The lead-up to the brand new NBA season wasn’t type to the Los Angeles Clippers following one more first-round playoff exit final season.
They misplaced star ahead Paul George in free company to the Philadelphia 76ers, whereas veteran guard Russell Westbrook left to hitch the Denver Nuggets.
To make issues worse, Kawhi Leonard, who has had hassle staying wholesome for years, was declared out for an indefinite period of time as a result of irritation in his proper knee.
The Clippers are 2-1 and can face the Portland Path Blazers on Wednesday, and head coach Tyronn Lue mentioned Leonard will nonetheless be out, as will middle Mo Bamba, for the subsequent two video games.
“They’re out the next 2 games, that’s all I know. I’m just focused on getting our guys ready to play… those guys are coming along, they’re putting in the work every day to get better, but they’re out the next 2 games”
Tyronn Lue on Kawhi Leonard and Mo Bamba
When Leonard, in addition to George, got here to the Clippers in the summertime of 2019, it was broadly anticipated that he would make them an NBA championship.
However in 5 seasons collectively, they made only one journey to the Western Convention Finals and failed to achieve the championship collection, and Los Angeles has did not advance previous the primary spherical of the playoffs within the final three years.
This season, there’s a actual likelihood they received’t even make the playoffs, particularly given the depth and parity the Western Convention possesses.
Whereas 10-time All-Star guard James Harden is taking pictures simply 36.2 % from the sphere within the early going of this season, middle Ivica Zubac has stepped up by averaging 22.7 factors and a league-high 14.0 rebounds a recreation.
Guard Norman Powell can also be choosing up a number of the slack in Leonard’s absence by placing up an environment friendly 24.7 factors a recreation.
