It’d been almost 16 months since LA Clippers ahead Kawhi Leonard performed an NBA recreation earlier than Tuesday night time’s preseason win over the Portland Path Blazers. Leonard completed with 11 factors in 16 minutes however, extra importantly, appeared to be totally recovered from the torn ACL he suffered in recreation 4 of the 2021 Western Convention semifinals in opposition to the Utah Jazz.
Final season the Clippers hung round by means of the primary two months of the season with Paul George main the best way till he went down with an harm in late December. Paul missed over three months earlier than returning on the finish of March, however the injury had been executed. The Clippers fell from the highest 5 when George was wholesome down into the play-in match, the place they have been eradicated, lacking the playoffs only one yr faraway from the franchise’s first WCF look.
That’s all behind them now, as a result of Leonard and George are again and wholesome, making the Clippers a favourite within the West this yr. Stacked up in opposition to the remainder of the West, this LA staff has the instruments and depth to make a run on the Warriors’ western convention crown.
After all, all the things is based on Leonard’s skill to keep on the ground and be accessible within the postseason. Primarily based on that notion, the Clippers have greater than sufficient depth to compete with the very best groups within the NBA. Over the past two years, head coach Tyronn Lue has proved that he’s greater than a product of LeBron James. Lue can coach and has been labeled by many as the very best coach within the league at adjusting.
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LA ought to have the ability to go deep into their lineup, with 10 gamers receiving vital minutes on a given night time. Having that depth must also assist protect Leonard and George by means of the lengthy 82-game season.
Within the backcourt alone, minutes might be tight with a six-guard rotation. In addition to George, the Clippers have Reggie Jackson, Norman Powell, Terance Mann, Luke Kennard, and the latest addition John Wall as gamers that can battle for minutes on the ground. Leonard, Ivica Zubac, Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, and Robert Covington comprise the Clippers’ frontcourt and will all see vital minutes, relying on the matchup. And lots of of those gamers can play a number of positions.
The street to successful within the NBA is tough, however these groups with depth are often among the many final left standing ultimately. Certain, this league is about stars, however these stars additionally have to be surrounded by items that match their recreation and what they do finest on the court docket. The Clippers nonetheless don’t have a real start line guard, as Jackson is extra of a combo guard, however as we’ve seen previously, he can actually get the job executed in huge moments when known as upon.
However once more, none of this issues with out Leonard on the court docket when it issues. Depth is unbelievable — we simply noticed the Warriors and Celtics meet within the Finals possessing two of the deeper rosters within the affiliation. Hopefully, there gained’t be a necessity for an excessive amount of load administration in Clipperland this yr, and Leonard can play at the least 65 video games. That’s a feat he hasn’t completed since he was in San Antonio.
Once more, the primary purpose is to maintain Leonard and PG-13 wholesome sufficient to make a run within the playoffs. That is what the Clippers must be targeted on heading into the 2022-23 marketing campaign. You get to play a whole lot of dangerous groups by means of the course of an NBA season. These Clippers are ok to beat most groups on this league. Towards the highest 4 or 5 groups within the NBA is the place stars and depth might be most necessary. If the Clippers can get by means of the season primarily wholesome, there isn’t any purpose they’ll’t be proper again within the WCF.
