HC Tyronn Lue cheekily defends Kawhi Leonard’s halftime ‘cussing’ rant during the Trail Blazers game

Read on how Tyronn Lue motivated the Clippers with halftime cussing.

HC Tyronn Lue cheekily defends Kawhi Leonard’s halftime ‘cussing’ rant during the Trail Blazers game

Tyronn Lue and Kawhi Leonard

The Los Angeles Clippers were in trouble. They were down by six points at halftime to the Portland Trail Blazers, who were shooting lights out and dominating the boards. The Clippers needed a spark to turn things around and avoid a costly loss in the tight Western Conference race.

And that spark came from their coach, Tyronn Lue, who unleashed a profanity-laced tirade in the locker room, challenging his players to play harder and smarter in the second half. “Me. He might’ve cussed, but he didn’t say it out loud,” Lue said when asked if his halftime cussing was just him or Kawhi Leonard too.

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Lue’s words had the desired effect, as the Clippers came out with a renewed sense of urgency and intensity in the third quarter. They outscored the Blazers 43-28 in the period, hitting eight 3-pointers and forcing seven turnovers. They also clamped down on defense, holding the Blazers to 40% shooting.

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Leonard led the charge for the Clippers, scoring 13 of his 27 points in the third quarter. He also added five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in the game. Norman Powell chipped in with 23 points, while Russell Westbrook had 20 points off the bench.

The Clippers went on to win the game 136-125, improving their record to 43-38 and keeping putting themselves as the fifth seed in the West. They also improved their record against teams above .500 to 25-14, the best mark in the league.

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Tyronn Lue credits Leonard’s silent leadership

Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard (Via CBS Sports)

Lue’s answer was a subtle compliment to Leonard’s low-key but impactful leadership style. Leonard is not a loud or flashy player. He does not talk much or show much emotion on or off the court. He just plays hard and plays smart. He is a proven winner and a dominant force. He is a two-time NBA champion, a two-time Finals MVP, and a five-time All-Star. He is widely considered as one of the best players in the world and one of the best defenders ever.

Leonard has been crucial for the Clippers’ success this season, averaging 23.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 51.4 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from beyond the arc. He has also been a defensive stalwart for his team, locking down the opposing team’s best player and making big plays on both ends of the court.

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Lue praised his team’s resilience and ability to bounce back from a poor first half. “It wasn’t a great first half because we didn’t play the right way,” Lue said. “We came out in that third quarter and played with a sense of urgency. We played together, we moved the ball and we got stops.”

Leonard said he was not bothered by Lue’s halftime cussing, saying that it was part of the game. “It’s nothing new,” Leonard said. “It happens throughout every season. You’re going to have ups and downs. You’re going to have arguments.”

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