By the time Ty Lue reached the podium for his postgame press conference on December 10th, most NBA observers had begun the burial process for his Los Angeles Clippers. Just over nine days after their acquisition of James Harden became official, the Clippers were, at the time, winless with their backcourt star, losing to a Dallas Mavericks squad that outscored them by an astounding 29 points in the second quarter alone.
“We had some good spurts,” Lue told reporters gathered in the bowels of the American Airlines Arena, trying desperately to put a good spin on a squad that had yet to reach the bottom.
Sensing the disbelief of the reporters surrounding him, Lue couldn’t help but smile to himself. "It's going to be good," the coach said as he rose out of his seat, perhaps speaking with more confidence than he may have felt. “They better take advantage of it now; we’ll be alright," he said as he walked back towards the locker room. It may not have occurred immediately, but "alright,” the Clippers have become.