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New starting lineup, same result: Clippers’ losing streak stretches to six games

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The coach’s phrases earlier than tipoff appeared like a rallying cry.

His lineup selections led to a altering of the guard.

The results of the Clippers’ makes an attempt to jump-start this roster into a brand new model of itself: a 112-108 loss to Atlanta for a Clippers staff nonetheless caught in impartial because it passes the NBA season’s halfway level, nonetheless unable to achieve traction within the standings, nonetheless but to come back near reaching its vaunted potential after 48 minutes that felt like a microcosm of the earlier 41 video games.

Quick-handed once more, with Paul George’s hamstring sidelining him a second straight sport, the Clippers tried a brand new beginning lineup that authored an authoritative begin and a blown lead earlier than staging a second-half resuscitation this staff desperately wanted.

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Trailing middling Atlanta, a staff beset by questions on its management and future, by 14 at halftime, the Clippers responded like a staff that had heard coach Tyronn Lue comment, pointedly, earlier than tipoff that the shedding streak was “robust on our staff, however you bought to dig your self out of the outlet and we’ve been via worse.” Lue added his coda: “And so I’m ready for the struggle, so these guys received to get within the struggle with me.”

The Clippers erased their halftime deficit by taking that struggle to Atlanta, profitable the third quarter by 16, and led by as many as 11 with 6 minutes 31 seconds remaining within the sport. However 5 scoreless Clippers possessions later, the Hawks had solid a tie, and with 33 seconds left a Trae Younger floater pushed Atlanta forward by two as a part of a 19-6 Hawks run. Younger scored 14 of his 30 factors within the ultimate quarter.

Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard dunks throughout the first half towards the Atlanta Hawks.

(Mark J. Terrill / Related Press)

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When Kawhi Leonard missed a contested three-pointer, an offensive rebound afforded Marcus Morris Sr. a wide-open probability to take the lead, however his three-pointer bounced off the rim and Atlanta ended the sport with free throws.

The Clippers are 21-21, however “seeing what we did tonight, I used to be inspired,” Lue mentioned, and but the sixth straight loss is the staff’s longest shedding streak since November 2017.

“Guys are nonetheless being optimistic,” mentioned Leonard, who scored 29 factors. “That is the spot the place, see when you actually benefit from the sport and if we’re a staff, seeing if we will dig out this gap.”

The livid end capped a notable begin: The benching of level guard Reggie Jackson, who had began each sport because the 2021 postseason, for Terance Mann, the wing whose function only one week in the past was undefined.

Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard, middle, shoots as Atlanta Hawks forwards De’Andre Hunter, left, and John Collins defend throughout the second half.

(Mark J. Terrill / Related Press)

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“My function?” Mann mentioned. “I don’t know. I imply, I had 100 totally different roles already. So it could possibly be something. I imply, I’m prepared for no matter.”

Three days after Leonard was vital of the staff not taking part in with sufficient velocity, urgency or ball motion, Mann crashed via the lane earlier than helping Ivica Zubac, who had 17 factors and 18 rebounds. Mann was not a one-for-one substitute for Jackson’s ballhandling: Extra typically the tempo was managed by Leonard, who turned the nook on excessive decide and rolls together with his eyes on the rim and utilized stress on Atlanta’s protection to determine an early eight-point lead, doing the issues he had requested for days earlier.

Leonard’s “tempo” left Lue most inspired, he mentioned. Leonard mentioned he loved the extra uptempo nature of the brand new beginning lineup.

This was totally different — however actual change for the Clippers getting into the season’s second half hinges on the vitality lasting all through a number of lineups, not solely the primary.

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Although Lue made a philosophical change together with his beginning lineups, the identical was not the case with the development of his bench models.

Although Lue repeatedly has requested for his staff to play with a extra targeted “defensive mindset,” he employed within the first half a three-guard lineup that has struggled all through the season to attain and defend. Jackson, John Wall and Norman Powell — Luke Kennard was unavailable due to a sore ankle — have been a part of a shift wherein the Clippers gave up 13 unanswered factors in fewer than three minutes to push Atlanta forward 40-30.

But the lapses went past the bench. The primary half ended with two Hawks dunks in three seconds after Leonard misplaced monitor of John Collins in a defensive swap, and Collins snuck behind Leonard for an alley-oop. Then Wall’s inbounds go was intercepted for a dunk and 14-point Hawks lead.

Mann’s insertion into the beginning lineup begged the query of how a lot the change was designed to final, and the way a lot of it stemmed from Lue, already understanding his lineups could be altered due to Kennard and George’s absence, throwing a brand new thought in hopes of lighting a short-term fireplace. Both approach, onerous rotation choices are coming for Lue as he types out the roles and tasks for his glut of guards, 4 weeks earlier than the NBA’s commerce deadline. If Mann continues his transformation from the rotation’s odd man out to a fixture, the trickle-down impact would have penalties for Jackson, Wall and Kennard.

For one evening, Lue made his selection recognized, maintaining Jackson on the bench for your entire second half whereas Powell and Wall, who performed greater than 22 minutes apiece, have been featured closely within the third-quarter comeback. However when the comeback couldn’t maintain, the entire new appears provided by the Clippers devolved into the all-too acquainted.

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