The Los Angeles Clippers have come a long way since the team's dark days at the beginning of the season and their 6-21 start that once upon a time seemed like it would define a historic low for the franchise and now seems like a distant memory. 

Now, the Clippers are 41-38 after defeating the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday 116-103 nd look to be in position for a playoff spot. Where they're at now would have been unfathomable at the beginning of the season and there are a myriad of factors that combined to bring about this much brighter result. 

At the center of it all is head coach Ty Lue, who was the original optimist even as the Clippers were in the midst of their poor start. 

It would be easy for Lue to take credit for the way that the Clippers have turned things around, especially with him so thoroughly vindicated, but in true head coach fashion Lue hasn't done that.

Instead, Lue has turned the praise onto his coaching staff and his players for possessing the belief in him and themselves for causing the turnaround and for having the mental strength to withstand the bad times and create good ones in their place. 

"I give all the credit to our players in our coaching staff. The coaches have done an unbelievable job all season just staying positive, keep showing the guys ways to get better," Lue said to the media. " And then our players, for sticking with it... just, having the mental fortitude to just say, you know what? We are 6-21, let’s put that behind us."

Lue didn't stop at the players that he currently has rostered. Lue went on to credit Ivican Zubac and James Harden, who have both since been traded away from the Clippers, for the roles they played in helping the Clippers claw their way back up the standings. 

Harden in particular deserves a big piece of the credit as for a while at the beginning of the season when many of the Clippers' heavy hitters were down with injuries, it was Harden who was carrying the team on his back. 

The Clippers' season transformation is perhaps the most inspirational story of the NBA season and it says a lot about who the Clippers are now and who they can be in the future. 

It's been a story of resilience and a testament to the power of belief and positive thinking that started with Lue, but has been supported by the efforts of so many others.