The Los Angeles Clippers have interesting plans for Kawhi Leonard this season. The Klaw has been one of the best players in the NBA in recent years but last season he couldn’t play like he’s used to in the Orlando bubble.
Leonard knows he underperformed last season when his team needed him the most and he’s ready to change that this campaign. With Paul George keen to change the narrative around the Clippers, the team is all-in on Kawhi’s talents and they’re planning to use him like Phil Jackson used Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant on the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively.
The Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue recently revealed his intentions to implement the famous triangle offense and put Kawhi as the centerpiece of it. That worked for Jordan and Kobe and Lue wants to do the same with Leonard.
Los Angeles Clippers to give Michael Jordan-esque usage to Kawhi Leonard
Lue told The Los Angeles Times that the team has used some sets from the triangle given Kawhi’s style of play, which is very similar to Jordan and Kobe’s. The former player explained that the short turnaround also prompted him to look for solutions ahead of this season.
Lue, who won two NBA championships with Bryant and played with Jordan with the Washington Wizards, said the shortened preseason and training camp were also factors in trying to find ways to put Leonard in the best position.
“We have put in two or three sets of the triangle and let Kawhi play in those spaces where Kobe and Jordan played in those spots as well,” Lue said before Sunday’s practice. “He loves those two players and he really respects and looks up to those guys. So, we just try to put him in position. I was able to play with both those guys and I also played in the triangle, so just trying to teach him that as well … teach our team as well.”
The Clippers are ready to start a season where they won’t have the same attention they had last season. The Lakers, Nets, Bucks and even Sixers appear to be more favorites to the titles than them and that can be beneficial for the team.
Talking about the ring ceremony of the Lakers, Paul George made it clear that they would use it as motivation for the season. They know their fans want a championship and watching the Lakers do what they couldn’t, will help them approach the next season more seriously.
“Dec. 22 won’t be the test of defining who we are and where we’re at playing the Lakers on their opening ring ceremony,” George said. “It’ll be a great ceremony for them. But it’s the start of what we’re trying to do and that’s the only thing we got to look at is the start of the marathon and the race that we’re running for this year. So, we have enough motivation going into this season regardless if we started this season off with someone else or the Lakers. We got enough motivation for this season.”
This is a very important season for the Clippers and they’re trying everything to put themselves in a good position to win the championship. The competition will be harder this season but the Clips are confident they can do a good job.
