Clippers -Trainer Tyronn Lue Ripper his team after loss to Lakers

Tyronn Lue sat with crossed arms, his voice stable and his message aware of his dissatisfaction with how Mowers provoked him with their recent performances and how they all have to look in the mirror to solve their problems.

It was more than just 122-97 beatdown of lakers Tuesday night at the Intuit Dome, which had Lue Disturbed. That was the way his group played in the last three games that had the Clippers coach in a rare moment of tearing his players.

“And we’ve been good, so I can’t be, you know, all the way disturbed,” Lue said. “But the last three matches have really confused me.”

Clippers were down with 31 points to Lakers at one point, just the latest performance Lue took off.

Read more: Lakers conducting Clippers, winning their first game after emotional Anthony Davis -handel

He also pointed to Clippers’ victory over Charlotte and their losses in Toronto.

“We just don’t get started with good starts,” Lue said. “So we don’t lock in defensively. Like 45 points in the first quarter (for Lakers), as it’s just too many. And then we got proud to protect.

“That’s the one we’ve been all season long, and now the last three games we have kind of let our guards down, and that’s what’s happening. So we have to be better. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and think about, we will win or not. It must be our mentality. And then three games in a row we come out with not a big defensive performance, and it’s just not to put enough into the game. Even at the offensive end, not to put much into the game. And then when that happens, you get blown up as we did tonight. “

Lakers shot 54.9% from the field and 48.6% from the range of three-point. This was against a star’s clipper’s defense, which was placed in third place in NBA in points given up (107.2) and other in defensive efficiency (106.2) that entered the game.

“Focus, um, intensity, forces. Whatever you want to call it, ”Lue said. “We don’t bring it. So we have to solve it. “

Kawhi Leonard had only 11 points on four-for-11 shooting.

He was asked why the effort has been a problem for Clippers in recent games.

“I don’t know,” Leonard said. “It’s hard to say. We all get paid to play this game and leave it all on the floor. So I’m not sure. “

Leonard is still limited in his minutes. He played only 22:26. But at least he talked to the media after the game.

James Harden left without talking to the media. He had only seven points, missed 10 of 12 shots and was minus-16 in almost 30 minutes.

Clippers came out of a four-game ride over eight days, but refused to use it as an apology.

“We have to, as T-Lue said, see ourselves in the mirror first and be able to get out here and do our job,” Leonard said. “This is where it starts. Can’t look over the shoulder for help with these things about playing hard. “

Read more: Patty Mills, who won an NBA title with Kawhi Leonard, reunite with him on Clippers

With his team down 25 with 6:58 back, Lue had seen enough. He pulled his starters. Two of the players who came in were Patty Mills and Drew Eubanks, acquired on Saturday from Utah Jazz for Mo Bamba, PJ Tucker, a 2030-round choice and cash considerations.

Lue talked a lot about Mills and Eubanks.

“Two solid guys that you love to have on your team,” said Lue. “Plays the right way. Playing hard, competing. “

The NBA trading deadline is Thursday, more than enough time for Clippers to make another step. With that in mind, Lue was asked if Clippers has enough to do a deep race.

“Yes, I feel like that,” said Lue. “Once we are able to get Kawhi’s minutes to the place where we need to get them and he is 100%, which means timing, which means just conditionally, we can run. We can beat anyone anytime. We, if we are not playing the right way we could lose for some team. So we have enough in the dressing room to win games and go deep in the playoffs. And then we just have to have the right mindset, play for each other, and everything can happen. “

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.