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The epic collapse called for some self reflection.

Less than two weeks after the Los Angeles Clippers squandered a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer did something he would have previously considered unthinkable.

Ballmer met with Doc Rivers, a man he considered a fantastic championship coach and a mentor. Ballmer then said he and Rivers concluded they should end a six-year partnership that yielded six playoff appearances without advancing past the second round.

It's very important to me that we not do anything in the heat of the moment, Ballmer said in a conference call Wednesday. That's not rational, like, 'Oh, we lost a game.'That's not sane. We took our time. Doc and I took our time together and arrived to the point we did.

After that, the Clippers had an exhaustive coaching search. They then simply hired from within by elevating assistant coach Tyronn Lue, whom Ballmer considered to be the best coach in the NBA four years after coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers to a league championship.

Ty Lue has learned from accomplished coaches (Doc Rivers, Gregg Popovich, Brad Stevens, Nick Nurse, Erik Spoelstra, Stan Van Gundy, Scott Skiles).(Photo: The Associated Press)

It's no secret we have had a difficult month, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said. We lost a series we were in position to win. We said goodbye to a coach we all greatly admire. We all take responsibility for what took place and have been working hard toward making the necessary improvements. The first step was finding the best head coach to lead us forward and grow with our group.

And with that, Lue has spent the past month pondering a question players have raised themselves. Why did a championship-contending team lack consistent chemistry?

We're talking about chemistry and continuity, and it's not more so off the court and guys not liking each other, Lue said. It was hard to get continuity and chemistry throughoutthe season because we didn't have a lot of practice time for our starting unit or our whole team for a large part of the season. When we talk about chemistry and continuity, it's more so on the basketball court of just being familiar with guys.

The Clippers spent the 2019-20 season missing a combined 114 games due to injuries and fielding 33 different starting lineups. That included Kawhi Leonard missing 13 games because of his left knee as well as Paul George sitting for 16 following surgery on both shoulders.

That did not stop the Clippers from finishing with the Western Conferences second-best record (49-23). But the Clippers experienced uneven performances during the season restart in the NBAs campus bubble partly because of their continued lack of continuity.

Lou Williams, the Clippers scoring specialist off the bench, spent 10 days in quarantine after veering from a pre-approved trip to his mentors funeral to stop at an Atlanta strip club for takeout food. Patrick Beverley, the defensive stalwart, missed four games. Montrezl Harrell, the NBAs 6th Man of the Year and adependable pick-and-roll scorer and defender, missed the season restart while spending time with his ailing grandmother.

Even when the Clippers finally fielded a full roster against Denver, they still struggled. George shot a combined 10-of-47 in Games 2-of-4 against Dallas in their first-round series, and attributed the slump toward mental health issues in the bubble. Despite rebounding with three more 30-point performances, George had only 10 points in a Game 7 loss to Denver. After staying consistent for most of the postseason, Leonard shot 6-of-22 in that same game.

I don't think we played our best basketball most of the time, frankly, we were in the bubble, Ballmer said. Certainly the way we ended our season, that really disappointed me.

Afterwards, the Clippers did not blame Rivers solely for that outcome.

We pride ourselves on being a tough, gritty, resilient team and for many different reasons, we weren't, Lawrence said. That's something we all have to look in the mirror; that we didn't respond to Denver's constant jabs to us; that we weren't able to be that tough, resilient group. So we have got to look deep within why that happened. But also give Denver credit. It's not as much as we lost as they took it, and you have to acknowledge that they were the better team for that series."

Still, the Clippers determined Lue as a better candidate both because of his familiarity with the roster and having a track record with a similar circumstance.

The Cavaliers fired head coach David Blatt midway through the 2015-16 season despite making the NBA Finals the previous season and starting off his second year with a 30-11 record. Lue then proved he could handle a group led by LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love that overcame a 3-1 series deficit to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

Can Lue pull off a similar feat with the Clippers? No pressure, but his ability to do that might influence if Leonard and George stay since both can opt out of their contracts next summer.

I'm big on pressure because if you don't have pressure that doesn't mean you have a chance of winning the championship, Lue said. When you talk about pressure, that means you're in a situation to win. That's what I want to do. I want to be one of the greatest coaches.

Ballmer already sees Lue as one of those great coaches.

Lue learned from accomplished coaches (Rivers, Gregg Popovich, Brad Stevens, Nick Nurse, Erik Spoelstra, Stan Van Gundy, Scott Skiles). He played for the NBAs winningest coach (Phil Jackson). He played with a demanding superstar (Kobe Bryant). He coached a demanding superstar (James).

After the Cavs fired Lue following a 0-6 start in the 2018-19 season, he spent time bettering himself. He consulted his mentors, watched film and drew up plays. He improved his sleeping patterns and diet to lose 35 pounds.

Hes a thinker, he's a connecter, he's a dynamic leader who lifts you, even as he challenges you, Frank said of Lue. He's got the X's and O's. He's got the resume. He's also got the feel. It comes across in the way he sees the game from every angle and the way he relays his vision.

Still, Lue has some areas to address. Will Lue handle Leonards load management differently to ensure better chemistry?

It's something that I have to talk to with the medical staff and performance team, Lue said. I can't answer that question right now, but the most important thing is the health of our players.

Lue has already spoken to Leonard and George after his hiring. Once Lue finalizes hisstaff, how will he maximize what Leonard and George can offer on the court?

They have to adjust to my system and my program, but also have to be able to adjust to them, to their comfort zone and what makes them better, Lue said. It starts on the defensive end with those two guys of setting the tone every night.

Lastly, Lue conceded the team needs to play at faster at a better pace and improve its ball movement and spacing. But how will he handle a leadership vacuum that has entailed a stoic Leonard and George as well as a more outspoken bench unit in Williams, Beverley and Harrell?

You're not going to have the best players be the natural leaders at all times. It doesn't happen like that, Lue said. A lot of leadership has to come from me. I think it comes from Kawhi. I think it comes from PG and I think it comes from Lou and Pat Beverley. I don't think you can just say leadership isone person and put that demand on one person to do that. I think we have to do it as a committee.

Will that be enough for the Clippers to take the NBA championship trophy away from the Lakers? The team will find out within the next year whe
ther it can climb through its championship window.

I'm excited because the roster is unbelievable, Lue said. To have a chance and an opportunity to coach a team like the Clippers? I love their roster, I love the team, and I love what they stand for as an organization.

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