1. Kawhi Leonard’s two-way abilities
Since Kawhi Leonard went down with an ACL injury, LA Clipper fans have been anticipating his return. Despite winning up to the eighth seed last season, if Lue had Leonard in his rotations, they could have easily made a run at the NBA Finals.
After his play in the preseason, it is clear that Leonard should face no trouble in doing what he does best. His responsibilities will be critical as the Lakers will not be able to contain him. Leonard’s scoring, play-making, and defending will be too much to handle, especially if the LA Clippers are on fire from the three-point line.
The main goal will be to ease Leonard back into the rotation. This game will be led by George and the rest of the squad, as Leonard will still be preparing for an entire game of basketball. He will likely show many glimpses of the version fans received during the Clippers’ run to the Western Conference Finals.
Additionally, fans hope to see Leonard and George dominate the floor together. There are still concerns about the return of Leonard as an ACL injury requires an intense recovery routine off the court. Watching him go to work will give fans a strong sense of relief as the season continues.