March 3, 2022. Reggie Jackson’s Clippers beat the Lakers soundly, by more than twenty points. A meeting where there were many notable absentees: Anthony Davis on one side; Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the other. Next night, on the occasion of a new Los Angeles derby, which will serve as the opener for the Clippers, all the stars should be there.
Starting with a Kawhi Leonard who has not played a real NBA game since June 2021. ” We want to have matches under our belt. Personally, it’s chaining matches rather than being in training. We have to build from this first game and that’s how we will see where we go. It’s a process and it’s beginning [ce soir] “says the former Spurs and Raptors player.
The latter says he is in good health and does not suffer from the effects of the surgery undergone at the level of his knee. His rehabilitation period? ” It’s been very different to go through that, to have the team behind me and to move forward, they want what’s best for me. “, Appreciates the MVP of the 2019 Finals, visibly alluding to the known complications, in a similar context, when he was in San Antonio.
A close-knit group ready to sacrifice
Kawhi Leonard will again become the cornerstone of this Clippers team whose full potential never seems to have been reached since his arrival and that of Paul George. Today, Tyronn Lue considers that the notion of ” sacrifice will be paramount in the success of the Californians.
” The guys are aware of the richness of our squad with the returns of Kawhi and Paul. Guys who played a big role for us last year offensively, like Reggie (Jackson), Marcus (Morris), Zu (Ivica Zubac) had more opportunities. Luke Kennard was excellent. They may not have the same opportunities, maybe not the same playing time. So you just have to make sacrifices and understand that we have a common goal, which is to win the match and try to win a title “recalls the technician.
Paul George, too, knows how talented this group is in every position. “ There are so many veterans in this group that we are ready to face anything that can happen to us. It’s just about staying the course, realizing that there will be ups and downs, but we will stick together. We’ve been doing it since I’ve been here. This group has always been very tight-knit. We will continue to be “, displays “PG”, which had carried the Clippers to the conference final in 2021.
So much for the state of mind of Californians who hope above all for one thing: to stay healthy until the end.
