, was marred by a season-high 29 turnovers by the Clippers.
It would be easy to write-off the Clippers' season at this point and begin prepping for either a total rebuild or at the very least, a long offseason of reflection. However, from head coach Ty Lue's perspective, the season is still very much in hand and needs just some adjustments for the Clippers to sneak into a playoff spot a the end of the season.
Los Angeles Clippers Head Coach Tyronn Lue (left) talks to forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at Intuit Dome. Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesLue Still Hopeful for Play-In
“Gotta be better. The season’s not over... we’re 4 games out the Play-In," Lue said (via Josue Pavón of ClutchPoints). "That’s gotta be our mindset... once we get there, it’s however many games it takes to get out of 6."
Lue's stance is definitely an optimistic one, but a reassuring sign for Clippers fans for their head coach to be holding out hope for a positive direction for the team.
Lue isn't just holding out hope, though. There are several glaring flaws in the Clippers, with many of them broad strokes concerning average points and assists, but. a persistent factor in many of their losses has been an inability to close out games.
Struggling Late in Games
Los Angeles is 28th in the league in second half points per game at an average of 53.5 points per game. That lull in late-game scoring is just one of several reasons that the Clippers have been unable to either sustain comebacks or hold onto leads that they've managed to build.
Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins (20) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) defends during the second half at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams-Imagn ImagesTheir loss against the Thunder was a prime example of that. The Clippers held their own against the NBA's best team in the first quarter, but found themselves handily outscored in both the second and third quarters before a near stalemate in the fourth meant that any chance at a comeback was out of reach.
"We have to play better, which we have, the last four or five games. We've got to be able to close games and finish games, that's what we've been struggling at," Lue said.
No matter how dire things seem now, Lue is committed to staying the course with his players, It's been a season so far tainted by by meager performance, injury and occasional controversy, but the season is 82 games for a reason.