“I can’t wait to prove everybody wrong!” – Tyronn Lue believes LA Clippers can defy expectations despite losing Paul George to rivals
Tyronn Lue is ready to prove doubters of the Los Angeles Clippers wrong after fears of doom arose after losing Paul George.
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Kawhi Leonard and Tyronn Lue will be without Paul George for the next season
Losing a star player can lead to a number of doomsday-like scenarios. Such was the case of fans of the Los Angeles Clippers after they lost Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers in July, not coach Tyronn Lue though.
Head coach Tyronn Lue wasn’t ready to let the disappointment get to him, as he confidently asserted that under his watch, the team will have its best season ever, despite the doubters. The Clippers have a strong foundation with Kawhi Leonard, one of the best two-way wings in the game, who can lead the team on a deep playoff run if he stays healthy.
Tyronn Lue told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk:
“When you lose a guy of Paul George’s stature, instantly people [think] oh, they can’t win or they’re not going to be competitive. But that just challenges me even more. OK, people are counting us out or people don’t think we’re going to be good. That right there just gives me an extra dose of [motivation]. I can’t wait to prove everybody wrong.”
To support the star duo of Leonard and James Harden, the Clippers have a stacked team with players like Ivica Zubac, Mo Bamba, Norman Powell, and Derrick Jones Jr. contributing to their depth and versatility. These players combined with a new arena, might be the motivation Lue needs to fuel his confidence.
Despite being in a tough Western conference, the Clippers have the potential to pull off something special and defy expectations. Their season begins with a home game against the Phoenix Suns
Kawhi Leonard expected to be ready for Clippers’ training camp after injury-plagued season
Fans and the basketball world were in shock when LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard appeared in 68 games last season, his most since 2016-17, but was limited in the playoffs due to a knee injury. Despite this, Leonard is expected to be available when the Clippers begin training camp on October 1st, according to head coach Ty Lue.
Tyronn Lue told ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk:
“I speak to him all the time. He’ll be ready for [Clippers] training camp. He’s feeling good and I know he’ll be ready for training camp.”
The Clippers will rely heavily on Leonard’s availability next season, especially after Paul George’s departure. Leonard is expected to be the team’s primary ball handler, thus, his health will be crucial to the team’s success in the Western Conference.
Furthermore, he had a net rating which was the second-best among Clippers players who appeared in at least 10 games last season. The exit of PG13 has elevated James Harden, who will return to share ball-handling duties, and if we get to see the MVP Harden, the Clippers might just be unstoppable
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Ubong Archibong
(1284 Articles Published)