A lot of people (including me), counted out the Los Angeles Clippers at the start of the season. Kawhi Leonard was still recovering from knee issues, they lost Paul George for nothing in free agency, re-signed James Harden to a lucrative two-year deal, and were set to rely on Derrick Jones, Nicholas Batum, Norman Powell, and Kris Dunn. The highlight of their season was supposed to be opening their new arena.
I was one of those people that audibly laughed when someone on a podcast, news site, or TV said “well if they get Kawhi back healthy”, because he almost never is. I also laughed again when Norman Powell said he viewed George’s exit as addition by subtraction, especially since George was coming off an All-NBA caliber year.
Well, who’s laughing now! Not me. George is coming off a career-worst year with the Sixers, Powell just had the best year of his career, Leonard is fully back, Harden will be on an All-NBA team, and Tyronn Lue is a candidate for Coach of the Year. LA is the fifth seed in the West and ready to make some noise.
With a healthy Kawhi Leonard, the West needs to beware of the Los Angeles Clippers
Since March 1st, the Clippers are 18-5 and Leonard has returned to his elite ways. He has averaged about 26 points per game, seven rebounds, and three assists on 53 percent shooting and 43 percent from three-point range.
He is also averaging 36 minutes per game in that span, showing that he is ramped up and ready to handle a heavy workload in the playoffs. Leonard finding his form has been the storyline lately, but Harden, Zubac, and Powell providing support has been the winning formula for LA.
Harden’s playmaking has been stout, and he is coming off a great performance against the Warriors with 39 points and ten assists. The knock on him has been he has not been able to perform in the postseason, but for the first time in his career, he can play off of a reliable playoff performer in Leonard and be a second option.
Ivica Zubac especially has flown under the radar, as he has been one of the league’s elite rebounders and rim protectors. In their first-round series with the Denver Nuggets, he will be tasked with containing Nikola Jokic, and his elite defensive ability allows for LA to play Jokic straight up with Zubac. The problem isn’t stopping Jokic from scoring 30, but preventing him from also getting 15 assists.
Lastly, if he didn’t miss time to end the season, Powell would be the favorite to win Most Improved Player. He averaged a career-high 21.8 PPG on 48 percent shooting and 42 percent from three-point range. He has filled the role George played last year perfectly for this Clippers team and gives them secondary scoring and creation outside of Leonard and Harden.
Obviously, the Clippers’ status as contenders hinges on Leonard’s health. We have seen him break down at the worst times before. However, he has been slowly ramping up and is now playing heavy minutes. There are also two days off before every game in the first three games of the series, allowing him to stay fresh. A healthy Kawhi and a deep team is a scary thought.
Everyone seems to be penciling in the Thunder as the favorites to come out of the West, and rightfully so. It won’t be easy, though. The Clippers are here and ready to make some noise and can make the Wild West even wilder this spring.