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Paul George said the LA Clippers didn’t make any adjustments during their stunning NBA Playoff collapse last season when they lost a 3-1 second-round lead in the series to the Denver Nuggets. .
Appearing on the “All The Smoke” podcast with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes on Wednesday, a candid George opened up about the Clippers’ inability to do anything to stop the bleeding once Denver began their comeback, claiming that ‘they “had the same thing — happening over and over again.”
As coach Doc Rivers oversaw a 3-1 series lead for the second time in his tenure at the Clippers, George said the team was not sufficiently prepared. He also said the lack of training time due to injuries and circumstances during the season exacerbated the collapse as players were forced to try and sort out issues on the pitch during playoff games.
“It was tough, because we were confident,” George told Jackson and Barnes, when asked about the Clippers collapse. “We went up 3-1, we felt like we were going to win the next one. We lost. We [were] like, cool, we’re up 3-2, we’re gonna win the next one. We have lost. But during this whole process, we never worked on any adjustments. We never worked out what to do differently. We just literally have the same things — happening over and over again. It started to play a trick on you like, man, what’s going on?
“We’re talking to each other like the conversation is, we’re going to be fine. The conversation should have been like, no we have to change that, we have to change that. I don’t think we deserved it. We didn’t. been prepared enough to go. … we didn’t put the work in. It was kinda like, yo, we got PG, we got Kawhi [Leonard], Lou [Williams], Trezz [Montrezl Harrell]. We are going to be straight; we will find out. “
The Clippers have lost three straight games to Denver, falling short of the championship expectations they entered the season with. This led the team to part ways with Rivers, who couldn’t put the Clippers on the same page during a season full of injuries, little training time and constant disruption.
George, who missed the first 11 games of the regular season before returning and averaging 21.5 points and 5.7 rebounds, said his first season with the Clippers had a rocky start due to his inability during the summer of 2019 to train as he normally did. or attend a training camp with your new team after shoulder surgery.
“I missed this moment of the summer of playing pick-up, going in a circle, entering a rhythm, entering a flow, working on my game, the right timing”, a- he declared. “So when I came back and started playing again, I just felt like I didn’t feel like I was part of the team.”
George also said Rivers did not use his strengths, claiming he was used “like a Ray Allen or like a JJ Redick – all pindowns”.
“I can do it. But it’s not my game,” said George. “I need a little bit of fluidity. I need pick-and-roll mixes. I need post-ups. Just different touches. … And so, it was just, that last season was just tough overall. “
The Clippers are banking on Tyronn Lue, who replaced Rivers and stepped down as senior assistant last season, to improve the team’s in-game strategy and chemistry between Leonard, George and the Clippers role players. Lue said a major difference this season that should help chemistry is having Leonard and George healthy and making it to training camp.
“As much as I speak to Kawhi, he is delighted to be back on the pitch,” Lue said on Wednesday. “When you’re dealing with great players, when you lose early in the playoffs, you always can’t wait to come back. That’s what great players do. We all failed our goal last season, and we did. all know.
“Kawhi did a great job taking [initiative] to get guys on the phone, talk to guys, see more guys, ”Lue added. He did a great job on this. He’s excited to be back on the floor right after speaking with him, and we’re all excited too. “
Lue is no stranger to dealing with superstars and trying to hold them accountable. He won two championships as a Los Angeles Lakers player alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal and another title as a coach while guiding LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lue and George said the Clippers need a lot more time together on the floor in practice. George said this was one of the main reasons the Clippers were often not on the same page and could be seen barking at each other at times during the playoffs.
“I say we haven’t practiced all year, and it’s hard to do when you put together a new group of guys,” said George. “The problems you have during games, these things — can be solved in practice. You’re going to bang your head in practice, but you’re going to come out of this practice like, ‘OK, I understand that guy. know where it’s coming from. When that happened during games, it’s going to rub a little different.
“It’s hard to come back from that, especially in the playoffs. Then you’re like, ‘OK, that’s what it is. So okay, I got you. “That’s kind of how the team, that’s how we were and how we did it after things started to unfold and fall apart.
The Clippers return to camp this week on a different team, with Rivers going to the Philadelphia 76ers, Harrell signing with the Lakers and JaMychal Green joining the Nuggets. The Clippers added Serge Ibaka and Luke Kennard via free will and trade.
George said this season will be off to a different start just because he and Leonard will be healthier and able to work with the whole team.
“I think for this year everyone starts on a healthy page, we start on the same page,” George said. “Kawhi and I are going to be spending some time together working. I don’t think all is rushed for the season.”
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