So far this season, the Golden State Warriors have been underwhelming and have a poor record, far from management's offseason expectations. The Warriors have always adhered to the super five lineup created by General Manager Dunleavy, believing that this lineup can make the team the favorite to win the championship with extreme control and excellent shooting ability. However, they face the dilemma of not even having a playoff chance while continuing to use this roster. Team owner Lacob has spoken out that all players except Stephen Curry have been put on the trade market, and that strengthening the center position and exchanging them for better players has become a top priority for the Warriors right now.
In both the trade market and the buyout market, the Warriors have not performed as well as they should, and management has fallen into an awkward position. Meanwhile, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue once again showed his tactical charm against the Atlanta Hawks. Although he still uses a five-man lineup with Curry, Thompson, Wiggins, Kuming and Green as the core, it cannot be ignored that Thompson and Wiggins are not in ideal competitive form, and the full-body small lineup has lost its past dominance. Now that big men are in demand in the league, their basketball careers are set to reach new heights. With Antetokounmpo, Jokic and Embiid all winning regular-season MVPs over the past five seasons, the era of big men is upon us. However, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue's change of tactics poured cold water on them.
In the game against the Brooklyn Nets, the Clippers were comprehensively suppressed by their opponents and faced a situation of falling behind by a large score. Coach Lu decisively adopted a five-man lineup of Willis, Harden, Powell, George and Leonard, and put Willis in the role of center, a decision that was considered a risky move. However, this decision allowed the Clippers to score 24 points in just six minutes, outscoring their opponents by 20 points, and successfully reversed the victory. There may have been some fluke in the victory, but Lu's subsequent performance proved his quality. In the ensuing local derby, the Clippers managed to close the score gap against the Lakers and limited Davis' offense in a 10-2 attack wave through a five-man lineup of Rodo, Harden, Powell, George and Leonard, and extended the score advantage to double digits.
The Clippers currently sit fourth in the West with a 28-14 record and are on a three-game winning streak recently, which has fans excited. Coach Tyronn Lue not only excelled in his regular substitutions, but also fielded more different combinations depending on the opponent's formation. Although the Clippers are not as hot as the Boston Celtics, as long as the Big Four play normally and cooperate with the coach's on-the-spot scheduling, they will undoubtedly deliver an extraordinary answer, and it will no longer be difficult to win the championship.
Small-ball lineups have been all the rage in recent years, with many teams emulating the Warriors' Super Five, arguing that speed, agility and excellent shooting are the keys to victory. However, as time went on, the trends in basketball began to change. The big man gradually rose to prominence, showing all-round ability and dominance, and the small squad gradually lost its former advantage. Over the past five seasons, big men like Antetokounmpo, Jokic, and Embiid have won regular-season MVPs, proving their importance in modern basketball.
For example, Antetokounmpo scored a team-record 64 points in a game, while Embiid scored an astonishing 70 points, 18 rebounds and five assists. These performances have made people realize that big men can play well on both the offensive and defensive ends and become the heart of the team. They have excellent scoring ability, dominance under the basket and rebounding ability, and can play a decisive role in the game.
This demand for big men has also influenced the team's tactical choices. The lineup change strategy led by Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue is a response to that trend. He used a five-man lineup against the Brooklyn Nets and Lakers, using Willis as a center to counter the opposition's interior threat. While the combination may seem unremarkable, it fully exploits the Clippers' strengths, limiting opponents' offense and playing efficiently on the offensive end. This flexible tactical choice has made Tyronn Lue a key figure in the team, while also pushing the small squad to the edge.
The Clippers have been known for their strong roster and tactical prowess over the past few seasons, yet their performance in the playoffs has always been disappointing. The addition of Tyronn Lue has injected new hope into the team, and he has brought success to the team with his tactical wisdom and change of formation strategy. Whether it was against the Brooklyn Nets or the Lakers, he showed unique insights and courage to help the team win against adversity.
Tyronn Lue's lineup change strategy gives the Clippers more flexibility and tactical options. He can send different combinations according to the opponent's formation and make timely adjustments during the game. This intelligence and flexibility will play an important role in the playoffs and help the Clippers succeed on their way to winning the championship.
Although the Clippers are not as hot as the Boston Celtics, as long as their Big Four play properly and the head coach's on-court scheduling, they are expected to achieve extraordinary results and easily win the championship. Tyronn Lue, through his tactical wisdom and lineup change strategy, has gradually dimmed the small lineup, and the rise of big players has become a new trend in the development of basketball. The success of the Clippers has also provided lessons for other teams, and how to use big men and tactical strategies flexibly will be an important factor in the future of the team's pursuit of championships.