Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has been dominated out for Saturday’s Recreation 4 towards the Suns and NBA Insiders Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins are uninterested in his and Paul George’s inconsistencies.
When Smith discovered Kawhi Leonard wouldn’t be taking part in in Recreation 4 attributable to a knee sprain, he didn’t maintain again: I stand alone most likely on this however I don’t care: I believe the person ought to retire. I’m sick of those accidents to Kawhi… It’s a rattling disgrace.”
“Him and Paul George have performed a grand complete of about 22 of their video games collectively.”
Leonard was additionally dominated out for Recreation 3 with the identical knee harm however earlier than that, was averaging a 2023 playoff-high 34.5 factors over the primary two video games.
Though it’s the similar knee because the ACL harm that saved Leonard sidelined for the entire 2021-22 season, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski says this present harm is unrelated.
That is the third time in Kawhi’s profession that an harm has brought about him to overlook postseason video games.
Earlier within the day, earlier than Leonard had been dominated out for Recreation 4, Smith additionally had this to say:
“In 2019, Kawhi Leonard performed all 24 postseason video games for the Toronto Raptors,” Smith defined. “Since that point, Kawhi Leonard has performed 26 complete playoff video games for the Clippers…Kawhi Leonard needs to be on the checklist of one of many worst superstars this sport has ever seen.
“As a result of anyone that watches basketball is aware of I’m clearly not speaking concerning the abilities. We all know the brother is huge time. We all know that as a expertise he’s a celebrity – one who reveals up when he performs – im speaking about it by way of his efficiency. He performs within the postseason arguably higher than he performs within the common season. He’s that dude. However while you speak about a celebrity that’s unreliable I need someone to level out someone extra flagrant than him.”
In fact, Leonard as an 11-season veteran goes to expertise accidents, similar as his teammate and 13-season veteran Paul George however sadly as a result of period of time they’ve spent on the sidelines, they’ve by no means received a championship collectively.
“If I’m Steve Ballmer and I’m Lois Frank, I’m giving Kawhi Loenard and Paul George another 12 months,” Perkins stated. Another 12 months earlier than I resolve to interrupt this up. It’s beginning to get ridiculous and look, I’m not downplaying anyone’s harm or saying that somebody is faking an harm however they’re going into their fourth season collectively and has achieved nothing. Zero. And it’s unfair to Ty Lue.”
George suffered a knee harm late within the common season and except the Clippers can defeat the Suns within the first spherical, he is not going to be again till subsequent season.
With out two of their key stars, it places loads of stress on Russell Westbrook to carry out and beat a stacked Suns facet on Saturday, April 22 at 3:30PM ET.
