The Los Angeles Clippers started the 202526 season with trepidation- though that was dealt a blow when two-time NBA finals MVP Kawhi Leonard announced that he would be out of action in the next few games with a sprained ankle. Head coach Tyronn Lue said that the injury is not believed to be permanent, but the timing could not have been worse with the team about to head into a rough stretch with seven consecutive road games.
It is much more than an injury update, a moment that makes one question the team in terms of depth, the longevity of Leonard, and whether the Clippers can use their time in contention before time and wear-and-tear have a chance to behead them.
The Injury and Its Timing
Leonard missed his third consecutive game, where the Clippers played the Phoenix Suns. Medical examinations were also sure that it was a sprained ankle, but Lue was also confident that it was not a lasting complication. Nevertheless, the absence creates a tangible blank in it as the schedule of the Clippers was about to sink upon a rough road tour.
Leonard had so far played 24.3, 5.7, and 3.5 points, rebounds, and assists, respectively, as a reminder that he is a top-tier guard when healthy. It is the issue, though, regarding the word whenever healthy- Leonard had not played a complete season since he joined the Clippers; he missed large chunks of recent campaigns due to knee issues.
The importance of this to the Clippers.
1. Dismissal of Elite Two-Way Presence.
Leonard is a two-way player, such as, elite defense, clutch scoring, and a steady hand in the leadership role. When he is not on the court, the Clippers lose not only points, but identity.
2. A Demanding Timetable For The Future.
The bottom line is that with seven consecutive road games, there is less room to manoeuvre. Road games are difficult in nature and losing your star in such a run-up is an added risk to the direction the season may take.
3. Health is the New Wild Card
Leonard does not have a new history of injuries. Any failure is a bonus, though: the longer a player with his caliber of talent is out of action, the more difficult it becomes to get back into the rhythm and momentum.
My Version: The Window Is Not Yet Closed, Still, Friction Is Building.
Kawhi Leonard is yet to lack the ability, the mentality, and the murderous spirit. The Clippers are still contenders in case they are quite healthy. But this new mutilation makes clearer the greatest gap in that case: his availability.
If I had to break it down:
Leonard has been a long-time investment by the Clippers. It is no longer a matter of building, but it is now a matter of maximizing.
Leonard must have an uninterrupted series of games to regain his supremacy.
The company should demonstrate that it can excel when Kawhi is and when he is not playing.
It is not the end of the world yet. Nonetheless, it is a reminder that in elite sports, time is quick to catch up. The video of the stopwatch begins prematurely, particularly when injuries occur.
