When healthy, Kawhi Leonard (2) and Paul George have turned the Clippers into a dangerous team.
NBA basketball returns Oct. 24. We are counting down the days like the seconds on a shot clock — literally, that’s what we’re doing. As of Oct. 1, our writers will list 24 storylines heading into the 2023-24 NBA season.
A new storyline will drop each day. Here’s No. 16:
Is this the year Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the LA Clippers put it all together?
The Clippers have clearly been a disappointment over the four years since they signed Leonard and traded for George. They’re tied for the league’s sixth-best regular-season record (182-126, .591) and have won just three playoff series over those four years. That’s not living up to expectations, even if it’s more success than most teams have enjoyed.
But injuries and a lack of availability have been largely responsible for the Clippers’ inability to reach their potential. George and Leonard have both been available for just 118 (38%) of their 308 regular-season games and just 24 (65%) of their 37 playoff games over their four years together. Leonard was having an incredible postseason (30.4 points per game on a true shooting percentage of 67.9%) in 2021 before tearing his ACL in Game 4 of the conference semis.
Health and availability will continue to be big questions. George and Leonard are now 33 and 32 years old, respectively. Neither was able to finish the season six months ago, and the Clippers have several other rotation players in their 30s.
But if the two stars can stay on the floor, the Clippers can be a contender. They’re 83-35 (.703) in those 108 regular-season games that both have played, outscoring their opponents by an amazing 13.2 points per 100 possessions in a little less than 3,000 minutes with both on the floor. Aside from a slowish start to last season, Leonard has looked like a Kia MVP candidate when he’s been available.
The Clippers can’t be counted out. They have two of the best two-way players in the league, along with six other guys who shot the league average or better on at least 100 3-point attempts last season. (Their eight total is tied for the league lead.) It’s a big if, but IF they’re healthier this season, they should be at or near the top of the Western Conference.
* * *
John Schuhmann is a senior stats analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.
