“We don’t know yet, but we have to prepare for both possibilities. We don't have certainty. The guys are ready, we’re ready to go, so we have to prepare for everything.”
A bit like Doc Rivers the day before regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyronn Lue walked on eggshells yesterday, at a press conference, regarding the case Kawhi Leonard, still struggling with his knee as the Clippers begin their playoff series this Sunday against Dallas (9:30 p.m. French time). Absent since March 31 due to persistent inflammation, the former Spurs and Raptors player did not participate in any contact sessions yesterday.
“He shot the day before, he was on the field. Today, he will be able to shoot with a little more movement. And he will also participate in some exercises”, continued Tyronn Lue. “We’ll see after that how he feels. »
Suffice to say that his chances of taking the field for Game 1 are strongly compromised, even if there remains a tiny hope, and that Tyronn Lue had to work on a plan B.
Paul George wants to be optimistic
The Clippers strategist already knows which player will replace Kawhi Leonard if the latter were to be unavailable, but he did not want to reveal his plans on the eve of the match. On the other hand, he recalled the importance for able-bodied players to give everything to live up to the event.
“We don't know about Kawhi at this moment, but it concerns each of us, not just one or two players. It’s everyone, collectively, who must do their job and do it to the best of their ability. It's up to everyone to be productive, including the staff and me.”he underlined, before mentioning the latest successes, against Denver in particular, acquired without Kawhi Leonard. “We know where we are, and it was important to win these games against Denver and during our victorious comeback against Cleveland. Because it was hard for us to win without Kawhi. So it did us good, especially at the end of matches, because we needed these matches. The guys have raised their levels, we also have to include Phoenix. They were important matches for us.”
Another “superstar” of the team, Paul George also tries to remain positive despite the still uncertain context around Kawhi Leonard. If not for this match, PG13 is hopeful of finding his alter ego quickly. Above all, he knows his teammate's determination to win this race against time.
“I would say injury-wise we've just been unlucky, but we're more focused on the positive. We think at some point he will be back with us,” did he declare. ” He works hard. This is Kawhi, he wants to be more than anyone and he works hard for it. He does everything possible to be available. We all see it, the work he does. When he’s ready, he’ll be ready.”
| Kawhi Leonard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | SAN | 64 | 24 | 49.3 | 37.6 | 77.3 | 1.6 | 3.5 | 5.1 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 7.9 |
| 2012-13 | SAN | 58 | 31 | 49.4 | 37.4 | 82.5 | 1.1 | 4.9 | 6.0 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 11.9 |
| 2013-14 | SAN | 66 | 29 | 52.2 | 37.9 | 80.2 | 1.2 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 12.8 |
| 2014-15 | SAN | 64 | 32 | 47.9 | 34.9 | 80.2 | 1.3 | 5.9 | 7.2 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 16.5 |
| 2015-16 | SAN | 72 | 33 | 50.6 | 44.3 | 87.4 | 1.3 | 5.5 | 6.9 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 21.2 |
| 2016-17 | SAN | 74 | 33 | 48.5 | 38.0 | 88.0 | 1.1 | 4.7 | 5.8 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 25.5 |
| 2017-18 | SAN | 9 | 23 | 46.8 | 31.4 | 81.6 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 16.2 |
| 2018-19 | TOR | 60 | 34 | 49.6 | 37.1 | 85.4 | 1.3 | 6.0 | 7.3 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 26.6 |
| 2019-20 | LAKE | 57 | 32 | 47.0 | 37.8 | 88.6 | 1.0 | 6.1 | 7.1 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 27.1 |
| 2020-21 | LAKE | 52 | 34 | 51.2 | 39.8 | 88.5 | 1.1 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 24.9 |
| 2022-23 | LAKE | 52 | 34 | 51.2 | 41.6 | 87.1 | 1.1 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 23.8 |
| 2023-24 | LAKE | 68 | 34 | 52.5 | 41.7 | 88.5 | 1.2 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 23.7 |
| Total | 696 | 32 | 49.9 | 39.1 | 86.2 | 1.2 | 5.2 | 6.4 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 20.0 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
