As the LA Clippers currently sit near the top of the West with one of the best records in the NBA, there have been many keys to their success. Many of these keys consist of health, star power, and depth.
Furthermore, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden have been remarkable for the Clippers. These three have shown up night in and night out and proven how great they can be to the world. However, several others deserve their flowers as well.
Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell have gone above and beyond for the Clippers. Powell, in particular, is having the most efficient season of his veteran career. Along with a true shooting percentage of 63.7, the UCLA product is shooting 45.3% from deep on nearly five attempts per game.
Conversely, their coaching is the most significant and overlooked aspect of the team’s success. Tyronn Lue is utilizing each player to do what they are best at and adjusting the minutes game-by-game.
Head coach Tyronn Lue is the primary reason the LA Clippers are a top-five team in the NBA.
When the LA Clippers first acquired James Harden, the media and fans questioned the trade significantly. Some stated Harden’s playstyle wouldn’t fit, while others wondered how he would handle the role of a third option.
Moreover, head coach Tyronn Lue and the coaching staff had a game plan all along, and this was to stagger their minutes. With Russell Westbrook coming off the bench, Harden typically runs the starting unit. Later, Westbrook replaces him by providing one-of-a-kind energy on both ends of the court.
After the active rotation adjusted to the changes made by the coaching staff, the wins began to accumulate. Now, Lue closes games out with the players who are performing best, excluding Harden, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard.
That said, these simple yet effective strategies have carried the Clippers to the top of the Western Conference. What’s more important is that these strategies will work perfectly in the postseason, especially against teams like the Nuggets, Thunder, and Suns.