There are coaches who arrive on a new bench and who must therefore teach their methods to their group, there are those who have kept almost the same squad and will insist on certain points. Tyron Lue is he between the two. He stayed with the Clippers, even extending his contract, but saw his squad change.
Paul George and Russell Westbrook were gone when Derrick Jones Jr, Kris Dunn, Kevin Porter Jr. and Mo Bamba arrived. In addition to Cam Christie, 46th choice in the last Draft. We must now give the keys to these recruits, so that they fit into the mold of the Clippers.
Isn't it frustrating for a coach to go through this stage? “I love it”, answers clearly the Los Angeles coach. “I have something to do. I teach the young people, the newcomers, how we operate offensively, what we try to do. »
“I have to be sure they understand the concepts before we can move forward. It's my job”
And like any good teacher, Steve Kerr's assistant on the Team USA bench this summer, during the Paris Olympic Games, cares about his teaching. The speech must get through, no matter how long it takes.
“That’s the most important thing for me: I have to make sure that I don’t go too fast, nor too slow,” continues Tyronn Lue. “I have to be sure they understand the concepts before we can move forward. It's my job. We've worked a lot these last few days, I hope they've absorbed it well. If this is not the case, we slow down and continue to come before shootaround and training so that they are in tune. »
If among the Clippers' summer recruits, we did not mention Nicolas Batum, it is obviously voluntary. The Frenchman has already worn this jersey, already played under the orders of the former Cavaliers coach.
In his mission, Tyronn Lue will be helped by his new assistant, Jeff Van Gundy, and by his patience.
“I am”he smiles. “You have to be patient with a group. We can't get angry. The guys pick things up really well. I love teaching. I like to make sure that we are in a good position, that the players understand why we do certain things: why the screen is here and not there, why we have to be here to make this pass instead of there- down. It's a lot of learning but it's enjoyable. »
