With the regular season on the brink of closing, the time is now or never for the LA Clippers to receive Kawhi Leonard in his best state. He could either turn the corner and return to his prime or fold again, leaving the Clippers to figure things out independently.
Though the future is unpredictable with Leonard, fans can see he is moving like his Toronto Raptor days on both ends of the floor. This consists of utterly quick movements that allow him to score seamlessly and stretch the floor 94 feet.
Furthermore, last night's win against the Cleveland Cavaliers was the first playoff environment level of basketball where the Clippers needed Leonard at his peak, and he succeeded.
In 35 minutes, the two-time champion recorded 33 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals, shooting 12-19 with five made three-pointers on six attempts. Other players, such as James Harden and Ivica Zubac, may have played well, but LA does not beat the best team in the league without Leonard outshining every player on the Cavaliers.
However, the heartbreaking side of Leonard's phenomenal showings is that fans must remain in check because of how his previous two seasons have unraveled.
Leonard was elite versus Cleveland but has struggled to stay healthy in the playoffs
Throughout his last two seasons, Kawhi Leonard has ramped up following an injury and come alive before injury news is announced.
In 2022-23, Leonard found his groove through 52 regular-season contests after facing an ACL injury. He scored 23.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, shooting 51.2% from the field and 41.6% from a distance.
The postseason began, and the stage for Leonard to elevate had arrived. He took on the Phoenix Suns, who were staffed with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, and stood his ground during the first two games.
After game two, the Clippers ruled him out with a torn meniscus after he had been playing through.
In a similar timeline, Leonard recovered and followed up with a superior 2023-24 regular season campaign. He played 68 games and was selected to be on his sixth All-Star roster and his sixth All-NBA team.
Conversely, Leonard did not play in the remaining eight games of 82 for the Clippers and missed game one of the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks. He returned for the second and third contests, did not play well, and did not show up again due to right knee inflammation.
Given that history has proven to repeat itself with Leonard, fans must hesitate before jumping to their feet. His recent battles are a great sign, but the excitement should be stashed away until the outcome of the postseason is revealed.