LA Clippers vs. Brooklyn Nets Factor #3: Do we see Luke Kennard?
In the LA Clippers’ win against the Utah Jazz, Luke Kennard didn’t see the floor despite being listed as active. That led to many questions across Clipper Nation about the status of Kennard in the rotation, and it was another unfortunate thing to see in a season that hasn’t been great for Luke.
I’m much less doom and gloom about Luke, and I don’t believe that the Utah game suggests he’s no longer got a place in the rotation. The thing to keep in mind is that “active” doesn’t mean “healthy.” For a guy who’s fought knee issues the last couple years, I’m not shocked that the LA Clippers were extra careful with Luke.
The guys on the bench clearly love Luke and are always hyping him up when he plays well in the flow of the offense. Remember Kawhi on the bench telling Kennard “when you get the ball, shoot it. That’s why we brought you here”?
It’s hard for me to see the Clips trading for Luke Kennard, giving him an extension and then deciding within 30 games that he is totally out of the rotation. So my question here isn’t whether Luke Kennard is “good enough” to see the court vs the Nets. Instead it’s, “is he feeling right enough to get on the court and shoot?”
If he is, I’m excited for the possibility of seeing Kennard and Shamet guarding each other, despite how much it still hurts every time I see Shamet in the Nets colors. And if Kennard isn’t quite ready, let’s remember that pushing a dude fighting knee soreness to play a game in the middle of February isn’t the smart move for the playoffs.
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