“Starts With Me”: Kawhi Leonard, Who Returned After 23-Day Hiatus, Takes Responsibility For Clippers Loss

Kawhi Leonard dropped a reality check after the Game 2 loss against the Dallas Mavericks. The former champion returned to the LA Clippers fold after recovering from knee inflammation. The team, on the other hand, won Game 1 without the star’s service. However, tonight, when everyone expected it to be a cakewalk for the home side, they encountered a frustrating defeat.

Following the defeat, Kawhi Leonard pointed out the impacts of his 23-day absence on the court as he dropped a message to the side. Speaking to reporters about his conditioning after the injury return, the Terminator said, “This is my first game in 20-something days. I don’t know; I’m not measuring it. We’ve gotta be better as a unit overall; that starts with me.” Despite a good defensive effort, the home side suffered a close 96-93 loss tonight at the Crypto.com Arena.

Kawhi Leonard stepped on the court after missing 8-straight games since March 31. Head coach Tyronn Lue revealed the star’s inclusion in the lineup two hours before the game, stating that he had checked all the boxes for return. After a quiet offensive presence in the first half, Leonard dropped a few buckets to finish the game with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.

However, on the offensive end, Klaw put up a masterclass performance. Notably, 4 steals and a block reflected his efforts on the court. Speaking of the star’s return, Lue said, “As far as getting the rhythm, as far as his plays, getting his shots and things like that… That’s gonna come. Defensively did some good things. Steals and deflections. It’s good to have him back on the floor…… I thought he did a good job… he didn’t tryna force anything.” 

Following that, Lue showed confidence on the side and strongly said that the Clippers will bounce back in the remainder of the season. The team will travel to Dallas for Game 3.

Things to expect from Kawhi Leonard’s team in Game 3

Speaking of the team’s performance tonight, Tyronn Lue hailed the team’s defense. The star-studded Clippers put up a tight defense to the Mavs’ offense. Despite that, the magicians Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving made some tough shots, scoring 55 points together.  On the other side, the LA squad missed a lot of shots, which eventually affected the game’s result.

The Clippers would look to carry their defensive momentum to the next game, but at the same time, the Mavs might need to watch out for some brilliant offense. James Harden, who had a quiet season offensively while averaging 16.6 points, has averaged 25 points so far in the series. The star could turn up his offensive brilliance in the upcoming games.

Fortunately, Paul George got his teammate Kawhi Leonard back on the court. So, the duo could work some magic alongside Russell Westbrook. Apart from that, star center Ivica Zubac turned up the heat in Game 1; and we might see more of him in the games ahead. Moreover, the team also has a solid second unit comprising Norman Powell, Amir Coffey, PJ Tucker, and many more spearheaded by Russ.

Will the Mavs have an answer for the imposing Clippers unit? What’s your take on Kawhi Leonard’s absence? Let us know in the comments below.