The Los Angeles Clippers continue to search for answers as their season spirals further out of control, and head coach Ty Lue isn't sugarcoating what needs to happen for this team to turn things around.

Following Thursday night's embarrassing 129-101 blowout loss to the Orlando Magic, Lue made it clear that the burden falls squarely on the shoulders of James Harden and Ivica Zubac to elevate their struggling teammates and create better offensive opportunities.

The Demand for Playmaking

"It really starts with James and Zu making our guys better," Lue said after the loss that dropped the Clippers to a putrid 4-11 record. "We don't have a lot of point of attack offensive guys that can create their own shots, so we rely on James, we rely on Zu, to make those guys better and get those guys open shots."

The coach's comments highlight a glaring reality about this Clippers roster that has become impossible to ignore.

Without Kawhi Leonard, who has missed nine consecutive games with ankle and foot sprains, and Bradley Beal, who is out for the season following hip surgery, this team lacks the offensive firepower to compete night after night. 

Harden has done everything he can to keep the Clippers afloat, averaging 26.2 points and 8.7 assists per game this season, but even his historic efforts haven't been enough to prevent the team from losing nine of their last 10 games.

The Confidence Factor

Lue also stressed the importance of role players stepping up when they get their opportunities, rather than shying away from open looks. "The other guys have got to step up and shoot with confidence," Lue explained. "We get open shots, just take them. They work on them every single day, you just can't shy away from it. So, it's just a confidence factor of when we get open shots, just stepping up, be ready to knock them down."

Thursday's loss to the Magic perfectly illustrated the Clippers' offensive struggles, as the team turned the ball over 21 times and managed just 101 points against an Orlando team that came in with a 9-7 record. 

Harden led the way with 31 points and eight assists, while Zubac was the only other Clipper to reach double figures with 14 points, though he did haul in 19 rebounds in the losing effort.

Looking Ahead

The loss to Philadelphia on Monday, where the Clippers fell 110-108 despite another strong performance from Harden, further emphasized the team's inability to close out games and execute down the stretch.

The offensive rating tells the story of a team in crisis, as the Clippers rank 25th in the league in that category and are being outscored by 4.6 points per game.

As for Leonard's status heading into the weekend, the two-time Finals MVP remains day-to-day with no clear timetable for his return, though he has been traveling with the team and making progress in his recovery.

The Clippers will look to snap their losing streak on Saturday when they visit the Charlotte Hornets, desperately needing Harden and Zubac to provide the leadership and playmaking that Lue has demanded while hoping their role players can find the confidence to knock down open shots when they come their way.