Clippers Find Redemption at Home, but Ty Lue Still Faces the Real Test

Welcome Back Clipper Fans

In this article, Clippers Find Redemption at Home, but Ty Lue Still Faces the Real Test, MyntJ srecaps the start of the season for the Clippers. Felicia Enriquez, aka Mynt J, is the host of the podcast BlackLove and Basketball – Compton Edition. She is a Clippers fan, an NBA credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket.

INGLEWOOD, CA —Welcome back, Clipper fans. Second year at the Intuit Dome, and the Clippers did not disappoint. There’s something about having short-term memory loss that can actually be very helpful.

The arena was full of fans excited to see their favorite players but also hoping not to witness the same embarrassing 129-108 game from just two days ago in Utah. The loss was still fresh, but the energy inside the Dome said one thing loud and clear: tonight was about redemption.

Chris Paul’s Homecoming

“Man, it was great. I’m grateful, appreciative. It’s kind of crazy still to be back here playing, but I love the team, I love the fans, and most of all, I got a chance—my parents, my wife, my kids, everybody is here—so that makes it even better.”

When Chris Paul’s name was announced as a reserve on the halo scoreboard, the crowd erupted. It wasn’t just cheers, it was emotion. You could see #3 jerseys everywhere in the stands, fans clapping, recording, smiling like a family seeing one of their own come home.

And for Bradley Beal to give up the #3 jersey back to Paul, that gesture meant everything. It was quiet, classy, and full of respect.

Game 1: Utah 129, Clippers 108

Two nights before the homecoming party, the Clippers took a hard-to-watch beating in Salt Lake City. The score, 129 to 108, didn’t just sting, it exposed everything that still needs fixing.

From the jump, Utah came out on fire. They shot a ridiculous 80 percent in the first quarter and followed it up by shooting 71 percent through the first half. By halftime, it was Utah 78, Clippers 47, and the game was basically over.

Ty Lue didn’t make early adjustments, and the first four minutes already felt off. Kawhi Leonard was playing at the four again, trying to body up bigs instead of doing what he does best: score. The Jazz hit everything — ghost screens, slip-outs, wide-open corner threes. They dominated the paint with 58 points and ran the floor like they owned it, piling up 18 fast-break points.

The pace told part of the story too. Utah played with tempo, movement, and freedom, pushing the ball and keeping the Clippers off balance. Los Angeles, on the other hand, looked slow and predictable, running possessions deep into the shot clock instead of dictating rhythm. We know the Clippers can’t keep up because they’re an older team. They’re currently averaging a pace of 95.0, dead last, 30th out of 30 teams. Utah wasn’t blazing fast either, sitting at 95.8 (28th), but that slight edge showed. The Jazz played like a team sprinting downhill; the Clippers looked like they were running uphill in sand.

The chemistry is there. You can see it in the ball movement, the laughter on the bench, the way guys respond to each other. What’s missing is flexibility. The rotations Ty Lue insists on running feel stubborn and scripted, limiting what this roster can actually be.

Ivica Zubac was the bright spot early, finishing with 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting and 7 rebounds. James Harden added 15 points and 11 assists, while Brook Lopez came off the bench and splashed five threes for 15.

The body language told the story: a team ready to connect but being held back by structure that doesn’t fit the flow. The Clippers weren’t just outplayed; they were outpaced, outhustled, and out-energized.

It wasn’t about effort. It was about rhythm. Utah played like a unit. The Clippers looked like a team waiting for permission to be one.

The Ty Lue Question

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I believe the Clippers have chemistry. The energy is there. The talent is there. What’s missing is the right guidance to let it breathe.

Ty Lue is a championship coach — no one’s taking that away from him — but lately, he feels disconnected from his own roster. The rotations are stubborn, predictable, and often take the life out of the floor. It’s like he’s coaching the team he wants to have instead of the one that’s right in front of him.

He’s said himself, “We’re not the fastest team in the world,” and he’s right. But knowing that and adjusting to it are two different things. You can’t keep running small-ball lineups against teams built on pace and youth and expect a different result. The league has changed, and so has the game — ghost screens, stretch fives, quick wings who run baseline to baseline like sprinters.

After the Suns win, Lue was asked what it’s like coaching a veteran team, he said “They think they know everything, but it is what it is,” and laughed. That answer said a lot. Maybe too much.

Remember, Ty is known as a player’s coach — someone who earns respect through relationships and understanding the locker room. But that raises the question: Is that the right kind of coach for a team like this? When your roster is full of veterans who already know the playbook, maybe what you need isn’t comfort, it’s accountability.

And it’s fair to ask: how long does winning keep buying you credibility? Tyronn Lue has won one NBA championship as a head coach, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the title in 2016, over nine years ago, and two as a player with the Lakers more than twenty years ago. But he won that championship with the way the game was played then. Even he’s said the game has changed. If the game evolved, then maybe it’s time the coaching philosophy did as well.

It’s like getting a brand-new phone but still running the old operating system — and in this case, the system is Ty Lue. Everything looks good on the outside, but it can’t perform at its best until what’s inside gets an update.

At some point, you start asking the relationship question:
Do you still love this team the way we do?
Because if not, maybe it’s time to let someone else step in and remind them what it means to want it again.

Clippers find redemption in Game 2: Clippers 129, Suns 102

If Game 1 was the reality check, Game 2 was the response. The Clippers walked into the Intuit Dome like a team that had heard every criticism and decided to answer it on the court.

From the tip, you could feel the difference — the pace, the movement, the purpose. The same veterans who looked tired in Utah now looked focused and in control.

James Harden came out on fire, shooting 7-for-8 from the field, 5-for-5 from three, and 7-for-7 from the line for 26 points in just 16 minutes and 25 seconds at halftime. He set the tone early and afterward summed it up perfectly:
“We still didn’t start the game the right way — gave up some fast breaks and offensive boards — but I loved how we bounced back. Every game’s not going to be perfect, but the key is finding who we are. And that starts on the defensive end.”

Kawhi Leonard doubled his Utah touches, going from 9 to 21, and finished with 27 points on 11-for-21 shooting. His mindset was simple:
“We took care of the ball as a unit. When we get stops, we get out in transition and get easy baskets. Everybody looked up the court and made the right play.”

Derrick Jones Jr. came off the bench and gave the Clippers exactly what they needed — energy — dropping 17 points on a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor.

As a team, the Clippers shot 59 percent from the field and 55 percent from three, while holding Phoenix to just 41 percent overall. They scored 52 points in the paint and racked up 32 assists, a complete reversal from the stagnant offense in Utah.

The message was clear: this team can play, and they can dominate when they play together. The chemistry that felt trapped by rotations two nights earlier finally had space to breathe. Even Chris Paul, in his emotional return, looked comfortable orchestrating the flow with eight assists and no ego.

With this kind of chemistry, a championship doesn’t feel far-fetched — and speaking of that, a Lakers fan once told me our tickets are “cheap.”

That’s where my pregame moment with Steve Ballmer comes in.

Pregame With Ballmer

Lakers fans love to brag about their championships and how our tickets are so cheap. I always say our tickets aren’t cheap — they’re affordable. It’s expensive to be a Lakers fan. They told me, “Just wait ‘til you win a championship. Your prices will go up.”

That made me curious. So when I saw Mr. Ballmer sitting comfortably courtside before the Suns game, smiling like he always does, I decided to ask him myself.

Let me build the scene: Ballmer is just cool. Approachable. Relatable to the Clippers culture in every way. He’s the kind of owner who doesn’t hide in a suite — he sits with fans, speaks with them, and actually listens.

As I was capturing players warming up, I noticed that same easy grin — relaxed and real. So I politely asked, “Mr. Ballmer, when the Clippers win a championship, will ticket prices go up?”

Now, I won’t reveal how the conversation went, not yet. Let’s just say his reaction was everything you’d expect from Steve Ballmer: passionate, genuine, and unforgettable. That story deserves its own moment.

For now, what stood out most wasn’t his answer but his energy and the time he took to explain his thoughts with a level of care. You could feel how much he loves this franchise, this fan base, and this city. That’s rare. I really appreciated it.

Next Up: Portland

The Clippers face the Portland Trail Blazers next — a team that’s young, quick, and unafraid to run. Portland is averaging 110.9 points per game on 45 percent shooting, while the Clippers sit just ahead at 112.9 points on 48 percent from the field and 37 percent from three.

The Blazers push tempo, and the Clippers’ challenge will be maintaining consistency against that pace — especially after losing one of their most reliable scorers from these matchups last season.

The numbers tell the story: in three games against Portland last season, Norman Powell led the Clippers in scoring every time, putting up 30, 30, and 23 points. That’s nearly 28 points per game they’ll need to replace.

Powell, now with the Miami Heat, reminded everyone what he can do in his debut — leading Miami with 28 points (9-for-19 FG, 6-for-7 FT) in a narrow 121–125 loss to Orlando. Shout out to Norm.

And just as Portland deals with the game-on-the-court story, there’s a bigger one off the court: Head coach Chauncey Billups, who’s currently on leave after being charged in a federal gambling and poker investigation. The situation adds an emotional layer to this matchup, especially since Billups and Tyronn Lue are longtime best friends.

Lue said he recently spoke to Billups and felt better after their conversation — a moment of empathy between two competitors who’ve been through the grind together. Still, as the Clippers prepare for Portland, fans can only hope Lue keeps his focus sharp and his team ready.

This one won’t just be about pace, it’ll be about poise.

Closing Thoughts

Redemption isn’t just about the scoreboard it’s about response. The Clippers’ 129–102 win wasn’t payback for Utah; it was proof that they can still play with pride.

This team has what every real Clipper fan recognizes: resilience. It’s that fight that’s always been there, even when the world doubts them. You could see it in Kawhi’s calm, Harden’s precision, and Chris Paul’s quiet leadership. You could feel it in the crowd, a fan base that refuses to give up, even when it’s easier to jump ship.

But redemption can’t stop at one game. It has to become a mindset.
If the Clippers want to go from promise to power, they’ll need consistency and a coach willing to evolve with the moment.

That means Ty Lue has a decision to make: does he match their speed or control the tempo?
Because as much as he’s said, “We’re not the fastest team in the world,” that can’t be an excuse anymore. It has to be a strategy.

The game has changed — and if the Clippers are serious about keeping up, so must the coach.

From the pregame energy, to Ballmer’s courtside presence, to the roar inside Intuit Dome, this felt like a reminder: this team is still writing its story. And for the fans who’ve been here since day one, who’ve seen every rebuild and heartbreak, this isn’t just basketball — it’s identity.

So yeah, the Clippers bounced back.
Will Ty Lue continue to be stubborn and unbothered, or finally make the adjustments this team deserves?