It’s been four years since Kawhi Leonard and Paul George teamed up with the Los Angeles Clippers, and the outcome always seems to be the same.
More often than not, Leonard hasn’t been available with the season on the line, diminishing his team’s chances of going the distance.
In the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs, the Clippers managed to steal a win with Kawhi on the floor.
They lost four in a row after that, which was far from a surprise.
That’s why coach Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue blamed injuries for their shortcomings, stating there’s no way any team could win without its two best players:
“Take the two best players off any team in the league and see if they can win in the playoffs"
HC Tyronn Lue on Clippers season pic.twitter.com/XGVpxFmbL1
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 26, 2023
While this is a fair assessment, fans on Twitter didn’t seem to care too much about his comments.
hate this answer for a lot of reasons
— Alex Monahan (@AlexMonahan100) April 26, 2023
Every analyst and bookie picked the Suns to win this match up – even with Kawhi playing – before the playoffs started. Why is everyone suddenly up in arms?
— Ciku Muiruri (@MissCiku) April 26, 2023
He’s right but injuries can’t always be the excuse every year
— SoMazin (@mazin_so) April 26, 2023
Classic case of you get what you pay for. Load management all season for the playoff run and two guys who can’t/won’t stay on the court don’t. Nobody surprised.
— Eric Lancaster (@ericjlancaster) April 26, 2023
What he said was “I have an amazing car, but the engine and transmission failed again, but it still looks amazing. has a great stereo & nice wheels too.”
He’s right, but I belive that would be called a lemon. That’s what the Clippers are, a lemon.
Enjoying the driveway. Lol— leMel (@__leMel__) April 26, 2023
Truth be told, this has to be frustrating for Clippers fans and even the front office.
No one can blame a player for being hurt, but it comes to a point where the Clippers need to make a decision about those guys, especially Kawhi.
As great a player as he is, Leonard isn’t available when the Clippers need him the most: that’s just a fact.
The Clippers need to plan and build their roster as if he’s not going to be there, as he’s been a part-time regular-season player since winning that championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.
It’s hard to acknowledge that his tenure in Los Angeles has been a failure, mostly because it’s not his fault.
But doubling down on him year after year hasn’t paid off for owner Steve Ballmer, so he’ll have to consider his options soon.
NEXT: Stephen A. Smith Has A Message For The Clippers' Owner