Kawhi Leonard made his return to the court docket after a year-and-a-half, however that return took a bit longer than was anticipated. Leonard got here off the bench for the primary time since November of 213, when he was nonetheless and up-and-coming participant with the San Antonio Spurs.
In all, Leonard performed three separate stints of six-to-seven minutes and 21:17 whole. The LA Clippers star stated he made the choice after coming off the bench at the side of head coach Ty Lue. The Clippers had Leonard simulate the texture of coming off the bench in scrimmages and analyzed substitution patterns the place he would not sit for too lengthy, whereas nonetheless making an influence on the finish of the sport.
Make an influence on the finish of the sport is precisely what Leonard did. He drew a key cost from LeBron James late within the fourth quarter. Leonard then knocked down a jumper with beneath a minute to play to assist the Clippers maintain off the rival Lakers.
“One state of affairs with me beginning, I might have been sitting like 35 minutes actual time,” Leonard stated of beginning and nonetheless having the ability to end the sport. “That is method too lengthy. So, I simply thought this was the perfect scenario. However we’ll see the way it goes shifting ahead.”
Each Lue and Leonard stated if both celebration did not really feel this was working, they’d flip again to Leonard beginning. For his half, Leonard has his eyes on the long-term.
“You gotta step by step play minutes in an effort to get the ACL sturdy,” Leonard stated. “When you begin taking part in 38 minutes first recreation, it may simply weaken up, however I am listening to the physician with that.
“It is a lengthy season. We wanna get within the playoffs and wish me to play within the playoffs.”
