You can bet billionaire Steve Ballmer’s bottom dollar that when Kawhi Leonard described the Clippers’ up-and-down play as “very concerning,” it stirred some real concern among the team’s fans, too.

“I mean, it’s very concerning,” Leonard said Sunday night, when the Clippers chased an impressive 130-104 victory over Golden State with a lopsided 135-115 loss in New Orleans.

“We want to have a chance at anything, you gotta be consistent,” the two-time NBA Finals MVP continued. “That’s what the great teams do, they’re consistent. They have their nights when the energy’s not there, but it’s all about consistency, from teams, to players to coaches. That’s what makes a team great. players great, coaches great. A consistency of wanting to win, and doing pretty much the same habits of winning.”

The Clippers – consistent in their ability to bounce back, anyway, having lost consecutive games only twice this season – responded to Sunday’s shellacking with a winning effort the next night in Dallas. They beat the Mavericks, 109-99, on Monday, in the first of two meetings with them this week.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue credited Leonard and his co-star Paul George for getting their teammates going.

“Kawhi set the tone defensively the other night, having seven deflections, four steals,” Lue said. “PG was very engaged.”

Lue noted too that the Clippers’ new-look starting lineup gave itself a boost with spirited defense early, including forcing Dallas into a shot clock violation on its first possession: “Just the physicality at all five positions, I think really set the tone for us.”

The question, of course, was whether the Clippers would maintain that edge against the Mavericks on Wednesday and whether L.A. can make a habit of playing with that type of defensive energy.

Before tip-off of the rematch, Lue said that will be up to the guys in uniform.

“A lot of it has to come from internally,” he said. “We can talk about it all we want, but I can’t go out and play for the guys, you know?”

‘HEARTS, THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS’ FOR BRADLEY

Former Mavericks center Shawn Bradley suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury on Jan. 20 that left him paralyzed, according to a statement from the team.

After Bradley, 48, was struck from behind by a car while riding his bicycle a block from his home in St. George, Utah, he underwent neck fusion surgery and has spent the past eight weeks in a hospital, undergoing rehabilitation, the statement said.

“With his wife Carrie at his side around the clock, and supported by an amazing team of rehabilitation specialists and family, Bradley is in good spirits,” read the statement, in part. “He plans to use his accident as a platform to bring greater public awareness to the importance of bicycle safety.”

Before answering questions, both Dallas coach Rick Carlisle and Lue opened their pregame media availability sessions by offering their thoughts and prayers to Bradley and his family.

“Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out,” Carlisle said. “All of Mavericks Nation feels the same sentiments.”

Lue said he has fond memories of facing Bradley on the court, where the 7-foot-6 center towered over the 6-foot point guard the nine times their teams met.

“Playing against him, he might have been the biggest, tallest person I’ve ever seen in my life at that point until I had a chance to be with Yao Ming,” Lue said. “But just seeing him and seeing how he played – a shot blocker. To be so thin and small, he had a lot of toughness behind him. Just a treat to see and play against him – and seeing the height difference between me and him was unbelievable.

“He was always a great guy, you know?” Lue added. “I was young in the game and he still always spoke to me and talked and things like that. I just want to send my condolences out to him and his family.”

from Irvine Business Signs https://ift.tt/3txO2Qw
via Irvine Sign Company

signsanaheim

See Full Bio