The Los Angeles Clippers are gearing up for a high-stakes showdown with the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. While all eyes are on Nikola Jokic’s historic season, Clippers head coach Ty Lue is focused on another critical unknown—Denver’s coaching situation. With only three games under interim head coach Adam Caporn, the Nuggets remain something of a mystery, and that has Lue on high alert.
In a pre-series press conference, Ty Lue didn’t hide his unease about the unpredictability the Clippers are walking into. Denver’s interim coach Adam Caporn, who stepped in after Michael Malone’s departure, has only helmed the team for a handful of games. That’s not nearly enough of a sample size for Lue and his staff to prepare effectively. “He might do some things differently, but we’re not sure yet,” Lue said. “Until you see Game 1, we really don’t know how they’re going to attack us—and how we’re going to attack them.”
Mar 9, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue at press conference at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Caporn inherits a championship-caliber roster and a system built around Nikola Jokic’s unique playmaking abilities. But any tweaks he introduces could disrupt the Clippers’ preparation, especially given how reliant playoff game plans are on film and past tendencies.
Lue added, “You try to anticipate, but it could be different. So we just have to be ready to adjust on the fly.”
Nikola Jokic Remains the Biggest Threat
While the coaching uncertainty is one part of the equation, the real challenge is still Nikola Jokic. The reigning MVP has just completed one of the most statistically dominant seasons in NBA history. He averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists—making him the first center ever to record a triple-double season average.
When asked specifically about defending Jokic, Lue kept it real. “It’s not really a lot of defending him,” he said. “Jokic is going to be a lot to handle. We’ve got to get back in transition, rebound the basketball, and take care of the ball.”
That’s a tall task. Jokic’s ability to initiate fast breaks, score from anywhere, and involve every teammate makes him one of the hardest players to game-plan for. In recent games, he’s posted multiple triple-doubles, including a 41-point explosion against Indiana and a 26-16-13 line against Memphis. He’s efficient, relentless, and—most importantly—battle-tested.
Mar 7, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks to pass the ball in the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
To deal with Jokic, Lue is placing a lot of trust in Ivica Zubac, who’s coming off the best season of his career. The 7-footer played 80 games, averaged 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds, and registered 59 double-doubles. He even notched a triple-double of his own against Houston, showing off improved passing to go with his traditional paint presence.
“Zoo has improved on the post-doubles, on the post-ups. We trust him,” Lue said. “Jokic is a lot, and it won’t be Zoo alone. But we believe in his ability.”
Zubac’s size, improved footwork, and defensive discipline will be critical—not just to slow Jokic down, but to avoid foul trouble and stabilize the Clippers’ defense in half-court situations.
As the Clippers prepare for their series opener on April 19, Ty Lue’s message is clear: expect the unexpected. With a new coach steering the Nuggets and a generational player like Nikola Jokic at the helm, there’s no simple blueprint to success. The Clippers will need to adjust on the fly, lean on Zubac’s growth, and stay sharp in transition if they hope to advance. But as Lue implied, it might take seeing Game 1 to truly understand what they’re up against.
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