As Clippers Nation and different elements of the NBA world await the return of star Kawhi Leonard, his teammates haven’t been sitting idly by whereas his proper knee recovers.
They’ve received video games they did not should win and are caring for video games they need to be successful – all with out their star participant. The Clippers are 18-13 and have an opportunity to enhance on a three-game highway journey that begins Monday in opposition to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Kawhi?
“We’re not enthusiastic about Kawhi coming again but,” heart Ivica Zubac mentioned, in a second of honesty.
When Leonard returns — Jan. 4 can be an excellent guess — he’ll discover a Clippers group that has developed strong chemistry, will lean on James Harden for management and Norman Powell for scoring, and has constructed a fame stingy protection.
“We need to win video games, we need to win each recreation regardless of who’s on the sector and we did that,” Zubac added. “It doesn’t matter what it appears to be like like, we’ve got to win. We’re going to play laborious; we are going to defend.
“Some nights we’re not going to shoot properly, or we’re not going to defend, however one factor we are able to do each night time is play protection. That is what this group goes to do, we’ll play laborious and play laborious on the defensive finish and that is going to present us an opportunity to win.
With or with out Leonardo.
“We simply deal with what we are able to management and be within the second,” Harden mentioned. “Each time that occurs, (we’ll) get to that bridge when it comes.” However we’re centered on the subsequent recreation and the video games we play.
Do not mistake the gamers’ carefree perspective for not caring about their famous person teammate. They need Leonard again however cannot get caught up within the hype and hypothesis. They’ve at the least three video games left with out Leonard, who stayed behind to get extra reps earlier than the Clippers’ subsequent house recreation.
“He’s the subsequent man up all yr,” mentioned Powell, who’s averaging 24.4 factors and taking pictures 46.6 % from 3-point vary in Leonard’s absence. “When Kawhi comes again, they are going to perceive. That is not our job. Our job is to determine our new roles and make all the pieces work.
“We’re all pulling in the identical course. All of us hold making an attempt to show everybody improper and the way they understand us, and the job is to be prepared for a deep playoff run. That is how we see it.
When Leonard returns (rumored to be January 4), there will certainly be roster adjustments, gamers must sacrifice minutes, factors, or each.
“Everybody must sacrifice and Kawhi will come again,” Powell added. “I imply, he’s a franchise participant, however the advantage of this group is we don’t have egos. All of us need to win. All of us have one thing to show and we do it collectively.
Harden mentioned Leonard was conscious of how his return might shake up what’s been constructing all season. However the veteran level guard believes Leonard’s return will likely be clean. The Clippers will proceed to play aggressive protection and assault the basket.
“We’re nonetheless going to say it the identical approach. It is simply now that we’ve got one other elite weapon on each ends of the ground, in order that’s undoubtedly a bonus for us.
