Dec 31, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; LA Clippers head coach Ty Lue in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
After losing to the Miami Heat 103-95 in Miami the previous evening, the Los Angeles Clippers traveled to Atlanta on a chilly February night and triumphed over the Hawks, 149-144 in the end, setting up a historic meeting. It was the fifth of February. With a record of 35-16, the Clippers raced up to first place in the Western Conference after fumbling out of the gates to begin the season 3-7. The Clippers’ journey to the playoffs has been somewhat eventful.
This is now, and that was then. The Clippers have only gone 9-11 in the fifty days that have passed since that night in the ATL. And following their comfortable 133-116 home loss to the Indiana Pacers last night, they are now perilously close to fifth place in the standings.Clippers Attempting to Beat Out Pelicans Ty Lue succinctly and forcefully summarised his team’s recent futility at last night’s press conference following yet another loss. “At this point, do we have an identity?” he asked. “I think, yeah. We’re soft,” he would then reply. It remains to be seen how Lue’s team will react to his scathing commentary. In the end, that will determine whether or not they halt their losing streak and keep sliding down the standings, possibly jeopardizing the playoffs entirely. The Clippers Challenger for 4th On the other hand, on the other side of things, one need only look as far as the team that has recently surpassed the Clippers’ position in the Western Conference standings—that is, none other than the formidable New Orleans Pelicans.
