From the moment Kawhi Leonard clutched his knee and limped off the court during the LA Clippers second-round playoff series against the Utah Jazz in 2021, their future became a waiting game.
While the Clippers would ultimately go on to send the Jazz packing, they were shown the door the following round by the Phoenix Suns. Heading into the 2021-22 season, it was all about patience. With Leonard tearing his ACL, the road back was undoubtedly going to be a long one.
Having Leonard for most of the season was out of the question. But, with ACL tears typically taking 9-12 months to fully recover, give or take, there was a chance that Leonard could return for their postseason run. Those thoughts were only bolstered as Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports reported that Leonard was ahead of schedule and a return to the court this season was a possibility.
Ultimately, that news, while terrific, led to an enormous amount of pressure. Without Leonard in the fold, the Clippers weren’t expected to compete for a championship. But with multiple-time All-Star Paul George and a cast of above-average players, including Reggie Jackson and Terance Mann, the pressure to keep the ship afloat until Leonard returns was the topic of conversations.
Throughout the first three-quarters of the season, everything was going according to plan. George morphed seamlessly into the team’s number one option and was well on his way to his eighth All-Star selection thanks to averages of 24.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.5 dimes. More importantly, the Clippers were winning and safely above the playoff cut-off line.
Clippers can’t afford for PG to be gone all season
Since then, the Clippers are attempting to keep their season together with duck tape and crazy glue. Paul George has been sequestered on the sidelines due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and the team is cratering.
What was initially believed to be an injury that would only keep George out for 3-4 weeks, has only protracted his time on the bench.
If Leonard continues to attack his rehab the way he used to attack the basket on the court, he could make his return before the season comes to an end, but would it make a difference if George isn’t available? Absolutely not.
With the possibility that both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard may not return this season, the Clippers are shaping into a surprising seller at the NBA’s trade deadline. More at @BR_NBA: https://t.co/IGZhFoYSA7
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) January 12, 2022
As reported by Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, George could miss the remainder of the season due to what initially was believed to be an innocuous injury. The overall success of the Clippers cannot be sustained without him and their championship aspirations will continue to remain on the bench for as long as he does.
With George playing at a high level, there’s a sense of motivation from the Clippers franchise. And, more importantly, from Leonard. If George heals from his injury successfully, not only will his stellar play lift the Clippers above the playoff cutoff line, but in all likelihood, Leonard could find the urge to join his explosive partner on the court to make a championship push.