Inglewood — The Los Angeles Clippers are feeling the pressure as they seek to improve their performance and chemistry on the court. Head coach Tyronn Lue emphasized the need for urgent action following a tough 105-102 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks, marking the team’s fourth consecutive loss. He indicated that the time for gradual improvement has passed, stressing the importance of immediate results.
Despite a valiant effort from James Harden, who recorded a 35-point triple-double, the Clippers were unable to maintain momentum in the face of their struggles. The game was close, especially towards the end, but Harden’s missed attempts to equalize in the final seconds proved costly. In the closing minutes, he was fouled while shooting a three-pointer, successfully converting the ensuing free throw to narrow the score to 105-102. However, his rushed game-tying attempt fell short, and a final pass intended for Nicolas Batum slipped through his hands, allowing the Hawks to run out the clock.
The Clippers showed promise early on with a strong defensive display, establishing a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter. However, as the game progressed, they fell back into old patterns, yielding a significant edge to the Hawks. Atlanta capitalized on their fast-break opportunities, scoring 20 points while the Clippers managed just four, reflecting a worrying trend in the Clippers’ transition defense, which ranks 26th in the league this season, a drop from their previous year’s top rankings.
Center Ivica Zubac highlighted that the team must improve on key fundamentals if they hope to turn their season around. “We’ve got to score more. We got to rebound the ball. We got to get back in transition,” he stated. Zubac, who tallied 13 points and 12 rebounds, expressed concern that the issues they have faced transcended player injuries, such as missing star Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal.
Although the Hawks were themselves missing key players, including Trae Young, they found a way to fight back after being down by 17 points, largely due to guard Vit Krejci’s exceptional perimeter shooting. Krejci finished the night with a career-high 28 points, demonstrating the evening’s unpredictability.
Lue made lineup adjustments, starting 6-foot-9 forward John Collins in hopes of revitalizing the team’s performance and putting immediate pressure on opponents. Despite their promising start, the team was unable to sustain the intensity needed to secure a win.
Zubac remains optimistic about a turnaround, suggesting that maintaining teamwork and resilience will be crucial as they head into tough matchups, including a notable game against Denver. “It’s not going to get easier… we just gotta stick together, keep working, keep getting better and it’s going to change,” he affirmed.
As the Clippers look ahead, they are determined to address their shortcomings and improve their execution on both ends of the court, holding onto hope that a critical adjustment period could soon yield the results they desperately need.