The Los Angeles Clippers have struggled to begin the new year, and head coach Tyronn Lue is concerned with his team. They’ve lost three of four games to begin 2025. For a Clippers team doing so well to start the season, that has not been the case recently. It hurts especially more since LA’s losses came against two Western Conference contenders on the road.
Tyronn Lue Concerned Over Clippers Struggles to Start 2025
Lue has been through a lot this season, and this stretch of games is not unfamiliar territory. On Wednesday, they suffered an embarrassing loss against the Denver Nuggets. After the game, Lue acknowledged his team’s issues when they played against the best in the West.
Ty Lue said the Clippers weren’t ready from the start of tonight’s game.
“We didn’t have the pop, we didn’t have the physicality, we didn’t have the fight that we’ve been having… We wasn’t ready from the start.”
On losing four of five:
“With the presence of Kawhi coming back,… pic.twitter.com/L3K0bEyyrH
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) January 9, 2025
There were periods in October and December when the Clippers seemed to play below the standard Lue expected. It didn’t help that at the start of the season, Los Angeles did not have their star player Kawhi Leonard. However, that didn’t stop Lue from getting his team back on track.
Over the past five games, four of which were losses, the Clippers’ offense has averaged 104.8 points per game. On the defensive side, LA’s opponents are averaging 115.4 points in the same stretch. The struggles have shown through 37 games into the season. The team is in a tight situation with a 20-17 record in a play-in position. This is the time for Lue’s Clippers to elevate themselves to a higher competitive play.
Where Are the Strengths and Struggles with the Clippers?
Norman Powell has been doing some heavy lifting on offense but has also shown some inconsistencies. He can go for 30 points any night, but in more highly competitive games, he can have bad shooting nights. This was shown recently when Powell shot 1-11 from the field against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring six points. James Harden has been doing his best to contribute to the team but hasn’t been as successful as of late. If LA is going to compete for the playoffs, all crucial players will have to click together to win in a tough Western Conference.
Leonard returned to bolster the Clippers’ momentum against the Atlanta Hawks on January 4th in a 131-105 victory. Even though he only scored 12 points in 19 minutes, it was nice to see him settle back into the swing of things.
The same cannot be said against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the following game, who are 3-0 against LA this season. It should be expected that it will take time for Leonard to get used to being on the court. After an extended time not playing competitive basketball, it’ll take time and patience to see the old Leonard again.
Los Angeles Faces Adversity Off the Court with Wildfires
In a heavy and unfortunate situation, the Clippers’ season has been halted for a short time. The wildfires surrounding Los Angeles have been the talk of the country. Hours before the Clippers’ last game in Denver, it was announced that Leonard left the team to join his evacuated family.
It’s a dark time in Los Angeles. The Lakers and Clippers have had home games postponed due to the wildfires. Some players, coaches, and members of the organizations lost their houses in the fire that has claimed thousands of structures and homes.
The Last Word
Despite Lue’s concerns over the Clippers’ struggles to start 2025, plenty of basketball remains left to be played. With a healthy Leonard, too, the team can get back on track.
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