On paper, the Los Angeles Clippers have one of the deepest teams in basketball. Guys like Paul George, John Wall, Ivica Zubac, and Norman Powell have been huge for the Clips and it’s a big part of the reason for their mid-season turnaround.
As far as the Clippers go, they will only go where Kawhi Leonard takes them. And while have seen him win a couple of championships already, he has not yet done it in Los Angeles.
Truth be told, he’s barely played at all since joining the Clippers. Due to injuries, load management, and various other reasons, Kawhi has become the poster child for missing games and it’s really starting to get noticed by the fans.
On Twitter this week, it was actually FOX Sports analyst Shannon Sharpe who took a shot at Kawhi, who he compared to a ‘government check.’
“Kawhi Leonard is like a government check he only play twice a month…”
It was a joke told in good fun by Shannon, but Kawhi’s availability has become a huge problem for LA. In three and a half seasons with the Clippers, Kawhi has only played in 125 games and has not played more than 60 in any season since 2017.
Last year was a bit different due to his ACL injury, but missing games is something that Kawhi has done for years now. And as good as Kawhi is, his constant absences have taken a significant toll on the team.
Teams Still Fear The Los Angeles Clippers
As bad as they’ve looked this season, the Clippers are still widely feared and respected around the league. Besides having two of the best wing players in basketball, they have all the assets they need to make a last-minute trade.
In the right circumstances, the Clippers could make a monster run.
“People are scared of the Clippers,” via Jake Fischer. “They’re scared that the sleeping giant is about to wake up. They are definitely going to be buyers [at the trade deadline]. They’re looking for a switchable backup big. Someone who can at least hold there own on switches.”
Every season is the same old story with the Clippers. While we know what kind of talent these guys have individually, players constantly coming in and out of the lineup (not just Leonard) seem to always hold them back.
If the Clips fail to meet their goals again this season, it may be time to try a different approach altogether.
Source: fadeawayworld
