After losing Paul George at the start of free agency, the LA Clippers could face an uphill battle to bring a championship to the Intuit Dome this season. Steve Ballmer has remained patient since purchasing the franchise in 2014 despite heavy investment in the form of luxury taxes and, of course, the new arena. However, despite the Clippers' best efforts, the timing for a legitimate championship push has never been right.
During their tenure with the franchise, neither George nor Kawhi Leonard could stay healthy simultaneously, often leading coach Ty Lue to alter his rotations and game plan throughout the season. Now, with George gone and Leonard once again dealing with a knee issue, the Clippers are expected to fall short of their internal expectations once again. Nevertheless, Leonard remains upbeat.
During a media availability on Tuesday, the two-time NBA champion refused to believe that George's departure will end the Clippers' chances of securing a franchise-first championship. He noted how he will never look to another player to be his savior. Kawhi Leonard on Clippers losing Paul George: “I don’t feel like it’s going to be harder for me personally.
For anybody I’m on the court with, I don’t look at him to be my savior.” pic.twitter.
com/lNouVoNehA After two major knee injuries, including a torn ACL, Leonard isn't the same player he once was. He is still an elite defender who can get his own shot on offense. Yet, he doesn't possess the same burst on his first .
