The lead-up to the new NBA season wasn’t kind to the Los Angeles Clippers following yet another first-round playoff exit last season.
They lost star forward Paul George in free agency to the Philadelphia 76ers, while veteran guard Russell Westbrook left to join the Denver Nuggets.
To make matters worse, Kawhi Leonard, who has had trouble staying healthy for years, was declared out for an indefinite amount of time due to inflammation in his right knee.
The Clippers are 2-1 and will face the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, and head coach Tyronn Lue said Leonard will still be out, as will center Mo Bamba, for the next two games.
“They’re out the next 2 games, that’s all I know. I’m just focused on getting our guys ready to play… those guys are coming along, they’re putting in the work every day to get better, but they’re out the next 2 games”
Tyronn Lue on Kawhi Leonard and Mo Bamba
(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/NH0Ja60fnO
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 29, 2024
When Leonard, as well as George, came to the Clippers in the summer of 2019, it was widely expected that he would lead them to an NBA championship.
But in five seasons together, they made just one trip to the Western Conference Finals and failed to reach the championship series, and Los Angeles has failed to advance past the first round of the playoffs in the last three years.
This season, there is a real chance they won’t even make the playoffs, especially given the depth and parity the Western Conference possesses.
While 10-time All-Star guard James Harden is shooting just 36.2 percent from the field in the early going of this season, center Ivica Zubac has stepped up by averaging 22.7 points and a league-high 14.0 rebounds a game.
Guard Norman Powell is also picking up some of the slack in Leonard’s absence by putting up an efficient 24.7 points a game.
NEXT:
Tyronn Lue Reveals His Expectations For James Harden
