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The Los Angeles Clippers have listed Kawhi Leonard as "questionable" forward of Sport 1 within the playoff collection in opposition to Dallas.
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Clippers gave an replace about Kawhi Leonard’s status forward of Sport 1 within the first-round playoff collection in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks, formally itemizing him as "questionable." The collection kicks off Sunday on the Crypto.com Enviornment in downtown LA.
With Leonard’s harm standing remaining up within the air, Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, stated he desires "to be as clear as doable."
Leonard, a six-time All-Star, missed the ultimate eight video games of the common season on account of irritation in his proper knee. Frank stated the two-time NBA Finals MVP has been coping with the irritation for 3 weeks and that it began throughout the group’s final East Coast highway journey.
"He’s doing every little thing, our medical workers is doing every little thing to get the irritation down, so he can play. Progress has been made," Frank instructed reporters. "We’re hopeful it’s going to get there."
Kawhi Leonard. (Photograph by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Photos) (Getty Photos)
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Accidents throughout the postseason have notoriously plagued the Clippers, and since signing Paul George and Leonard, the 2 haven’t been absolutely wholesome within the playoffs on the identical time since 2020.
Final yr, George missed the playoffs fully and Leonard performed in two playoff video games earlier than being dominated out with a proper knee pressure. After they had been eradicated in a five-game collection in opposition to Phoenix, it was revealed Leonard suffered a torn meniscus in his proper knee.
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Nonetheless, Frank clarified that this isn’t the identical harm Leonard suffered throughout final yr’s postseason. "We’re coping with irritation…every little thing is strong and intact. So, it’s simply the irritation."
When requested a few potential timetable for his return, Frank couldn’t present a particular reply however stated they continue to be optimistic.
"The one factor I share with you is that irritation is unpredictable. So, we’d like to have a crystal ball…however you simply management what you may management. Hopefully, the irritation reduces in a brief period of time and he’s again on the court docket. That’s the purpose."
He added Leonard has been doing every little thing he can to arrange, together with doing the psychological work and watching movie.
"There’s no yet another pissed off than Kawhi who desperately desires to be on the market to play," Frank stated. "He doesn’t catastrophize issues, he doesn’t glorify issues. You simply take it for what it’s and stay optimistic."
Earlier this season, the Clippers went all-in for a blockbuster commerce to accumulate James Harden.
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Within the occasion Leonard isn’t accessible, Frank stays assured about what the group can accomplish.
Paul George and James Harden. (Photograph by Harry How/Getty Photos) (Getty Photos)
"We’ve got a really assured group, we’re a really succesful group. However we’re hopeful Kawhi’s going to play. However on the identical time, if by any likelihood he can’t play Sport 1, we really feel very, superb about our group. That’s why we constructed a group of actually gifted guys who’ve a ton of expertise, future Corridor of Famers who’ve been in these conditions earlier than. And guess what? As irritating as it’s, for Kawhi, for our group, simply when it comes to coping with this, it’s the truth across the NBA."
As well as, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue stated he’ll make changes as wanted.
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"Hopefully Kawhi is accessible for each recreation but when he’s not, we’ll be prepared," Frank stated.
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