During the 2021-22 NBA season, the LA Clippers battled injuries throughout their entire roster. Not only did franchise centerpiece Kawhi Leonard miss the whole year due to an ACL injury, but players like Marcus Morris and Nicolas Batum missed several games simultaneously. Although head coach Tyronn Lue led his team to the eighth seed, it was clear from the start that the Clippers would face difficulties when competing for one of the top seeds.
Moreover, the long-awaited preseason debut of Leonard, George, and John Wall has finally arrived. Before the game, fans received an inspirational message from LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. This short speech lightened the energy within the crowd as Ballmer displayed how excited he was for the regular season.
Want some Seattle energy? Heeeerrrrre’s Steve Ballmer! pic.twitter.com/L2z2dNjOJv
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) October 4, 2022
As the game began, it was clear how important Leonard and George were to Lue’s game plan. In the Clippers’ first possession, Leonard showcased what he does best. He attacked a mismatch and drained a three-pointer.
Furthermore, these two reminded Clipper fans how dominant they could be when playing alongside each other. Leonard and George combined for 23 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and only one turnover. After playing just one half of basketball, it is safe to say that the LA Clippers’ superstar duo did not lose a step during the off-season.
The LA Clippers, as a whole, exceeded expectations in their second preseason game.
In their preseason win against the Portland Trail Blazers, the LA Clippers displayed their effectiveness when playing as a whole. While the game was filled with excitement from the fans, Luke Kennard left mid-game due to an apparent ankle injury. During the post-game presser, Lue updated the fans that there was nothing to worry about as Kennard was ruled out due to caution.
Ty Lue said Luke Kennard is "OK, nothing crazy, we just wanted to be cautious" after rolling his ankle. He also said Terance Mann rolled his ankle in practice and is OK. And he added Jason Preston tweaked his groin. Again, said he was held out out of caution.
— Andrew Greif (@AndrewGreif) October 4, 2022
In addition, multiple players on the LA Clippers have shown significant improvements from last season. Amir Coffey played exceptionally well, scoring 15 points in only 24 minutes. Another player who played extremely well was Brandon Boston Jr. While his shooting splits may have been sub-par, Boston Jr came alive late in the game, leading the Clippers to a win.
Second-round draft pick Moussa Diabate also played phenomenally in his second preseason game. Based on his skill-set and readiness, there is a good chance that he could begin the regular season as the backup center behind Ivica Zubac.
The preseason debut of Wall was also highly anticipated for Clipper fans. Although his stats may not stand out, Wall appears to be in great shape. Especially because Wall did not play at all last season, he showed signs of a quick first step and the ability to make the correct read in traffic.
As the regular season approaches, the key to a top three seed for the LA Clippers is to remain fully healthy. Lue must make the correct adjustments as there is little to no room for error. Another season full of injuries could drastically affect the LA Clippers’ championship odds.