Clippers president Lawrence Frank spoke to reporters forward of L.A.’s Recreation 4 matchup in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks Sunday afternoon, and he relayed that Kawhi Leonard will miss the sport with knee irritation. Frank mentioned there isn’t any timetable for Leonard’s return, which means he’ll be out indefinitely. It is a vital blow to the Clippers, who may doubtlessly be with out their franchise star for the rest of this collection and already discover themselves in a 2-1 collection gap in opposition to a Mavericks group that has a ton of momentum heading into Sunday’s sport.
“He is not taking part in immediately. He desires to play, however it was apparent in Recreation 3 that his mobility was severely restricted,” Frank mentioned. “So organizationally, we simply decided, he is out. The apparent query I do know is coming so I will beat you to it, when is he coming again? Cannot let you know a timeline, I want I had a crystal ball, it would simply principally — till he can present that he could make all of the actions that he must make, that is when he’ll come again. That would be the timeframe.”
Leonard was listed as questionable forward of Recreation 4 after a efficiency in Recreation 3 that confirmed he wasn’t precisely 100%. Leonard seemed slightly stiff within the two video games he is performed on this collection, and his manufacturing mirrored that, averaging simply 12 factors. Leonard had missed the final eight video games of the common season with knee irritation and was held out of Recreation 1 of this collection for a similar cause. However after the prolonged time away he tried to offer it a go in Recreation 2 and three, however it was clear he wasn’t totally wholesome on the market on the ground.
It’s going to be an uphill battle for the Clippers with out Leonard, although the silver lining is that within the one sport this group did play with out him, they managed to blow out the Mavericks. That was because of James Harden, Paul George and Ivica Zubac all scoring no less than 20 factors and holding Dallas to beneath 100 factors within the sport. Maybe they will return to that sport plan for Recreation 4, however this group is clearly at all times in a greater place when Leonard is on the ground.
That is such a tricky blow for Leonard, who when wholesome was taking part in at an MVP stage. Previous to the knee irritation to finish the season he performed in 68 video games, essentially the most he is performed in a daily season because the 2016-17 season. But it surely seems as if the accidents are creeping up once more with him, which places a damper on issues for a Clippers group that consistently has championship aspirations however at all times will get undercut by accidents.
There’s clearly an opportunity that Leonard may return in some unspecified time in the future this postseason, however for now, the Clippers should gameplan with out him. Meaning George and Harden might want to step up, in addition to guys like Terance Mann and Norman Powell.
