After an epic Game 6 encounter tied the series at 3-3, Ty Lue has made a strong statement about the Clippers’ mindset heading into Game 7 against the Nuggets in the NBA playoffs.
The Los Angeles Clippers held on in a tense Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets at home to grab a 111-105 win. This has set up a delicious Game 7 that will decide the series.
James Harden is enhancing his playoff legacy with his play this season, and he was instrumental in leading his team to a win on Thursday night.
Harden had 28 points, and he was ably assisted by Kawhi Leonard‘s 27 and Norman Powell’s 24. What made it so special is that the Beard played nearly the entirety of the game.
Ty Lue gets a lot of credit for managing the roster in a way that secured this victory. Having clinched a Game 7, the Clippers’ coach seems excited for his team to play it already.
Coach Lue has unwavering faith in his players, he credited an unsung Clippers hero earlier during the series. And he knows just how to motivate his troops, too.
The series has been as evenly matched as possible, with barely anything separating the two teams. Anything can happen in Game 7, but Lue is not scared.
“We just gotta go for it, you know?” Lue said in his postgame press conference. “Lay everything out on the line.
“These (moments) are what you live for. Growing up as a kid, being in the playoffs, Game 7s. So, we gotta come ready to go.
“Especially with a defensive mindset, but offensively being aggressive, attacking the paint, attacking the basket, and go from there.”
The Clippers and Kawhi have been playing the best playoff basketball they have in years. Paul Pierce even described it as the ‘purest form of basketball’ earlier in the series.
And the domination on both ends was on display during the 3rd quarter of Game 6. A 12-0 run during which the Nuggets were held scoreless for nearly five minutes is the perfect example of it.
Not many analysts or fans gave the Clippers much of a chance after the team traded Paul George away before the start of this season.
However, the Beard and the Klaw both turning back the clock along with the genius of Ty Lue could put all those narratives to bed with a Game 7 victory.
