PLAYA VISTA, Calif. — Whereas the LA Clippers have formally listed Kawhi Leonard as questionable for Sport 1 towards the Dallas Mavericks, the All-Star ahead’s standing to start out the NBA playoffs stays doubtful.
Coach Ty Lue mentioned Leonard wouldn’t undergo any contact in Saturday’s follow — the staff’s closing rehearsal earlier than Sunday’s Sport 1 tip at 12:30 p.m. PT. Leonard has not performed since March 31 resulting from irritation in his proper knee.
“He shot yesterday; he was on the ground,” Lue mentioned earlier than the staff’s follow. “Right now, he’ll have the ability to shoot extra with a bit bit extra motion. And he’s going to undergo a number of the follow, as effectively.”
Every time a query was posed to Lue with the premise of the Clippers having to play Sport 1 with out Leonard, the coach responded by saying the Clips do not but know that they are going to be with out their star.
Fellow All-Star Paul George, who should shoulder extra of the load if Leonard is unable to play, mentioned the Clippers have been “unfortunate” relating to well being issues within the playoffs. Final postseason, George missed the staff’s first-round collection towards the Phoenix Suns resulting from damage then Leonard suffered a meniscus damage and didn’t play after the primary two video games, because the Suns took the collection 4-1.
The franchise has had only one complete postseason run with each and George wholesome, in 2020.
“I feel from the damage standpoint, we have simply been unfortunate. However [we are] extra so centered on [the] constructive and do assume in some unspecified time in the future he’ll be with us,” George mentioned of Leonard.
Leonard missed the ultimate eight video games of the common season. Sunday’s Sport 1 will mark three weeks from the final time he performed.
Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, mentioned Leonard’s surgically repaired proper ACL and proper meniscus are stable and structurally in place. However Frank characterised the irritation as “cussed” and “unpredictable.”
Lue mentioned he has a substitute in thoughts if Leonard is unavailable for Sport 1. And if that’s the case, Lue mentioned, the staff noticed what it could possibly do when it went 4-4 with out Leonard in April, beating the Denver Nuggets, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Suns when the Clippers wanted wins to safe the Western Convention’s fourth seed.
“He’s working laborious,” George mentioned of Leonard. “That is Kawhi. He desires to be on this greater than anyone, and so he is working laborious, he is doing every part he can to be obtainable. All of us see it, the work he is placing in. When he is prepared, he’ll be prepared.”
