Will we see Kawhi Leonard play basketball this season? This is the big question that hangs over Los Angeles and which necessarily weighs quite a bit compared to the Clippers’ chances this year. But the further we go, the more the chances of seeing The Klaw again during the 2022 postseason seem to weaken.
A few days ago, Kawhi was seen inside the Clippers’ practice facility playing around with his big orange ball. We had also already seen it during various pre-match shootarounds, thus leading to a little hype concerning a potential return at the end of the season. Except that it does not really take the road if we are to believe the latest news from Los Angeles. So we reassure you right away, Leonard’s rehabilitation continues to go normally, he is working hard on an individual level and the Clips have not closed the door to a comeback this year. But according to coach Tyronn Lue, the LA superstar hasn’t even gone beyond individual workouts yet. No 3 against 3, even less 5 against 5, as much to say that his return is not for tomorrow. Kawhi therefore still has several steps to validate and probably several weeks of rehabilitation ahead of him before he can push back the floors with his Clippers team. Translation, if you are a fan of the Californian franchise, do not dream too much because you are likely to be disappointed. The next time we see Leonard in an official NBA game, it will likely be in the Clips’ first regular season meeting in October 2022, with Kawhi in knife mode between his teeth. Frenchie Nicolas Batum said it himself yesterday when he announced his withdrawal from the upcoming EuroBasket, a huge season awaits the Clippers next year. It means what it means.
In the meantime, Tyronn Lue’s men will try to play spoilsports during the postseason that awaits us and that’s good, they have the profile perfectly. Opposed to the Wolves of a certain Pat Beverley for the first match of the play-in tournament in the West, the Clips have a first opportunity to validate their ticket for the Playoffs. If they win, they would make a date with the Grizzlies for the first round. In the event of a loss, they would have a second opportunity to qualify in a game at home against New Orleans or San Antonio, with the gift of a series against the Phoenix Suns for the winner. We’ll see how the Paul George gang will manage the upcoming deadlines, but what’s certain is that Los Angeles is one of those teams that can be tough to play. during a first PO turn. It’s a team that defends hard, a team that plays together, a team that never looks for excuses, and that gives the maximum every night regardless of the circumstances. Ty Lue has notably done a remarkable job this year (yes, we say so!), leading LA to a neutral record (40 wins, 40 losses) despite Kawhi’s absence and Paul George’s 50 missed games. Many teams would have thrown in the towel, but not the Clippers. And today, they will arrive at the play-in tournament in good health, with PG, Reggie Jackson, Norman Powell and Co. Apart from Leonard, the infirmary is effectively empty since Luke Kennard and therefore Powell have just left it.
With their many players on the wing, with their mindset, with the talent in the squad, the Clippers can really be itchy. And even if Kawhi Leonard will probably not play this season, it will be very interesting to see how these Clips will do during the play-in or even the Playoffs. We are not saying that they will achieve the same route as last year but there is a way that they pose problems for some.
Source texte : The Athletic, Los Angeles Times
Kawhi Leonard will not play this regular season.
Postseason TBD. Clippers have to, you know, clinch a spot still.
— Law Murray ☔️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) April 8, 2022
Kawhi Leonard hasn’t progressed beyond individual workouts, coach Ty Lue said. Asked whether Leonard has been able to play 3-on-3 or beyond, Lue shook his head.
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) April 8, 2022