LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers have been
unflappable amid high stakes throughout these playoffs. They
recovered from 0-2 deficits against Dallas and Utah to reach the
Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise
history.
Down 0-2 to the Phoenix Suns, they've rallied within a victory
of tying the series and forcing Game 7. Much of their resilience
can be credited to Tyronn Lue, who is an NBA-best 10-2 in
elimination games as a coach.
Lue has described being in the playoffs as his “happy place” and
he thrives on the chess match moves required from game to game.
“Sometimes it’s tough because adjustments mean some guys can’t
play, some guys play more, and you’ve got to be able to accept
that," he said. "It means a lot just for those guys to trust me, to
understand that whatever I’m doing is the best for the team, not
for me.”
Lue lets his players know ahead of time whether they'll be
starting or coming off the bench. He's quick to hit them up with
encouragement via texts and phone calls.
“It’s special, just the relationship I have with T,” Paul George
said, “and the relationship T-Lue has with every individual on this
team in general. It just says a lot about him.”
Lue has kept calm throughout the postseason frenzy.
“He always has a chill demeanor,” Marcus Morris said. “It’s like
having one of my better friends as the head coach. That’s the best
thing about him, he’s wide open. He allows you to speak up. That
goes a long way with players in this league.”
The Clippers’ season is on the line again Wednesday night at
Staples Center against the Suns, who lead the series 3-2. Phoenix
is a 1-point favorite, according to FanDuel
Sportsbook.
LA will be without two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who
has been out with a right knee sprain. The team also said Tuesday
that center Ivica Zubac, who sat out Game 5 because of a MCL sprain
in his right knee, is questionable to play.
The Clippers have proved they can win without those two
starters, as well as potential starter Serge Ibaka, whose back
surgery ended his season. Both of their wins so far have come by 14
points each. Phoenix's wins have been by a combined 11 points.
“They are one-possession games where they could have went either
way,” Morris said.
Last year, the Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead to Denver in the
conference semifinals, with chemistry cited as the main issue. Doc
Rivers got fired and Lue was promoted from the bench to the top
spot.
It was Rivers who first encouraged a doubtful Lue to aspire to a
head coaching job. Rivers is one of some high-profile mentors Lue
has had over the years, including Phil Jackson, Scott Skiles and
Stan Van Gundy.
After retiring as a player in 2009 having won two NBA titles
with the Lakers, Lue started out assisting Rivers in Boston. Lue
spent one season with the Clippers before becoming an assistant
with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was elevated to head coach after
David Blatt's firing and as a rookie, Lue guided LeBron James and
the Cavs to the 2016 NBA championship. They reached the Finals
again the following two years, losing both times to Golden State.
Lue was fired after an 0-6 start to the 2019 season.
Lue honed his ability to tell highly paid superstars what they
might not want to hear in Cleveland, giving him practice in dealing
with Leonard and George during his first season in charge in
LA.
“If they are doing too much, I’ll let them know,” Lue said of
his team. “But I want guys to feel no pressure, just go out there
and play their games. That’s what got them to this point. It feels
good to hear guys saying positive things (about him), but they are
the one with talent that got so far.”
ON THE BRINK
Chris Paul has just about done it all in his 16-year career.
He's an 11-time All-Star, MVP of the All-Star Game, four-time
All-NBA first-team selection, and a two-time Olympic gold
medalist.
But his playoff fortunes have been mixed. In 12 postseason
appearances, he's made the conference finals twice and lost in the
first round six times.
Now he's one game away from reaching the NBA Finals for the
first time at age 36, but refuses to look ahead.
“Not until the job is done," he said. “We can talk about all
that then, but right now it’s just laser focus. Three wins don’t
win the series.”
PAGING AYTON
Deandre Ayton all but disappeared in Game 5, and the Suns will
need to get their big man more involved if they want to close out
the series in LA.
Ayton had 10 points and 11 rebounds in 36 minutes, his fewest
points since Game 3 of the conference semifinals against Denver. He
took just nine shots — his fewest of the series — against a smaller
Clippers lineup.
“Got to do a better job getting it to him," Paul said. "They got
like three people sort of boxing him out or trying to hold him
down, so we just got to pick our spots better and be more
aggressive."
Ayton's two best performances against the Clippers came in Games
1 and 2, when he scored 20 or more points. His “Valley Oop" slam
with 0.9 seconds left won Game 2.