LOS ANGELES — Tyronn Lue said he had some adjustments planned for Game 6 of 82, Monday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. But none of those alterations were so drastic as a change to his lineup.
The Clippers’ typical starting five took the court Monday at Staples Center: Paul George, Eric Bledsoe, Reggie Jackson, Ivica Zubac and Nicolas Batum (a starter when Marcus Morris Sr. is unavailable, sidelined because of left knee injury maintenance).
These tweaks will be more subtle, Lue said.
“Like the rotations of guys getting in the game, who’s playing with who, and guys having shorter stints and things like that,” said Lue, who indicated he intended to avoid playing Paul George for six consecutive minutes.
George has, for the most part, been the Clippers’ only reliable source of offense early on, averaging 27.6 points per game on 50% shooting from the field. Their offensive rating with him on the court: 104.5. Their offensive rating with him off the floor? It’s a paltry 96.0.
In Friday’s 116-92 loss in Portland, George exited the game with 2:51 left in the first period, having scored nine points and with his side leading 21-18. When he returned with 8:05 left in the second period, the Clippers had scored only six more points and trailed by nine.
“Not sitting PG out for six minutes straight and then we go on a scoring drought,” Lue said. “Just trying to play PG in three stints to keep him on the floor so now his rest is minimum, three minutes instead of six minutes, things like that. We’re going to try that tonight, going forward.”
And when someone beside George needs to score, Lue wants his team to keep doing what it’s doing – but with more confidence.
“Just looking at it analytically, we’re getting good shots, we’re generating good shots, we’re just not making them,” Lue said, referencing the fact that going into Monday’s game, the Clippers led the league in “open” shots, taking 28.4 per game with the closest defender between 4 and 6 feet away. The issue: Only 35.2% of those were going down.
“We’re getting seven more open shots a game than we did last year, so the shots are there, we just have to step up and make them. If we’re not we’ve got to be confident to take them, anyway. If you’re 2 for 4, 2 for 5 or 2 for 20, if it’s your shot you’ve got to step up and take it or you’re probably going to get a worse shot.
“So just continue to stay with the game plan, continue to get in the paint and make a play for your teammates and we just have to step up and make shots.”
Now, if the Clippers are still struggling to take advantage of their scoring opportunities a couple of weeks from now, the rotational shifts could be more substantial, Lue said.
But there will be another “10, 15 games” before Lue sends home a report card, he said, noting that he’s more concerned with the bench’s production than what he is getting out of his starters.
JERSEY REVEAL DAY
The NBA released images and information about this season’s league-wide set of Nike NBA City Edition uniforms, following a “Moments Mixtape” theme meant as an ode to the NBA’s 75th anniversary.
The Clippers’ version incorporates a mix of six moments in team history. It’s designed to pay homage to the franchise’s roots in Buffalo, New York (a Braves logo on the waistband), to its move to San Diego (the Pacific blue colorway). The design also includes the popular cursive font used during the 2014-15 season.
The Clippers will wear the jerseys 10 times, beginning on Nov. 13 when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves.