Kawhi Leonard is showcasing the power and explosiveness that were part of his game before his knee surgery, but the Clippers still can't beat the Nuggets.
Denver “has owned us,” Lue acknowledged before tipoff, and his team fell to 2-8 against the Nuggets since 2021. But the Clippers’ struggles against the league’s upper crust aren’t limited to this Mile High matchup. Friday’s loss left the Clippers 5-13 against teams with .
Over those same 20 seasons, NBA finalists averaged a .619 winning percentage against teams with .500-or-better records. The lesson seems clear: The best teams typically sharpen themselves by regularly beating other good teams.“You beat teams that are ranked higher than you or teams that … have a better record than you, it definitely fuels the team,” said Clippers wingwho started at point guard for a third consecutive game versus Denver and had eight points and four assists.
Lue coached the 2017 and 2018 Cavaliers. In 2016, he became the only coach to win a title after falling behind three games to one in an NBA Finals. This is the same coach who unwinds by playing craps at the Vegas tables and cards at the team hotel. He coached the Clippers in 2021 to their deepest postseason run in franchise history after a ho-hum 21-17 record against winning teams. He views unfavorable odds as a challenge to be defied.
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