The LA Clippers' remarkable 11-2 record in their last 13 games has given fans hope, but a closer look at the game logs reveal a troubling pattern that could derail everything: Tyronn Lue is running James Harden and Kawhi Leonard into the ground.
Harden is averaging 35.9 minutes per game during this stretch, and Leonard, who has a lengthy injury history and missed significant time earlier this season, has logged 35.3 minutes.
Remember Lue's promise to Harden at the start of the season? He vowed to manage the veteran guard's minutes more carefully, ensuring he'd be fresh for the playoffs. That promise has been broken out of necessity. With Bradley Beal out for the season and Chris Paul dismissed, Lue has been forced to extend minutes and lean heavily on his two stars simply to keep the LA Clippers afloat.
The gamble on Bradley Beal forced Lue's hand
The irony is painful, as the LA Clippers knew about Bradley Beal's extensive injury history before signing him. They chose to be optimistic, betting that his talent would outweigh the risk. Now that gamble has backfired spectacularly, forcing Tyronn Lue to overwork the only two healthy stars he has left.
This approach might work in January, but what about March? April? The playoffs? History shows that overworked veterans hit walls, and when they do, it's catastrophic. The Clippers are essentially sacrificing long-term health for short-term wins, trying to climb out of the hole they dug themselves into with a 6-21 start.
The bench provides little relief. With only nine bench points in the win over the Detroit Pistons and inconsistent production from the young players, Lue simply cannot afford to rest his stars. Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders have shown flashes but aren't ready to carry their entire scoring load.
Short-Term success could mean long-term pain
The LA Clippers' roster construction leaves Tyronn Lue no choice but to ride James Harden and Kawhi Leonard until they break. Unless the front office makes a significant trade deadline acquisition to ease the burden, the Clippers are playing a dangerous game. They might sneak into the playoffs on the backs of their stars' heroic efforts, only to see those same stars too exhausted to compete when it matters most.
Lue's hand may be forced, but that doesn't make the strategy any less risky. The Clippers are borrowing from their future to pay for their present, and the bill could come due at the worst possible time. Without reinforcements, this success story could turn into a cautionary tale about what happens when desperation overrides common sense.