Tag: Kawhi Leoanrd

Kawhi Leonard ahead of schedule

Kawhi Leonard may be out for an extended period of time this season, but he hasn’t been completely ruled out. Multiple sources have revealed that as of right now, Kawhi Leonard is ahead of schedule with his ACL tear rehab. Source: Farbod Esnaashari …

Kawhi Leonard may be out for an extended period of time this season, but he hasn’t been completely ruled out. Multiple sources have revealed that as of right now, Kawhi Leonard is ahead of schedule with his ACL tear rehab.

Source: Farbod Esnaashari @ Sports Illustrated

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Can the LA Clippers bottle their playoff magic for this season without Kawhi Leonard? @sabreenajm and I explore. Join us duncdon.supportingcast.fm/join – 5:27 PM

More on this storyline

Team sources have told AllClippers that those on the team are “cautiously optimistic” about Leonard returning, as Ramona Shelburne also reported, but the Clippers are going to remain very cautious about his return. If staff doctors see any reason to shut Kawhi Leonard down, they will have no hesitancy in doing so. As of right now, those red flags don’t exist. Kawhi Leonard himself didn’t shut down any doors to returning this season, as he stated on media day, “I wanted to be able to come back if I was able to this year.” -via Sports Illustrated / October 2, 2021
Andrew Greif: Tyronn Lue says the approach with Kawhi is just to take his time. “For the status of Kawhi, we don’t know. … We’ve got to approach the season like we don’t have him.” -via Twitter @AndrewGreif / September 27, 2021

Doc Rivers: Lakers load management strategy is ‘whatever LeBron says it is’

L.A. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers responded to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James’ statements about load management from the weekend.

After all these years, Doc Rivers and LeBron James just can’t get enough of each other.

Over the weekend, James reiterated his career-long stance that he would play so long as he is healthy after putting together a couple of big performances over the weekend to help the Los Angeles Lakers get to a now 24-4 record, following Tuesday’s loss to Indiana, tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the best record in the NBA.

But the statement from LeBron over the weekend that got the most attention, aside from talking about his son Bronny, was about how he will not undergo “load management” so long as he is healthy enough to play. He was asked this because so far, he’s played in every game this season.

“If I’m healthy, I play … I mean, that should be the approach. Unless we’re getting late into the season, we’ve clinched and we can’t get any better — or any worse — I could benefit from that. But why wouldn’t I play if I’m healthy? It doesn’t make any sense to me, personally. I mean, I don’t know how many games I got left in my career. I don’t know how many kids that may show up to a game that are there to come see me play — and if I sit out, then what? That’s my obligation. My obligation is to play for my teammates and if I’m healthy, then I’m going to play. If coach sits me out, then I’m not healthy and it’s just simple.”

On Tuesday night, the talking point got to Clippers head coach Doc Rivers. Rivers, of course, coaches the NBA’s poster player for load management in Kawhi Leonard, who has been reportedly dealing with chronic leg injuries for a few years. When Rivers was asked about it, he said that resting players is “their philosophy” while implying that the Lakers philosophy is “whatever LeBron says it is.”

From USA TODAY’s Mark Medina

Rivers is known to ruffle feathers during his press conferences so it shouldn’t be surprising that he took a shot at the Lakers and LeBron on Tuesday, but it certainly makes for even more intrigue heading into next Wednesday’s Christmas Day showdown between the Clippers and Lakers.

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