With the NBA Cup in its early stages this week and the LA Clippers not included, their next basketball game is not until Thursday against the Houston Rockets. They last played Saturday in Minnesota and are still on the road, with Houston as their last stop of the trip, giving the coaching staff and players ample time to evaluate the rotation and pick apart what needs a second look; this is essentially a mini all-star break.
On the flight from the north to the south, Tyronn Lue should grab coffee with a few of his players to discuss how their minutes will change moving forward and what will be expected of them.
These strategies will help the Clippers show up and shock the Rockets like a new team, with different, optimistic motives, aspirations, and goals, in contrast to what has happened over the weeks in the national headlines.
The LA Clippers desperately need new lineups
During a break, a winning team could enjoy a few days of rest to reduce fatigue. However, the LA Clippers have 18 losses and are just 3.5 games ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for the 15th seed.
One of the primary reasons the Clippers are losing is their net ratings. They barely have any five-man lineups with a strong sample size in minutes that have shown signs of success.
Quite literally, everything is just negative and weak. This is where Tyronn Lue should scrap all of his X’s and O’s and reset his rotations, starting with those that have shown the most hunger.
They could be different types of players with all kinds of skill sets, some being rookies, others in the G League eager for a call-up, but if the ones starving to win are not the ones playing the most, LA will soon take over the Pelicans’ seeding.
Additionally, in the meantime, the front office should be watching film, studying the analytics, and catching each game between now and Thursday for trade purposes, especially if valuable talents are missing from certain rotations.
Anyone who turns a head, raises an eyebrow, and calls for a closer examination should be jotted down instantly for the deadline.
That said, the Clippers’ players and coaches must remain all gas and no breaks. Many have claimed LA has been at rock bottom, yet at their current rate of winning, they will physically be there in the Western Conference standings.