Newly appointed Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue attributes last season’s chemistry due to a lack of time playing together.
Lue served as an assistant coach last year under Doc Rivers and knows the Clippers infamous chemistry problems perhaps better than anybody in the world.
“I think when you talk about chemistry and continuity, it is not off the court, the guys not liking each other,” Lue said in his introductory news conference on Wednesday via ESPN.
“When you talk about chemistry, it is more so [Paul George] came in and he had shoulder surgery, so he was out, he missed the whole training camp and was out the first 11 games of the season. Kawhi [Leonard] came in and couldn’t participate in the whole training camp, and then we lost Pat Beverley, in and out of the lineup a few times.”
Pundits and casual fans alike noted how the Clippers seemed out of sync all season – which makes sense considering how little time the team’s seven best players spent on the court together.
Lue won a championship as the head coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Now, despite the chemistry challenges, he says he’s ready to do it again.
“I want to be one of the greatest coaches,” Lue said.
“In order to be great, you have to win.”