Kawhi Leonard will miss his third straight game as the Clippers try to prevent their season from ending tonight in Phoenix, and coach Tyronn Lue made it clear that Leonard’s absence is unavoidable, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
Lue said Leonard suffered a sprained right knee during the series opener, and the injury got worse as he played through it in Game 2. Leonard sat out Monday’s practice while receiving treatment on the knee and has already been ruled out for Game 5.
The Clippers have received criticism for their “load management” policy with Leonard, who played just 52 games in his first season after returning from a partial ACL tear. Lue said that’s not what’s happening now, and Leonard would be ready to play if he were physically capable.
“He’s definitely hurt,” Lue said. “Like this is not load management where he’s taking time off. He’s shown in his past that he’s played through injuries in the playoffs. If it’s something that he can’t play through, then it has to be pretty serious. We’re not talking about he’s sitting out because of load management or he’s tired or nothing like that. It’s an actual thing. What the outside is saying, who cares.”
Leonard was outstanding in the first two games of the series, scoring 38 points in Game 1 as L.A. picked up a win on the Suns’ home court, then following that with 31 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in Game 2. Without him available, the Clippers lost back-to-back games at home and now have to overcome a 3-1 series deficit.
Leonard’s injury comes at an especially bad time, with Paul George already sidelined by a right knee sprain that he suffered in late March. George has been making progress in his recovery and was seen driving hard to the basket Monday, but he’s considered unlikely to return during the first round.
Without his two stars, Lue has been turning to unorthodox lineups in an effort to create difficult matchups for the Suns. The Clippers have used five guards at times as Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell have taken on more of the scoring load, and Lue indicated that he has more tricks ready for Game 5.
“It’s a tough situation to be in, with your two main guys out,” he said. “But I love our guys in the locker room. I’d go to war with these guys any time. That’s the reason I have confidence, because of the guys we have in the locker room, and we are not going to give in. We just (got to) clean up a few things, like we’re right there.”
Great basketball player. Either he’s made or glass or his desire to play is minimal.
I would go with made of glass. His skill and talent are elite, so obviously he works hard and wants to play. Just cannot stay healthy.
George has the same injury, has been out weeks… yet they want Kawhi back in a couple days? Hahaha.
Apparently the load management during the season didn’t work. It would be interesting to see this team healthy as I think the can contend. Maybe they’re hoping to make a run when the new arena opens…
SGA and a million first round picks are looking very tasty for OKC right now.
Clipper Curse !!!!!!!! Excellent players but too injury prone, time for time management to go.
I haven’t heard anyone say that what’s going on right now with KL (him sitting out) is load management. I have heard criticism of LAC’s committment to KL’s load management in light of what’s going on now. It’s fair criticism. Nobody can fully control when they’re able to play and when they are not, but that’s the entire point. When you intentionally don’t play games that you can play, on the basis that it will help you be healthy later on, then you should yourself be questioning things when that never seeems to happen.
Popovich and the Spurs need to be held accountable. It’s obvious now they the team misdiagnosed Kawhis injury, whether intentionally or unintentionally, they need to be held accountable. They ruined his career.
Ruined? He won a championship with Toronto and was FMVP after that! Then signed max contract.
Kawhi should be in jail. He straight up robbed the Clippers of hundreds of millions of dollars
He might look like a he doesn’t want to play or is injured innthe playoffs + the load management thing, vut, Even like that, Clippers franchise is collecting record profit, so I Guess Ballmer might whine a little sbout the team, but should be fgood with ir overall
All the talking heads picking Clips to make the finals look stupid now. Like they do almost 90% of the time