Potentially absent for a long time, Kawhi Leonard communicates little about his health since he began his convalescence. The catch is, when he does, his outings are pretty… nebulous. The latest is no exception to the rule, much to the chagrin of Clippers fans.
Winners of Dallas and Jazz in the playoffs, the Clippers had however cringe after the conference semifinals. Indeed, they had then lost Kawhi Leonard, hit in the knee. Without their franchise player, the Californians did not resist the Suns for long, losing in six games. But they were not at the end of their sentences …
Indeed, the medical examinations revealed a partial rupture of the cruciate ligaments in the double champion, which inevitably implies a long absence. The big question is how long he will be on the sidelines, his presence being essential to the proper functioning of the Angelinos. But don’t count on him to shed some light on the situation …
Kawhi Leonard still absent for a long time for the Clippers?
Indeed, already not known to be a great talker, The Klaw did not bother with details when asked the question. His statement was indeed … inconclusive:
That’s the challenge, to see how quickly I can improve and how much stronger I can be than when I was healthy. When that date is available, we’ll be ready.
Suffice to say that we are no further ahead after this outing than before. If we read between the lines, we nevertheless understand that a return is not about to be organized. KL intends to return to full form once his recovery period is over, if not even stronger than he was before the series against Utah. However, he does not set a deadline, so as not to take the lead.
It’s an approach that shouldn’t displease the Clippers, despite the fact that they will have to do without him for much of the coming year (maybe even all). Indeed, the franchise intends to keep its superstar in the long term, and thus keep its competitiveness. They can therefore take an example from Kevin Durant, who had a blank year with the Nets before coming back to the cannonball last season. A similar scenario is therefore desirable in LA.
Nevertheless, the question remains: what are the real objectives of the Voiliers in 2021-22? Without Kawhi, it’s hard to see them fight for the title. Paul George was heroic in the playoffs last year, but it might not work a second time, especially if he has to keep up with 82 games before. A priori, we should therefore see Tyronn Lue’s men fighting somehow for victories, ensuring the playoffs in the hope that the winger can come back to lend them a hand.
We wish good luck to the fans of the Clippers, who will have to be patient this year. It could be long if Kawhi Leonard remains entirely on the sidelines!
