Clippers All-Star wing Kawhi Leonard is making a concerted effort to be a more vocal leader this season, as Mirjam Swanson of the Orange County Register details. His new teammate Serge Ibaka, who won a title with Leonard in 2019 when both were with the Raptors, encouraged Leonard to do this when he arrived to LA this season.
“Leaders need not only to come on the court and score 30 points. You have to show the team, your teammates, like you’re willing to give everything for them,” Ibaka said of the All-NBA Clippers forward. “And so far, he’s been doing a great job of that. He’s been communicating with everybody… this is something really new I see from Kawhi.”
There’s more out of California:
- New Lakers wing Wesley Matthews, a longtime starter in the NBA, is adjusting to his new role coming off the bench, according to Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register. “We don’t worry about Wes,” head coach Frank Vogel said. “He’s a knockdown shooter and a great defender. Just excited that he’s in a Lakers uniform and what kind of things he’s gonna give us throughout the year.”
- With newly-extended Clippers forward Marcus Morris out of commission due to a sore right knee, veteran offseason addition Nicolas Batum has comfortably slid into his starting power forward role, per Mirjam Swanson of the Orange County Register. Batum is averaging 27.5 MPG, 6.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 3.5 APG for Los Angeles.
- Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins has vastly improved his pick-and-roll output this season, writes Zach Harper of The Athletic. He is producing 116.7 points per 100 possessions as a pick-and-roll scorer thus far in 2020/21.
The best offense rating in the nba history. Mavs 2019-20 season
115.8 points per 100 possessions
Wiggins 116.7 points per 100p
As a pick n roll scorer. Thats different dude..
The writer was not that clear himself, but did say that Wiggins went from the worst to one of the best in one offseason by that one measure and extrapolating a part-season to a full season. From 74, to this year 117 points per 100 attempts using PnR.
Surely this points to Kerr given time to direct him, as opposed to last year.
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The article also went into “Sexland”— Sexton & Garland are both having fine starts.
Ooh, after 3 games, he must have mastered the pick and roll. Wiggins is a major overpay and a draft bust.
I’d start Mathews at SG because of his defence and off ball work and knock down ability.
KCP who is the current starter is a solid shooter but isn’t as good at defending and offers more to that second unit as a playmaker.
1. Schroder. THT. Caruso
2. Mathews. KCP
3. LBJ. Kuzma
4. AD. Harrell
5. Gasol. Morris
some people out there thought Mathews wasn’t even gonna be on this team. He’s gonna come up big on this team this year.
He just suits that 4th/5th option on a playoff team. Having KCP do that role is just a waste of his ability he should be helping THT lead that second unit. Mathews defence in the starting line up just would make them better
I guess it make sense to start Mathew and have KCP in the line up in the end of the game . But Mathews shoot has gone cold but will come back. Lakers at worst will make it to the western conference finals .
Matthews is improving he can play some bball lakers have alot of talented players off the bench we see in 2021 if they still make the playoffs
Wiggins & Oubre for Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield.
Talen is a special player.
Batam is better than Morris. Will see if screwy Lue can get that right.