Los Angeles Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro doesn’t mind pressure – NBA Update
Just about a month ago, the Los Angeles Clippers were a very different franchise. The results weren’t going their way, the flashiness had taken a back seat to gloom and the future of their head coach Vinny Del Negro was being questioned.
Fast forward to the present, and the Clippers are sitting pretty high in the Western Conference standings. Qualifying for the playoffs isn’t an issue now, and in fact the team is gearing up for what promises to be a strong post season campaign.
Del Negro is now represented in the papers in a different light. He isn’t the hapless coach who was in charge of an underperforming group of stars; he is now the tactician who guided a talented group of individuals through a tough period.
Things are obviously much rosier for the Clippers now and for their coach, but if you believe Del Negro, he wasn’t ever really worried to begin with.
"I didn't miss a blink. I kept on my path," Del Negro said. "What has to be done has to be done. I'm Italian. Are you kidding me?"
The Clippers acquired star point guard Chris Paul this offseason, along with some interesting pieces that made them a genuine force, especially considering that rising star Blake Griffin was already at the Staples Center.
So when the media saw that Los Angeles weren’t living up to expectations, and were indeed at one point in danger of being knocked off a playoffs spot, they looked for a scapegoat. A young coach, with no real history to back him up; Vinny fitted the bill.
He was questioned, his methods were questioned, his rapport with the players was scrutinized and many suggested he would be out of the job soon. The media circus really did get out of hand, but Del Negro kept his cool, and guided the Clippers to 11 wins
in 13 games.
Now the noise has died down, and turned into begrudging applause. At the height of it though, it was a nuisance, by Vinny said it never effected his commitment to his job.
"Do things irritate me sometimes? Yeah," Del Negro said. "But that doesn't ever stop me from preparing and doing the things I have to do to support my players and do my job.”
At the end of the day, he believes he just loves the game, and the pressure is just a part of it. So why not enjoy that as well.
"I love the challenge of it. I loved it as a player, and I loved it as a coach."
Under Vinny’s stewardship, the Clippers are looking strong as they head to the playoffs.
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