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New Years Resolutions for Kawhi Leonard, Paul George & the LA Clippers

By Logan Rapp

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 19: A view of the court at Staples Center during the game between the LA Clippers and the Houston Rockets on December 19, 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 Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 17: Ricky Rubio #11 of the Phoenix Suns scores on a layup past Rodney McGruder #19 of the LA Clippers during the first half at Staples Center on December 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 17: Ricky Rubio #11 of the Phoenix Suns scores on a layup past Rodney McGruder #19 of the LA Clippers during the first half at Staples Center on December 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Rodney McGruder – Health

The Scavenger just hasn’t been able to get into a rhythm due to injury, but the hope is that after two stints on the bench, we can go into 2020 with proper conditioning. Because those first games, shooting-wise, were painful to watch. It was clear that he just couldn’t find his shot. Once he did, he started developing a consistency that made him a dangerous third or fourth option on the floor — right before he got injured again.

The shooting consistency comes with consistent health. So this is as much a resolution for the medical staff as it is a resolution for Rodney himself.

Derrick Walton Jr., Terance Mann, Mfiondu Kabengele – Make The Most Of Your Minutes

The reality is that, if all goes well, we shouldn’t be seeing much of any of these guys until the game is in garbage time. And we probably won’t see many minutes at all from any of them come playoff time. So the key for these three is to mentally prepare for the minutes they get, and to come out swinging when they do get them.

Knock on wood, they won’t be needed down the stretch and into the postseason. But if they are, a resolution for 2020 is to have the mental preparation that Sindarius Thornwell did last season. There’s a reason Doc was always confident in him when he needed to be a situational player.

Jerome Robinson – Sigh

The reality is this: take away the small sample size, low minutes games — those are garbage minutes. Look at any game where he’s had five or more attempts, and the numbers just look abysmal. Most recently he was 2 for 5 against the Bulls in 23 minutes, and before that, 1 for 5 against the Wizards (THE WIZARDS) in over 17 minutes.

Then it was 3-12 before that, and 2-10 before that… you get the idea. I love Rome, he has talent, and he’s had a wonky developmental period being sent back and forth from the G League. It probably didn’t help that in his rookie year he was first behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s probably going to be an All-Star really soon, and then behind Landry Shamet, who was and is demonstrably a more polished shooter from the jump.

But we can’t look away from the truth: right now, as it stands, Jerome Robinson is a shooter who can’t shoot. It may simply be that he needs to be on a different team in order to thrive, but until he starts draining shots, I don’t know if there’s room for him anywhere. I hope he does.

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