LA Clippers’ Benefit to Paul George #3: An Innovative Coaching Staff
George was one of many disgruntled by Rivers’ management last season, feeling that his former Head coach never truly understood how to optimise his strengths. While much was said about Rivers upon his high-profile exodus from Los Angeles, it is hard to dispute just how beneficial a new locker room voice has been for the Clippers.
The promotion of Lue has seen a shift from the at-times stagnant and predictable schemes of Rivers to a push for a spirited, dynamic system molded to the games of their superstars. It’s a system that Lue promised at his introductory press conference in October.
“I think to share the basketball, play through our best players and then also, making the other players on our team better,” Lue said. “Moving the basketball, changing sides of the floor with the ball I think is very important for this team.”
For George, it’s a nurturing philosophy that has founded an immensely successful beginning to his 2020/21 campaign. But, as the narrative surrounding ‘Playoff P’ would suggest, the questions enveloping George has never been about regular-season performances.
With the front-office mortgaging their future for ambitions of immediate postseason success, it wouldn’t be difficult for expectation to be George’s biggest kryptonite this season. Under Lue, however, George has returned to his trademark strut through a straightforward philosophy designed to return the polarising talent back into All-NBA stardom.
And as Lue releases the shackles on George, Clippers’ brass will be hoping that a refreshed system will be the catalyst to finally set their superstar free.