As the LA Clippers look to regain their winning streak, the availability of franchise superstar Kawhi Leonard plays a significant role in making this happen. His health concerns have been severe throughout his career, primarily after he joined LA in 2019.
Without his two-way dominance, head coach Tyronn Lue and the LA Clippers are in trouble for a long period of time. Leonard also adds a level of playmaking that the rotation clearly needs without a ‘true’ point guard.
Furthermore, the LA Clippers have struggled against teams with a record of .500 or better. However, their next match-up is against the Chicago Bulls, who stand at a percentage of 46.9. This battle is enormous for the Clippers, as a loss could potentially drop them to the seventh spot in the Western Conference.
Is Kawhi Leonard playing against the Bulls?
The most recent update has Kawhi Leonard available for the LA Clippers’ contest with the Chicago Bulls. This is a great sign, as he missed the Clippers’ last game against Atlanta due to injury management.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are unlisted and expected to play in tomorrow's Clippers-Bulls matchup.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) January 30, 2023
The Clippers have 11 straight games with no back-to-backs between now and March 2nd.
As for any restrictions, Lue and his staff should consider easing up on the amount of playing time Leonard receives. Over his last ten games, the two-time champion is averaging 36.3 minutes per game. This statistic is ridiculously high, especially after missing last season to recover from a torn ACL.
That said, the LA Clippers must begin the game with the right mentality on both ends of the court. Being aggressive on offense while also communicating on defense is the goal against a team like the Bulls. Additionally, a win pushes the Clippers closer to the third seed in the Western Conference.