In the Western Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Clippers met the Phoenix Suns sans their star player Kawhi Leonard. And the Clippers will now be without Leonard for the duration of the series against the Suns. Kawhi Leonard was injured in the Western Conference Semifinals and has not played since. He is now ruled out of the rest of the Western Conference Finals, but not the NBA Finals.
The Clippers trail the Suns by one game, and a loss would eliminate them from the Series. As a result, they must win Game 6 to compete in the NBA Finals.
So, if the Clippers win Game 6 and go to the NBA Finals, Leonard could return when his condition improves.
The injury to Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard has already been ruled out of Wednesday’s Game 6. After the Clippers won Game 5 on Monday, the Suns now lead the series 3-2.
If necessary, Game 7 will be played on Friday.
The Clippers star was hurt in the Western Conference Semifinals. He last appeared on June 14th, in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Utah Jazz. Leonard sprained his knee late in the fourth quarter.
As a result, he was ruled out of the rest of the series. The Clippers initially assumed he had sustained serious ACL damage. Leonard did not play in the Western Conference finals, but he came to cheer on his teammates while watching the games at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
He is in rehab in Los Angeles with a sprained knee and has not ruled out participating in the NBA Finals if the Clippers advance.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, “Leonard’s reps will meet with L.A. to discuss future actions if the team goes past the Phoenix Suns.” He is without a doubt one of the finest players in the NBA, and the Clippers need him to play.
In 52 of 72 games, the two-time NBA Finals MVP averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.9 three-pointers made, and 1.6 steals. During those games, the Clippers frequently ruled him out to rest him for the playoffs.
He averaged 30.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game as a result of his plan. However, injuries happen in sports, and he couldn’t escape one in the Conference semifinals. That cost him two games and now the entire series against the Suns.
In Leonard’s absence, the Clippers have stepped up their game. Missing out on a major player in a crucial game is a significant disadvantage. The Clippers, on the other hand, are doing everything they can to keep their hopes of reaching the NBA finals alive.
Despite missing their star player, the Clippers are still fighting for a spot in the NBA finals. They rallied from a 2-0 hole against the Utah Jazz to reach the Conference Finals.
And again as they battled back from a 2-0 deficit against the Suns. All of this is possible because other Clippers players have stepped up to fill the void left by Leonard’s absence.
In his absence, Paul George has been playing incredibly well for the Clippers. In Game 5, Paul George helped the Clippers trim the Suns’ 3-1 series lead to 3-2.
He finished with a game-high forty points. Monty Williams, the Suns’ coach, wanted his squad to remain vigilant following Game 5.
“We recognized not just how good they were without Kawhi, but also the coaching and experience that they possessed that we lacked,” Williams said.
“Obviously, losing a guy like Kawhi has an impact on your team – I mean, we didn’t have Chris for a number of games (because to COVID-19 health and safety procedures).”
“And when we played with the Lakers, he was playing with one arm, so we definitely understood.” “You always coach for the best squad, you understand?” You prepare as though they’re going to be the best team you’ve ever played against, regardless of who’s on the court.”
Guards Reggie Jackson and Terance Mann are two others who are stepping up. The Clippers also contacted Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris Sr., Luke Kennard, and Patrick Beverley.
Coach Ty Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers discusses other players stepping up in the game.
“We’ve had plenty of practice,” Lue added, “with PG and Kawhi out, Serge out, and Pat Beverley out a lot this year.” “I think our young guys have really had an opportunity throughout season to stand up and play well in big games and important occasions.”
“Like Luke Kennard, Terance Mann has been outstanding all year.” Reggie Jackson is filling in as the starting quarterback while Pat is out. He’s been incredible.”
“The men have stepped forward. They have the necessary expertise. “I think having the experience of being able to receive consistent minutes throughout the regular season and simply carry it over to the postseason is the most important thing.”
Furthermore, “teams without their complete arsenal tend to create wrinkles that would not normally exist if an opponent’s leading man was in the lineup,” according to Lue.
“I believe at times you come into the series, into the games, thinking about how to take away a team’s top player and how to protect them,” Lue explained. “Then, when he’s not there, the other team plays a different style of basketball.”
So you can’t really focus on one or two guys.”
You May Know: Kate Rorke-Bassich, Rezendeevil