- Tyronn Lue says the regular season is important and the Clippers need to focus on it.
- He revealed that he told Kawhi Leonard and Paul George that they need to take it more seriously in 2023-24
- Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have both averaged below 50 games per season for the last four years
The Los Angeles Clippers have been in the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era since 2019, but have failed to make it to the NBA Finals even once in four seasons.
A large part of the Clippers’ woes have been related to injuries. And while Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have been unfortunate, the team’s load management strategy has also been called into question. And Ty Lue revealed what he told his superstars about that ahead of the 2023-24 season.
“One thing I told Kawhi and PG recently was that we do gotta approach the regular season in a different way,” Lue said on All The Smoke. “Most of the regular season, let’s be serious about it. Let’s not wait till the playoffs.
“Cuz it matters. Who you get matches up with, who’s got home-court advantage, not fighting the last 10 games so we’re not in the play-in. So now you can get your rest. Now you can get yourself together and get yourself ready for the playoffs. So they both understood that as well.”
Ty Lue confirms that he told Kawhi Leonard and Paul George that the Clippers need to take the Regular Season more seriously.
Via #AllTheSmoke @shobasketball pic.twitter.com/okiingQ7HI
— Clippers UK (@ClippersUK) July 26, 2023
Kawhi Leonard’s injury issues have been around for a long time, and Paul George has struggled with his fair share too. George has played just 189 regular season games in the last four seasons, less than 50 a year. And Kawhi Leonard has played in 161, which is an even lower number.
Paul George Knows That Load Management Is Hurting The Players
Injuries are more likely to occur when players are playing stop-start basketball in the season than grinding and getting themselves in shape. Paul George opened up about it recently, admitting that this is a problem for many current NBA stars.
“Teams don’t really practice, you know we’re not getting up and down,” said George. “They think by giving us time off it’s helped managing our bodies but it’s really making us weaker as players.”
For the Los Angeles Clippers, next season is crucial. The ownership has invested heavily in the team and is still trying to get them more help. James Harden is reportedly being pursued to form a Big 3, but their existing superstars need to step it up regardless.
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