On the air: TV: Bally Sports Radio: 570, 1220 Paul George had 42 points, but the other Clippers struggled offensively in a 111-92 loss to the host Portland Trail Blazers that dropped L.A. Paul George scores 42 points, but Clippers lose to Trail Blazers and fall to 1-4 Lue was unsure of a timetable for their return but was positive about their progress. The veteran forwards participated in a pre-practice five-on-five scrimmage Sunday to test their conditioning and didn’t show any signs of injury. Help could soon arrive in Serge Ibaka (back) and Marcus Morris (knee). He’s done a great job of his job and what he has to do to keep us in every game night in and night out.” “He’s been doing a great job of leading us on the offensive and the defense end. “PG’s been phenomenal, man,” said Mann, who added that George’s productivity is inspiring. George is coming off a 42-point, eight-rebound performance in the Clippers’ 111-92 loss at Portland on Friday and is averaging 27.6 points per game.
In the forefront is George, who must carry the load until Kawhi Leonard can return from a knee injury. While the coaching staff shuffles lineups searching for an answer, players remain unfazed, thanks to veteran leadership that is “cool, calm and collected through it,” Mann said. It’s not that they’re taking bad shots, forward Terance Mann said, it’s just that the shots aren’t falling. The Clippers have the league’s fourth-least efficient offense and have scored fewer than 100 points in consecutive games for the first time in 41 games. The coach will have something new in store for Monday’s game at Staples Center against Oklahoma City but left out further details. Lue said he will tinker with rotations to solve long scoring droughts when star forward Paul George is on the bench. Off to a 1-4 start, the Clippers are far from panicking, but still looking for ways to jumpstart their stagnant offense. “If you’re playing well and you’re getting the shots you want to get and you’re not making them, does that call for change? That’s the biggest thing you go back and forth with.” “It is kinda tough,” Lue said Sunday of the Clippers’ offensive struggles. In nearly the same breath that the Clippers coach assures reporters his team’s offense that ranks among the worst in the league will be OK, he admits that the repeated bricks being thrown at the team’s house of patience and persistence are starting to creep into his conscience. Even Tyronn Lue isn’t above some early season overreaction.