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What to watch for in the LA Clippers’ first meeting with the Lakers

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2, and Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers exchange hi-fives against the Denver Nuggets during a pre-season game on October 10, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2, and Terance Mann #14 of the LA Clippers exchange hi-fives against the Denver Nuggets during a pre-season game on October 10, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers dribbles as he is guarded by Jerami Grant #9 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on October 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers dribbles as he is guarded by Jerami Grant #9 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on October 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Kawhi Leonard, unleashed

In 2019, a hobbled Kawhi Leonard had one of the most dominant individual postseason performances we’ve seen in the history of the league. Despite appearing in just 60 regular-season games, he played in all 24 of Toronto’s postseason matchups and looked absolutely unstoppable.

Against the Eastern Conference’s best teams and some of the best players in the NBA, as well as the defending champion Golden State Warriors in The Finals, Leonard averaged 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

And the man wasn’t even healthy.

Now, Leonard is back at full strength. He won’t be on a load management plan at all this season, and according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, he won’t be on a minutes restriction against the Lakers, either. And when his health was essentially his one big drawback going into the season, well, that should scare opposing teams.

Look for Leonard to take full control of the offense tonight, both as a scorer and a passer. He showed flashes of both during the preseason, and his ability to move the ball was something that most people weren’t expecting to see.

We may also see Leonard be more aggressive than he has been in the past. He obviously won’t be careless, but without any sort of injury to protect, he may come out looking a little looser and even more willing to get involved with contested rebounds and loose ball situations.

We’re about to see what a healthy Leonard can really do with a team of his own — something that should have happened during his final year with the San Antonio Spurs before it was cut short by an unfortunate injury.

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