On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in a contest that head coach Tyronn Lue dubbed “nasty.” For the first time since 2013, they accomplished so with a constrained and limited Kawhi Leonard sitting on the bench.
Leonard came off the bench in the Clippers’ 103-97 victory over the Lakers, a choice that was decided jointly by the front office, medical staff, coaching staff, and the two-time NBA Finals MVP himself. In 21 minutes of play, Leonard ended with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. He made 6-of-12 field goal attempts, 1-of-4 three-point attempts, and 1-of-2 free throw attempts.
After the game, Leonard remarked, “We all came in collectively and obviously they wanted to know what I wanted to do, how my body felt.”
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For the Clippers in their season opening, Kawhi Leonard did more than simply sit on the bench. Instead, Leonard waited until there was 6:25 left in the second quarter to make his season debut after sitting out the opening 18 minutes. After that, Leonard was able to play short bursts at third guard and in the second quarter before finishing the fourth.
After the victory, Kawhi Leonard remarked, “We conducted some simulations at practise and just for me, I felt like this was the best method.” In one situation, I would have been sitting for almost 35 minutes in actual time. That was far too lengthy. I simply believed that this circumstance was ideal. But as time goes on, we’ll have to wait and see.
In place of Leonard, Norman Powell started the game, but Tyronn Lue led a team effort to defeat the Lakers. Six Clippers players, including three reserves, scored in double figures. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Lonnie Walker IV, who each scored at least 20 points on the night, were defeated by the group as a whole.
In fact, Leonard addressed the coaching staff with the idea of playing off the bench because of the depth this team possesses.
Kawhi Leonard on coming off the bench: “Y’all didn’t know what was going on?”
Reporter: “Nah.”
“They didn’t tell y’all?”
“YOU didn’t tell us.”
“That’s not my job. I don’t put in the starting lineup.” pic.twitter.com/Xum4PCG2wx
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 21, 2022
As a leader, Leonard continued, “I believe we have players on the team that can step in for me in the starting lineup.” “So it was just a matter of me trying to gain minutes consistently. Tonight, I played for 21 minutes. If I had entered the game in the first quarter, it would have been difficult to play a consistent game with me. Therefore, it was more important for me to rest, ensure my long-term health, keep warm, and avoid spending too much time on the bench. That almost had an impact on everything.
The second quarter saw a few lineup experiments that were successful, but Tyronn Lue has been keeping the majority of them a secret. Furthermore, it appears that several of these groups are still in the testing phase for the Clippers.
Kawhi Leonard’s workload will gradually increase. As he grows accustomed to playing more and more, there is a good chance he will continue to play off the Clippers’ bench.
Leonard said, “You have to gradually play minutes in order to get the ACL strong. “It may easily weaken up once you start playing a 38-minute first game, but I’m listening to the doctor with that,” the patient said. It’s a lengthy season, like I stated. We want to make the playoffs, and I want to play there.
We have guys who can step in for me in that role, but these first few weeks are still crucial.
In essence, Leonard enters the game halfway through the second quarter as part of the Clippers’ new strategy so that he can play in spurts and finish the game.
Reporter: What was it like coming in mid-2nd quarter?
Kawhi Leonard: I waited 82 games last year, so I didn t think 15 minutes would be that long. This is how I started my career. Act like I was in foul trouble & once I check in the 2nd quarter, it s time to play basketball. pic.twitter.com/ESFshd7hDv
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) October 21, 2022
It was a long wait, but considering that I waited for 82 games in the previous season, I didn’t think 15 minutes would be too long. I’ve done it before. I started my profession in this manner. That was my thinking approach to it. When I check in the second quarter, pretend that I was in foul trouble and start playing basketball.
Leonard will miss at least one of each of the five back-to-back sets the Clippers play between now and the end of November.
The team’s first home game will take place against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. There is a chance that Kawhi Leonard or John Wall — or even both — will have to skip that game in order to relax since it will be the second part of a set.
