Ever since Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joined the Los Angeles Clippers four years ago, they have experienced nothing but disappointment and heartbreak come postseason time.
They have been the darlings of the national media, as they have been the overwhelming favorites at least twice to win the NBA championship, but they have made only one trip to the Western Conference Finals since 2019.
One reason has been the inability of Leonard and George to stay healthy, and yet somehow, both have avoided a lot of the criticism that is usually levied at stars that are so injury-prone.
The Clippers’ official Twitter account recently posted photos of Leonard working out and getting ready for the new season.
Hi Kawhi 👋 pic.twitter.com/O9AF1b3DYZ
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) September 6, 2023
When Leonard has been healthy, especially several years ago, he has been one of the rare superstars in basketball who would not only score 25-30 points but also successfully contain one of the opposing team’s best wing players.
Unfortunately for the Clippers, his defensive ability has taken a hit over the last few years in the wake of his physical problems.
He suffered an ACL injury during the 2021 playoffs that forced him to miss all of the following season, and in the first round of this past season’s playoffs, he suffered a torn meniscus that prematurely ended his year.
The Clippers were already without George, who sprained his right knee in late March and was shelved the rest of the way.
They will certainly win a good amount of games this season and, at times, tantalize fans, but with their injury problems and their lack of a high-level point guard and floor general, it seems yet another playoff exit is in their future.
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