I can’t think about how good Kawhi Leonard should really feel proper now. Largely as a result of I can’t think about the depths of the bodily ache he has needed to endure to get thus far.
On the time of this writing, the Los Angeles Clippers are up 2-1 on the Denver Nuggets and look poised to advance to face the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the second spherical. There’s a higher than first rate likelihood that the Clippers could be the very best staff within the NBA proper now and we’re all slowly realizing precisely how particular this squad could be.
It didn’t appear attainable as lately as a pair months in the past.
This staff devoted all its sources to the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard in 2019. It was completely the proper resolution. Leonard had simply led the Toronto Raptors to an unlikely NBA title and was with out query the very best two-way participant in basketball. He had seemingly absolutely recovered from the accidents that shaded the unhappy finish of his run in San Antonio, and he had reached the mountaintop.
Everyone knows what occurred over the past 5 years.
Leonard unfairly grew to become the image for “deliberate relaxation” and “load administration” as he navigated a collection of unlucky lower-body accidents. Leonard, who’s famously tight-lipped about something/every thing, had no real interest in explaining himself or his bodily upkeep to the media, which allowed for the raging loudmouths to incorrectly assume that he “didn’t need it unhealthy sufficient” or no matter drained nonsense they spouted to fill airwaves that day.
Teammates – each former and present – every praised Leonard’s work ethic and dedication to returning to the courtroom. The Clippers had no alternative however to hope that Leonard’s physique started cooperating, as a result of they frankly had no different choices.
The Clippers’ entrance workplace inadvertently constructed Oklahoma Metropolis’s burgeoning stretch of dominance when it shipped every thing at their disposal in alternate for Paul George (at Leonard’s staff’s request). The Leonard/George pairing by no means obtained wholesome on the identical time and appeared destined to be one of many NBA’s saddest “what if?” tales. When the Clippers elected to let George stroll away to Philadelphia for nothing in return, that seemed to be the disappointing finish of a disappointing period.
However a humorous factor occurred whereas everybody was centered on Leonard’s well being: The Clippers constructed a darn good roster.
There’s a cause why Kawhi Leonard seems more energizing, leaner, and bouncier than ever. He doesn’t should shoulder your entire burden of duty. Have a look at his counterpart on this collection, Nikola Jokic. He continues to play at a Corridor-of-Fame degree on offense (protection is one other story) and he wears himself out as the remainder of this roster merely isn’t as much as the problem.
The Clippers, in the meantime, are working two methods directly. There may be the James Harden squad, which contains a deadly pick-and-roll mixture with Ivica Zubac and slashers/shooters/defenders everywhere in the ground (Norm Powell, Kris Dunn, Nic Batum, Derrick Jones Jr., even Ben Simmons). Then there’s the Kawhi Leonard squad, which is when Kawhi breaks the opposite staff’s coronary heart with an unbelievable one-on-one transfer for a backbreaking late-in-the-shot-clock bucket.
Recreation 2 was nothing in need of miraculous. There’s Kawhi, hitting 15 of 19 photographs, a lot of them over excellent Aaron Gordon protection. There’s Kawhi, methodically spinning and backing his means precisely to his spot. There’s Kawhi, no concern in any way concerning the hand straight in his face. There’s Kawhi, with the ball touring no greater than 11 ft within the air earlier than splashing into the web with out a lot as grazing the rim.
There’s Kawhi – the very best participant on the planet.
I needed to attend till after Recreation 3 to write down this, as a result of I needed to see how Kawhi sorted top-of-the-line video games an individual can play. It’s one factor to carry out at that degree as soon as, however playoff basketball is a marathon. Can his physique maintain up, not simply on this collection, however even deeper into this run?
He wasn’t the miracle employee he was in Recreation 2, however the Clippers didn’t want him to be. The Nuggets are cooked. They haven’t any solutions for the Harden model of the Clippers, not to mention the Kawhi model. Kawhi can merely choose his spots and dial it up if/when wanted.
No staff has this luxurious. Usually, a participant of Leonard’s unbelievable expertise is relied upon to do every thing – offense, protection, shot creation, emotional management. It’s draining. If Leonard can stay contemporary and wholesome for the rest of this postseason, the Clippers have top-of-the-line gamers within the historical past of basketball (sure, it’s true) able to deploy in “break glass in case of emergency” conditions.
Kawhi has to really feel so good.
And 1’s:
• This model of the Memphis Grizzlies is over, proper? After Ja Morant left with what seemed to be a particularly painful hip harm and the Grizz up by almost 30 of their “keep away from getting swept” effort, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder turned on the defensive turbo jets and easily squeezed the life out of that squad. It was the closest factor we’ll ever get to watching a boa constrictor play basketball. On the flip aspect, a win like that – when it could’ve been really easy for OKC to pack it in and accept a “gentleman’s sweep” – tells me this Thunder squad is critical. That OKC/Clips collection would possibly find yourself being the de facto NBA Finals.
• Evan Mobley wins Defensive Participant of the Yr – a deserving winner and a tremendous all-around participant. Nice rebounder, unbelievable versatility. However do you suppose Alex Caruso and Lu Dort caught wind of that announcement and took it somewhat personally? I feel Memphis thinks so.
• How for much longer do you suppose the NBA provides out this Clutch Participant of the Yr award? I give it two extra years.
