“Just got to check all the boxes,” mutters Ty Lue, his words hanging heavy in the press room. The Clippers‘ new $2 billion Intuit Dome sparkles with promise, but the team’s opening night carries a familiar cloud – their superstar watching from the sidelines.

The latest update on Kawhi Leonard reads like a frustrating broken record.

“Same update as last week. Progressing…” Ty Lue offers, his brief response masking bigger concerns. Leonard’s knee inflammation, the same issue that kept him out of 4 playoff games in their first-round exit to Dallas last season, continues to plague the 5x All-Star.

ESPN’s Shams Charania pulled no punches: “This is not an injury that’s going to be measured by a week, two weeks, potentially. Not days, obviously.” The news hits harder considering the Clippers’ offseason reshape. Paul George‘s departure to Philadelphia already thinned their star power.

Now, they’re missing The Klaw’s elite two-way presence – the same player who shot 41.7% from deep while averaging 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season.

“We got to just figure out how to play fast, play free, getting in the space,” Ty Lue explained, wrestling with his new reality. “But not getting over dribble, I mean, no dribble happy.” The coach’s words paint a picture of a team forced to reinvent itself. Kawhi Leonard’s ability to draw double teams created opportunities. Without him, the offensive blueprint needs a complete redraft.

His availability tells a sobering story. Last year’s 68 games marked his highest total in a Clippers uniform since 2019. The previous 4 seasons? Never more than 57 appearances, including a complete scratch for 2021-22 with a torn ACL. As the Clips’ talisman sits, the weight shifts to a reshaped roster and a familiar face in a new role.

James Harden embraces leadership amid uncertainty, easily

“I’ve been in this situation before, so it’s easy for me,” James Harden declares, stepping into the spotlight as the Clippers’ clear leader. His confidence doesn’t mask the challenge ahead – steering a team that lost both its All-Stars from last season’s 51-win campaign.

The former MVP sees this moment clearly: “We don’t have room for error like a lot of other teams. We have to be detailed and precise on everything we do, and that starts with me.” His words carry extra weight in the loaded Western Conference, where last season saw 11 teams finish .500 or better.

The Clippers aren’t starting from scratch. Norman Powell, Terance Mann, and Ivica Zubac return from last year’s squad. New additions Derrick Jones Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. add fresh dimensions. But in a conference where 10 teams won 45+ games last season, every piece must fit perfectly.

“You get an opportunity to build guys up,” Harden explains, focusing on his expanded role. “Guys that feel like they don’t have the most confidence or are still trying to figure that role, you kind of help guys build their gut.” As the Suns await their season opener, The Beard’s leadership philosophy and his playmaking prowess face its first real test in the Clippers’ gleaming new home.