“The team is special only when The Claw is healthy” Paul George, Clippers slapped with ultimate Kawhi Leonard-reality check


“The team is special only when The Claw is healthy” Paul George, Clippers slapped with ultimate Kawhi Leonard-reality check

Mark Spears talks about Kawhi Leonard and Paul Geroge

Los Angeles Clippers are pumped up at the moment. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are declared fit and could start season against the city rivals on 20th Oct. Team is set for famous “rebound season” with all their players ready to take the center stage. LA Clippers feeling enthusiastic and there is no denying that there’s currently a lot of hype surrounding the franchise. So much so, that some folks even see them as a potential dark-horse to win it all in 2022-23. Clippers fans and players certainly feel so. But there is one NBA Analyst who is coy about their “optimistic” season.

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According to ESPN’s NBA insider Marc J. Spears a lot will be dependent on health of Kawhi Leonard. He said, “There’s a lot of Clippers buzz, a lot of Clippers talk.  All this Clippers talk starts and ends with Kawhi Leonard and if he’s healthy this team is special. But how many games is it gonna be?” the Clippers are also encouraged by the current videos of “the Claw” preparing for the season.

How much are Los Angeles Clippers dependent on Kawhi Leonard?

Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard

Los Angeles Clippers were tipped to win the 2020 championship with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard signing with them in 2019 off season. Leonard had a great first season coming off the championship run with the Raptors. He scored career high 27 point average in 2020, but played only in 57 games for them. Playing in the postseason, the Clippers did manage to reach to conference Semis, with Nuggets winning the series in 7 games at clippers home court.

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Kawhi Leonard also played even lesser games in 2021, helping the team win 70% of those games. But absence of 2-time finals MVP cost the Clippers series against Phoenix Suns and they crashed out of the 2021 season just one step short of NBA finals. Leonard’s torn Achilles kept him out of 2022 season and eventually the Clippers also missed playoffs in the same year.

These were statistical impact of Kawhi on the team, but on court, his defense, playmaking, and clutch scoring helped the LA team to win important games even in ding minutes. He has been very much effective for all the championship teams he played in and was rewarded with Finals MVP awards on both occasions. Everyone knows the importance of 31-year-old megastar, and the Clippers will have their fingers crossed for his health.

Los Angeles Clippers have surrounded Kawhi Leonard and Paul George with efficient team in 2023

Kawhi Leonard
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard

Coach Tyron Lue had difficult task at hand, as he had to play many games out without both their megastars in 2022. They did manage to make to play-in situation just to miss out against Minnesota Timberwolves.

But Steve Ballmer’s front office have done very impressive work assembling what is considered to be a “contender tem” around Kawhi and Paul. Though Paul George did his best last season, he certainly missed a floor general to create shots for the team. Clippers added John Wall in that department, while traded for Robert Covington and Norman Powell from Portland Trailblazers.

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Leonard is coming off a full season on the shelf rehabbing a knee injury. He also isn’t the most robust player out there, so to some extent, Spears’ early concerns about Leonard’s health have to be warranted. Be that as it may, Spears also hit the nail on the head that when healthy, this Clippers team is indeed going to be team to watch in 2023  might win their 1st championship in 50 plus seasons.

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