Clippers: 1 player helped, 2 players hurt by Kawhi Leonard’s injury

No. 1 player for the LA Clippers hurt by Kawhi Leonard’s injury: Marcus Morris Sr.

Marcus Morris Sr. hasn’t been as healthy as desired in this series for the LA Clippers with Kawhi Leonard out.

His knee soreness seemed to be getting to him in Games 1 through 4, and only registered 23 minutes per game.

Morris didn’t look good, averaging 6.3 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game. He shot just 29.4% from the field and 25% from three-point land. He did, however, look good in spurts at times.

Look at Game 3. He was two for four (hit both his threes and both his free throws) for eight points. If Leonard was healthy, he wouldn’t have even needed to play as long as he did.

He would have had more of a chance to have a performance like what he had in Game 3 earlier in the series, where he wasn’t asked to take a lot of shots, and stayed efficient in his chances. Because Kawhi’s hurt, he’s been asked of more than his knee wanted him to.

Morris had a special showing in Game 5, putting up 22 points on 9 of 16 shooting from the field, and two of five shooting from three. He played almost 39 minutes.

He looks healthy again, but he’s had a history of knee soreness in his career, and if something flares up again at all, he could be pushed to beyond the limit his knee wants to go again, just like he did in Games 1 through 4.

If Leonard was healthy, his soreness would be much easier to handle.