Clippers star Kawhi Leonard will play tonight in Game 2 of their first round playoff series in three weeks against the Dallas Mavericks. The All-Star forward missed nine consecutive games, including Game 1, due to inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
LOS ANGELES — Late Tuesday afternoon, words began to be exchanged in the hallways of Crypto.com Arena. Kawhi Leonard is scheduled to warm up ahead of Game 2 of the Clippers' first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.
Within minutes, his cell phone buzzed and cameras rolled, capturing footage of the six-time All-Star forward preparing for his first postseason game.
Leonard returned to the Clippers' lineup on Tuesday night after missing the past nine games, including Sunday's Game 1 win, due to lingering inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. The two-time NBA Finals MVP only recently started practicing after feeling discomfort in his knee after the Clippers' game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 31st.
“He did everything he needed to do to get on the floor,” coach Tyronn Lue said before tipoff. “He checks all the boxes, and the medical (staff) has done a great job just making sure he checks those boxes. He's ready to go. You can't put a player on the floor who isn't ready.
Lue said he won't put any playing time restrictions on Leonard, but “we'll just gauge it to see how he feels.” Look at how he's feeling because he's feeling a little weird. ”
Dallas manager Jason Kidd said Leonard clearly has more challenges than the Mavericks faced in the series opener.
“(You're talking about) future Hall of Famers,” Kidd said. “He's one of those guys with a high basketball IQ, so no matter how long he's out, he's going to have to take responsibility both defensively and offensively.
“If he's playing, he's ready. We have to account for him on both sides of the ball.”
Lue said he doesn't expect Leonard to be as sharp as he was throughout the regular season, when he averaged a team-high 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
“He might be a little rusty offensively, but he'll still be able to make shots and be himself, so we'll see when the game starts,” Lue said.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank last week described Leonard's inflammation as “unpredictable” and “stubborn.”
Before the injury, Leonard was having his healthiest season since arriving in Los Angeles, playing in 68 games, his most since 2016-17 with the San Antonio Spurs. He was averaging a career-high 34.3 minutes per game this season.
talk
Norman Powell remained silent until he could no longer do so. For the second year in a row, the Clippers guard was not among the three finalists for the league's Sixth Man of the Year Award, and the disrespect was too much to ignore.
“Two years in a row? I mean, I don't know what else I have to do to be the sixth man,” Powell said Tuesday. “Last year, you led the league in bench points. Don't get drafted. This year, given the fact that you're playing four Hall of Famers, you're most efficient coming off the bench. , his touch is limited, his role is reduced, and he can still produce the same amount as the three finalists. I think that's the worst.
The three finalists are Minnesota Timberwolves big man Naz Reid, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis, and Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk.
During the regular season, Powell was one of only 21 eligible players to average at least 10 points per game, with minimum shooting splits of 45% on field goals, 40% on 3-point shots, and 80% at the free throw line. He was one of the players. To the stat head. Only Powell and Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu played primarily as reserves. Powell started three of the 76 games this season, while Dosunmu started 37 of the 76 games.
Powell averaged 13.9 ppg on 48.6% from the field, 43.5% from behind the arc and 83.1% from the free throw line.
Powell said he is moving forward by focusing on the big picture. “By the end of the day, the main focus is winning the championship.”
valuable experience
Amir Coffey started the first playoff game on Monday, a rare opportunity made possible by Leonard's absence. Coffey started 12 games this season, but none as big as the series opener.
“So it's just pure excitement, an exciting feeling of being ready to go,” said Coffey, who had six points and three rebounds in 25 minutes. “His first trip was so much fun because it’s been a journey for so many years.”
In Game 2, when Leonard returned to the lineup, Coffey returned to the bench.
Coffey said his confidence has grown with every start, game and shot since signing with the Clippers as an undrafted rookie in 2019.
“Really, it comes with repetition,” Coffey said. “I didn't play that much the first few years, so it kind of built up off the court. … I think it's just growing a little bit through everyone.”
