When a small group of Clippers decision-makers evaluated their pool of coaching candidates in October last year, Tyronn Lue had something in addition to his competition credentials working in his favor – his reputation as a separate communication.
His first three months of work have proven that. Coaches are struggling to be heard inside empty spaces playing in-game music at sold-out decibels.
“With my accent in Missouri and a face mask on it, they can’t understand me too much,” Lue said. “We have to do what we have done.”
It’s been hard to hear Lue “at times” during games, star Kawhi Leonard said, but at times and practices, pregame launches and out-of-day movie sessions, the coach has heard his offensive philosophy loud. and clear. The test, players said, was Wednesday’s victory against New Orleans in which the Clippers helped on 26 of their 35 field goals.
“They refused good views for great scenes,” said guard Patrick Beverley. “And those were our mottos this year. ”
Under Lue, large views are not narrowly described as the closest. Scoring four NBA bottom-of-the-season points in the first half against the Pelicans, the Clippers followed a season-long move that saw the team attempt the third-least side shots. inside the confined space. Only a third of the team’s points are scored inside the paint, which ties in for the second-lowest percentage in the league.
To be clear, one of Lue’s top priorities is for the ball to rub against the paint, whether it’s through a guard drive or an entry pass to a big one. He doesn’t care much about where he travels from there – as long as it leads to an open view.
36% of their blows were taken ahead in the league when the nearest defender is between four and six feet away, an area the league describes as “open”. On the other hand, only 6.9% of attempts have come with a defender less than two feet away.
“The paint attack is particularly important,” said Paul George, who has made more than half of his three open points this season. “A lot of the three of us were set up driving to the paint and kicking it out. Paint first, spread out, after we’ve done our job of attacking and seeing what we have at the edge, and making plays from there. ”
That’s why Lue moved on to put out 32 points in the paintings against the Pelicans. Views at the edge will always look a high percentage, but as long as the bullet is open, Lue seems to have little choice as to where it will be built.
He helped against the Pelicans, whose defense is set up to pack the paint and cut driveways but could not block passing routes. Nearly two-thirds of the Clippers’ shots on Wednesday were taken by a defender at least four feet away. They gave 32 three open points and made half of them.
Clips Kawhi Leonard has blocked his shot with New Orleans Pelicans Brandon Ingram in the second quarter at the Staples Center on Wednesday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
“We’re No. 1 in the league in trip-and-shoot right now, so we’re doing a great job getting into the paint, and when teams are helping or do too much, we do a good job showering it out for three, or we do a swing pass for a man to shoot as well, ”said Lue. “We have to keep doing that, just take what the defense gives us.”
Though built around the one-on-one talents of Leonard, George and Lou Williams – a trio who are among the best in the league to create their own bullet – the Clippers ’offense has been on the burn away from the dribble to average. Instead, they have beaten gold by making the pass extra.
The Clippers (8-4) lead the league with 1.38 points per possession on all catch and drag chances, but their efficiency jumps to 1.61 points on holdings that end with a catch and drag chance. unprotected, all Synergy Sports. Nearly 81% of these unprotected catch and hunt baskets were supported.
No other teams come close in every division.
“PG, Kawhi and Lou are just great midrange hunters, so many times we get into the paint or get into that midrange area, they take the pictures, we want them to, but also realize that when we get deep into the paint as we go in, teams help, ”said Lue. “They do a good job of kicking it, making the pass extra. So it’s a good line because the scorers are good midrange hunters, but they can also attack the basket, spraying three open, which we’ve been preaching throughout the season. ”
Three starters receive career average support: Serge Ibaka (1.6), George (5.5) and Leonard (6.0). Leonard praised Ibaka’s ability to keep the ball moving after passing in pick and roll positions.
“We want to share it,” Leonard said. “We want to be better than the last game and we’re watching a movie and everyone’s trying and that’s all you can hope for.”
Nicolas Batum and Patrick Beverley, the other starters, have benefited. All 23 of Batum’s three points, and 22 of Beverley’s 24 from deep, have provided support that has started, more often than not, waiting for the ball just to -out of reach of the nearest defender.
“We’re not going out there just launching three, but I think [Leonard], PG, Lou, they make a hell of a play coming off pick-and-rolls, ”said Beverley. “Most of the three we shoot are very open, so you have to give everyone a lot of credit.”
UP Next
at Sacramento
When: Friday, 7pm
By air: TV: Master Ticket. Radio: 570, 1330.
Update: The Kings (5-7) have lost three of four, including losses to Portland and Toronto of at least 21 points. Tyrese Haliburton selects Rookie ‘s first round shooting 52% off the bench and averaging 12.6 points in the game. Coach Luke Walton Kings ’staff includes a pair of former Clippers supporters in the Kalamian Rex and Alvin Gentry.