Coaching at a high level in the NBA is a challenging task. Oftentimes, leading professionals that are the cream of the crop in their field becomes about managing egos, which can be an even more challenging endeavor than the X's and O's of basketball. This concept may not apply more closely to any coach than it does with Tyronn Lue and the LA Clippers this season.
Additionally, there is a growing sentiment among NBA viewers that Head Coaches in the league often do not get a fair chance to do their job. Too many times we have seen a majority of the blame for a team's failures placed squarely on the Head Coach, when in reality other factors were at play as well.
All that is to say that the tasks associated with coaching in the NBA are monumental, and achieving consistent success as a coach is more difficult than many may think. That makes the accomplishments of the Clippers' coach that much more impressive.
On Thursday, Tyronn Lue was officially named as the Western Conference Coach of the Month for his achievements in December.
That's our coach 👏
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 4, 2024
Congrats to Head Coach Tyronn Lue on being named @NBA Western Conference Coach of the Month for December! pic.twitter.com/qE4TrxkMJm
Tyronn Lue was named Western Conference Coach of the Month
The Clippers rolled to an 11-2 record during the month of December, due in no small part to the coaching skill of Lue. After LA traded for James Harden at the end of October, all anyone could talk about was how impossible a task Lue would have on his hands trying to manage four guys who needed the basketball in their hands to be successful.
Slowly but surely, he has helped make this team a force to be reckoned with. Figuring out the correct starting lineup and putting Harden and Terance Mann next to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard was one of Lue's most obvious adjustments, but so much more has gone on behind the scenes that we do not know about.
It is safe to say that his hard work has played a huge part in getting the Clippers to where they are today. If the team were still struggling like they were two months ago, there is little doubt immense blame would be directed at Lue from every direction. So while the team is clicking and living up to their potential, let's make sure we do not forget to give Tyronn Lue his flowers.