The Clippers accidentally ended their six-game winning streak since the start of the season.
And what ended their six-game winning streak was not a strong team, but an underdog, the Timberwolves, who gave away points.
What's the problem? Was it Tyronn Lue's improper command?
There is definitely one thing. Tyronn Lue laid out a similar strategy to yesterday's 50-point game before the game.
Shrink the inside line, protect the three-second zone, slow down the pace and play with the Timberwolves.
In terms of lineup strength, the Clippers have a good chance of winning no matter how they play the Timberwolves.
But NBA games have always been full of uncertainties, and the biggest uncertainty tonight is the shooting feel of the players on both sides.
This is also a key factor that often determines the trend of a game, and there is usually no sign before the game.
The Timberwolves' touch was explosive at the Staples Center tonight, and the outside players could shoot three-pointers no matter what.
In the first quarter, the Clippers pursued a shrinking defensive strategy, but were defeated by a three-point bomb from the Timberwolves, winning 37:27 in a single quarter.
10 points behind!
Tyronn Lue is not a fool. Upon seeing this, he immediately adjusted and returned to one-on-one defense on the outside to expand the defense.
But things like shooting feel are continuous. Once you develop it in the first game, the basket will be like the sea in the game.
Love, Wesley Johnson, and Ridnour all hit three-pointers from the outside.
The Clippers' defense was a little exhausted.
In fact, the Clippers' defensive level is not at the top of the league.
What's great about them is their offense, both internally and externally, and they are extremely powerful at every point.
Be creative and be creative, be calm and steady.
But Tyronn Lue is an assistant coach with the Celtics.
He has indeed begun to accept some basketball ideas of the new era.
But how to apply it in practice, his observation and experience are not enough.
For a team like the Celtics whose defense dominates the rhythm, once the situation is not going well, the coach will subconsciously adjust the defense.
The offensive end is left to Rondo and the Big Three, and they will respond on the court.
Therefore, Tyronn Lue called a timeout and kept emphasizing defense and adjusting defense.
As a result, the Clippers were led by the Timberwolves.
On offense, Curry did not feel good tonight and did not hit a three-pointer in the first half.
I don’t know if yesterday’s 50-point battle consumed too much physical energy from the players.
Except for Curry, everyone else's outside touch is not good either.
At halftime, the Clippers were 61:49, trailing the Timberwolves by 12 points.
Fortunately, the Clippers are not a team that relies solely on three-pointers.
Inside, Randolph still plays a role as a talisman.
During halftime, Tyronn Lue motivated the players in the locker room.
It still had some effect, and the Clippers launched a counterattack in the third quarter.
However, the Clippers' counterattack this time was not the same as before. Wave after wave, beating the opponent to death in five minutes.
Instead, they relied on the inside to chase back bit by bit. It took one quarter to overtake the score at the end of the third quarter.
82:83, trailing by 1 point entering the fourth quarter.
It may be that the tired way of chasing points in the third quarter exhausted the players' energy.
In the fourth quarter, the Clippers' defense was once again overwhelmed by the Timberwolves' three-pointers.
Under the leadership of Love, the Timberwolves launched a 12:2 offensive shock wave and regained the advantage.
After that, the Clippers were obviously weak and lacked energy, and Tyronn Lue didn't know how to make the most appropriate adjustments.
He has no idea how to use these players.
We can only let Curry, Harden, Randolph and other main players stay on the court as much as possible.
In fact, physical fitness is very important for shooters.
Once his physical fitness declines, his outside touch will decline drastically.
Curry has played more than 40 minutes tonight, more than in each of the previous six games.
Although Curry has a lot of physical fitness and is one of the league's physical monsters, after more than 40 minutes of playing, his shooting was really uncertain.
In a crucial three-point shot, Curry missed, Kevin Love got a backcourt rebound, and the Clippers had to foul and send Love to the free throw line.
Love made one of two free throws, and the Clippers had a final chance to equalize.
But after Tyronn Lue called a timeout, he took the tactical board and drew for a long time, drawing a three-point tactic of using the baseline around the screen, which the Clippers rarely used.
This tactic is commonly used by the Celtics. Ray Allen ambush in one of the bottom corners, and then use double screens to circle the baseline to catch the ball and shoot three-pointers.
The Clippers also use this tactic, but they don't use it much. It's not that Curry doesn't know it, but the Clippers' offensive tactics are mainly based on passing and cutting.
This more traditional tactic of off-ball shooters covering catches and shots is rarely used by the Clippers.
Tyronn Lue designed this tactic, so everyone will run according to this tactic, covering Curry and Harden holding the ball.
But the cover was not successful. Harden changed his tactical intention and chose to pass inside to Gasol.
As a result, Gasol received the ball incorrectly, the ball went out of the baseline, and he made a mistake. The Clippers lost this opportunity to equalize the score.
At the end of the game, the Clippers unexpectedly lost the game, 101:98, ending their six-game winning streak.
This defeat is still a bit difficult for the Clippers players to accept. In the previous two seasons, the Timberwolves were just giving away points.
Not to mention in Los Angeles, when they were in Minnesota, the Timberwolves couldn't help but the Clippers bombarded them indiscriminately.
Curryu remembers that it was when he faced the Timberwolves that he found the feeling of the NBA game and began to get more playing opportunities.
Curry's performance tonight was very average. Although he scored 21 points, he made 2 of 7 three-pointers and his shooting rate was low.
James Harden scored 17 points and dished out 10 assists, but had 4 turnovers.
Including the last pass, although the mistake was recorded on Gasol's head, it was actually Harden's failure to pass the ball well.
But in the final analysis, there is still a problem with Tyronn Lue's tactical arrangement. Everyone is not familiar with this tactic and has practiced it too little.
If you don’t practice enough, don’t have a tacit understanding, and don’t do some details well, you won’t be able to run well.
Harden's idea is actually right. If he scores two points, commits another foul and makes a free throw, he still has a chance.
Unfortunately, luck was not on the Clippers' side tonight, and they unfortunately lost the game.
The person under the greatest pressure was Tyronn Lue. They lost the first game and the Clippers were ruined.
There will definitely be overwhelming doubts about him from the outside world.
Maybe some people have started to miss Min Congda as a coach.
Don't look at it as a mess, it seems like there is no order, this is the same as that.
In fact, we were talking about it and it was pretty good.
The subjective initiative of the players has been mobilized.
Now when we lose, look at Curry. He played more than 40 minutes and didn't play well.
Players who were able to play before had less playing time, or even no chance at all.
Everyone returned to the locker room, and Tyronn Lue could clearly feel that the atmosphere was not very good.
Several members of the coaching staff had playful expressions on their faces.
Especially Cole's half-smiling smile, I don't know what he is feeling.
Tyronn Lue bit the bullet and attended the post-game press conference.
When faced with reporters' questions, Tyronn Lue took all the responsibility for the defeat on himself.
"I'm not familiar enough with the team, and there are some problems with my command. I still have to adapt to the pressure and challenges this position brings."
In short, Tyronn Lue is in a very low mood. Yes, who can be in a good mood in this situation?
In fact, there are still some.
When the news interview ended and he returned to the locker room, Tyronn Lue discovered that Min Congda was here.
He obviously wasn't watching the game from the sidelines tonight, so why is he here now? Are you here to blame me?
Tyronn Lue felt a little panicked. When Smart led the team, they had consecutive victories.
Well now, he got off to a bad start and lost the first game.
You have to say that losing to the Lakers and Thunder doesn't matter.
You lost to the Timberwolves?
The Clippers haven't lost to the Timberwolves in the past two seasons.
The Timberwolves are so cowardly this season and you can still lose.
I really need to be scolded.
However, when Min Congda saw Tyronn Lu, he immediately came over and patted Tyronn Lue hard on the shoulder.
"Thank you for your hard work! This is the first game of my coaching career! Not bad! You played well!"
Tyronn Lu thought to himself, did he hear it correctly? Mr. Smart was praising me? Pretty good?
This is sarcasm, it must be sarcasm.
But looking at Min Congda's relaxed and natural expression, it didn't seem like he was being sarcastic.
Tyronn Lue could only say: "Sorry Mr. Smart, I didn't direct the game well in the first game."
Min Congda hurriedly said: "No! Although I was not at the scene, I was watching the game at home. I think your command was very good. Keep up the good work! Don't be blinded by the temporary failure. We must look at the game from a long-term perspective~ You Do you understand? I think you don’t understand it very well. When you work for the Clippers for a long time, you will understand!”
"In short, you did a good job tonight. Remember, winning or losing at one time or another is not important. Maintaining yourself is the most important thing."
After Min Congda said this with a smile, he left happily.
Tyronn Lu looked at Min Congda's leaving figure and suddenly felt a huge power rising in his heart.
Always good at boosting morale, he felt inspired, truly inspired.
"No wonder, no wonder some people say that Smart is a great person. I finally realize it."
Some people died, but not completely...
