With Norman Powell steadily vanishing his opponents, the LA Clippers have been elevated into a territory comprising a few championship teams. They have a ridiculously efficient lead scorer in Powell, mixed in with stars like James Harden and Ivica Zubac to create a winning environment under a new roof.
However, without Powell, the Clippers plummet to a team with a see-through offense. Head coach Tyronn Lue has to shift towards the pick-and-roll between Harden and Zubac, which is evident from a defensive standpoint when the gravity of an effective scorer like Powell is absent.
Moreover, the Clippers’ record in Powell’s 12 missed games this season is 4-8. Three of their four wins occurred against teams below .500(Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards).
Unsurprisingly, the Clippers require Powell to be available for them to win games. He may not be a facilitator like Harden, but the former UCLA Bruin keeps defenses guessing with his strengths on all three levels and at the line.
On the contrary, Powell’s recent status has coerced dialogue on what is going on. This has erupted out of thin air and could expand concern moving forward.
The timeline of Norman Powell’s injury and change of designation does not add up
Before Norman Powell’s missed contests against the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, and Detroit Pistons, the injuries he was reported with did not seem severe. They appeared to be utilized for extra precaution, as Powell was carrying the Clippers’ offensive pressure.
Furthermore, Powell scored a season-high 41 points before All-Star weekend, during which he participated in the three-point contest. His health looked good.
Additionally, Powell showed signs of durability all season, as he played 45 games and posted 24.2 points and 3.6 rebounds with a true shooting percentage of 63.3. He was the clear frontrunner for the league’s Most Improved Player award as long as he showed up for 65 contests.
Conversely, the Clippers battled with the Bucks and Pacers, with Powell on the sidelines due to soreness in the left knee. LA then played Detroit on the back end of a back-to-back, where Powell’s injury was changed to left patellar tendinopathy.
This could be speculation, or there could be legitimate complications behind the scenes. Nonetheless, Clipper fans will know the truth within the coming days. If he returns against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, that is good news, but if not, the Clippers could be in danger, especially if their losing streak extends.