Kawhi Leonard at His Best: 3 Takeaways from Clippers-Nuggets Showdown
Kawhi Leonard racked up 33 points with 12 of his 19 shots made, yet the Clippers still ultimately succumbed 134-124 to the Denver Nuggets.
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The Los Angeles Clippers, seemingly unsatisfied with their role in creating the second-highest point total in the NBA, attempted another overtime period but ultimately fell to the Denver Nuggets 134-124.
This time, the team felt as if they hadn’t delivered their best, beginning the game at a sluggish pace and getting punished by the opposition. Nikola Jokic had 40 points, Michael Porter Jr. had 29, and Jamal Murray contributed 21; it was a scoring performance reminiscent of their 2020 form.
But let’s get to the takeaways since we don’t want any of those feelings around here.
Morris might be a concern for the Clippers
In stark contrast to his performance during the Bubble period, Marcus Morris Sr. had an abysmal game in Denver. Although he helped the team maintain floor spacing in the fourth quarter to give them a fighting chance, his overall contribution to their success this season has greatly diminished.
Reggie Jackson may have been a familiar face to fans on last night’s game, but Mook has been a major asset to the organization, stepping up when other key players have been absent. As we move toward the postseason, it looks as if Mook may be left out of the rotation due to his current state of play.
Hi @Reggie_Jackson pic.twitter.com/VrDkjosPOX
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 27, 2023
Morris has the potential to put up big numbers on any given night, but it seems the Clippers can’t rely on him to cover up their shortcomings for much longer.
But, they have no reservations about Kawhi
At present, Kawhi Leonard is on a completely different level. During the fourth quarter when he and Jokic were exchanging points, it was one of those truly remarkable displays of basketball that left everyone in awe. Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time this season that I’ve been astonished by the Clippers’ star’s feats.
Leonard had another outstanding performance, tallying 33 points on 12-for-19 shooting, including 3-for-4 on 3-pointers. Although he was a better defender in his time with the Spurs and Raptors, his offensive capabilities seem to be at an all-time high. This should serve as a warning to the rest of the league.
It’s funny to observe how the story has evolved since the beginning of his comeback when prominent voices were attempting to write him off as quickly as they could.
Do they actually have too much work to do?
Despite the fact that some Clippers supporters are writing them off, I comprehend why. In the match the day before yesterday, Tyronn Lue tried out different lineups but stayed with certain ones that weren’t effective, before admitting his errors afterward.
The respect given to Ty is commendable, but fans are increasingly frustrated with the wrong choices he has made and the team has no time left to prove that they can make it far in the playoffs. It may not be necessary for them to perform exceptionally before the playoffs, but Ty could be putting himself in a difficult spot at times.
I mostly simply want him to get it right, if only to put an end to all of these Ime Udoka cries.
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