6/10/2023 0 Comments Clippers new arena![]() ![]() The list of superstars in NBA history who dictate the rhythm of a game with more command than Leonard is short. Moving on from Kawhi (load management and all) could be a colossal misstep. ![]() There’s tangible reason to believe they could’ve won it all in 2021, when they made the Western Conference finals, or even this year, had their two-time Finals MVP not torn his meniscus during a remarkable 38-point Game 1 performance that confirmed how high his peak still clearly is. The Extraordinary Evolution of Brook Lopez Nine Thoughts on the Lakers, Dame to Brooklyn, and the NBA’s First Round (Westbrook was their leading scorer in the playoffs.) They took a chance on Russell Westbrook and then watched him kick the hinges off even the most optimistic expectations of what he could still do. Their process has been sound and forward-looking-from acquiring Robert Covington and Norman Powell last year to turning Luke Kennard and John Wall into Eric Gordon and flipping Reggie Jackson for Mason Plumlee (and then adding Bones Hyland) a few months ago. With limited resources, the Clippers’ personnel moves have been gold. The Clippers front office has done everything within its power over the past three years to win at the highest level. It’s also, in a conversation about what should happen next, slightly beside the point. The upshot of surrendering Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a boatload of draft capital to seemingly vault them to the front of the line has yielded zero minutes in the NBA Finals, let alone a ring ceremony. It’s natural to look at this situation and call it a failure. Now Leonard is about to turn 32, George is about to turn 33, and both are one season away from entering unrestricted free agency. It’s been almost four years since the Clippers became a real contender. On Wednesday, The Athletic reported that Leonard tore his meniscus, an injury that may require surgery but isn’t likely to have a major impact on next season. But Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, a duo that gave Steve Ballmer 332 million reasons to believe his team would win it all this year, combined to play just 80 minutes in the series. This brings us to the Los Angeles Clippers, a 44-win contender that was eliminated by the Suns in the first round on Tuesday night. Check out our daily predictions hub for the 2022-23 championship, the no. ![]()
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