The Los Angeles Clippers are in a good spot right now, as they are third in the Western Conference rankings and have a 45-22 record. Despite this, the team's standing could have been better with more consistent lineups.
That seems to be the case based on coach Ty Lue's recent comments, admitting that the Clippers are troubled by the minute manipulation necessary right now to manage superstar Kawhi Leonard. (via ClutchPoints' Tomer Azarly)
"I feel good, I’m ready to go. I’m just happy to be on the floor and not sitting on the sidelines, be able to play the game I love."
Kawhi Leonard in response to a question on his minutes limit. #Clippers
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) May 7, 2021
Leonard is known for many things such as his quiet demeanor, hands the size of a catcher's glove, and his efficient, no-nonsense game at both ends of the floor. However, at the end of his career, one of his legacies, whether wanted or not is the benefit of load management.
While the San Antonio Spurs popularized the practice, Leonard who was a Spur is one of the poster boys.
In his championship run with the Toronto Raptors, Leonard and the team had a conservative approach in preserving his body for the postseason and it paid dividends. The forward played 60 regular season games and looked fresh in the postseason, which is one of the reasons for his dominant performance.
This practice carried over to Leonard's first season with the Clippers, although the result was not similar to the Raptors'.
With these in mind, it was expected that Leonard would do more of the same this season. However, while he has only played in 49 games to date, he showed more willingness to be on the court and even played in back-to-backs.
Had he not suffered setbacks like his sore foot that number would be undoubtedly more. Leonard is a game-changer and is one of the best two-way players in the league. The Clippers need him to be at full strength for a shot at a title.
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