It has certainly been an interesting offseason for the LA Clippers. With an important free agency decision for Paul George set up months in advance, everyone knew the team's path forward would hinge on George's decision.
When Paul opted to leave Los Angeles and go play with the Philadelphia 76ers, it marked the beginning of a new era for Clippers basketball. Gone was the 213 era, next was the remainder of the Kawhi Leonard era without his former running mate.
What management did was make sure the team was set up to succeed even in the event George departed. They figured out several moves that would allow the Clippers to retool their roster and ideally still be able to compete in a stacked Western Conference. All things considered, they made it out of the draft and free agency period rather well.
Tyronn Lue is ready to prove the doubters wrong
But not everyone has such high views of the Clippers headed into next season. Some think they are due to take a big step back, and potentially even miss the playoffs if Kawhi's health is questionable. Tyronn Lue recently spoke with Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN and refuted these ideas.
“When you lose a guy of Paul George’s stature, instantly people think oh, they can’t win," Lue said, referring to the many doubters of the Clippers. "I can’t wait to prove everybody wrong.” These are big words, and they show Ty's confidence in his team.
A more safe, neutral-type answer here would have been one that expressed the confidence he still has in his guys, and things of that nature. But for him to come out and say he is ready to prove everyone wrong has to feel validating for Clippers fans.
It will be far from easy, that much is for sure. But with so many people counting LAC out and no one expecting them to be a major threat in the West, do not be surprised to see Lue's prediction come true.