KEY POINTS

  • New LA Clippers head coach Tyronne Lue wants Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to adjust to his system
  • Lue also pointed out that Leonard and George will be leading the team on the defensive end as well
  • The former Cavs coach will have a new perspective in terms of leadership

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronne Lue has vowed to bring in a new system in which superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George would have to be accustomed to.

After blowing a 3-1 lead over the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the past NBA playoffs, the Clippers brought in Lue to replace Doc Rivers.

Ahead of his debut season with the Clippers as a coach, the former Laker addressed a few things about the team’s new outlook.

The Clippers squad is currently led by two perennial All-Stars, Leonard and George. While Lue acknowledges that the pair will still be playing their game, he emphasized that they are bound to make certain adjustments with him on board.

“Kawhi [Leonard] and PG [Paul George] are going to have to adjust to my system and my program,” Lue recently told ESPN. “But also, I also have to be able to adjust to their comfort zone and what makes them better.”

Leonard and George have proven their abilities to lead the young Clippers team offensively. Last season, the dynamic duo led the team in scoring, averaging a combined nearly 50 points per game.

However, Lue is also appointing both scorers to lead the team defensively next season.

“Also setting the tone defensively of being the two best two-way players in the league,” the coach said. “I think it starts on the defensive end with those two guys setting a tone defensively.”

Another notable factor Lue has addressed is “leadership.” For the former Cleveland Cavaliers coach, nothing is consistent in terms of leadership and he doesn’t expect Leonard and George to solely play the role.

Instead, Lue stressed that the job will be done by the entire team while maintaining constant communication.

"Leadership is different," he explained. "You can talk about our two players, Kawhi and PG, they lead by example. And you are not going to have the best players [and] be the natural leaders at all times. It doesn't happen like that. I think a lot of leadership has to come from me, has to come from Kawhi, PG, Lou [Williams] and Pat Beverley. It's going to be collective."

"I don't know everything. They don't know everything. The biggest thing about leadership is just communication," Lue added.

The Clippers are looking to bounce back from a humiliating 2019-20 post-season. Aside from Lue, the team hasn’t made any major revamping on their roster.

Paul George Kawhi Leonard Clippers
Paul George #13 Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard #2 during overtime against Boston Celtics at Staples Center on November 20, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images