On the second night of a back-to-back, the Dallas Mavericks may have given Tyronn Lue his last loss as the LA Clippers' head coach. This 114-110 defeat followed an embarrassing showing against the Memphis Grizzlies, potentially ending every bit of tension within the organization, as Lue's dismissal will inevitably be the catalyst for a chain reaction.
The Mavericks were in an utmost shorthanded condition, given the absent status of Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington on their pre-game injury report.
However, it will end up being a painful fashion for the Clippers and a laughable one for the Mavericks, knowing rookie and 2025 first-overall pick Cooper Flagg was the player that concluded a chapter in LA with a career-high 35 points.
That said, the heat in Lue's current hot seat is well past the boiling point. He will inevitably be dismissed in the middle of the regular season, and the day it happens could be Monday morning, as soon as the sun rises in Los Angeles.
Tyronn Lue's job as head coach for the Clippers is as good as gone
The LA Clippers were not inches away from a winless month, but centimeters. They notched two victories in November, and James Harden combined for nearly 100 points in both. Both were also against the borderline bottom feeders of each conference: the Dallas Mavericks (6-14) and Charlotte Hornets (6-15).
Thus, if the Clippers do not want to freeze in the cold month of December, with a five-game road trip beginning on the first of the month, the team needs to officially announce the firing of Tyronn Lue and the name of the interim head coach.
Jeff Van Gundy's chances are most likely equal to Brian Shaw's, yet fans are ready for one of them to lead a fresh start with the disaster Lue is set to leave behind, and the sour note he will be walking out on.
Hopefully, this will direct towards increased involvement and cooperation, as Shaw or Van Gundy may do better at listening to the players' wants and the statistical flaws, then relaying a reasonable reaction.
That said, the clear point of departure in order to achieve prosperity is for the front office to terminate Lue's employment with the franchise. He knows it is highly likely, which backs up why his heart and effort are not thoroughly mixed into each game.