The “Terminator” is coming.
No, not Arnold Schwarzenegger, but another guy who played basketball for the team in Los Angeles.
Kawhi Leonard.
The Los Angeles Clippers just had their best win of the season with a 128-108 victory over the Houston Rockets. Leonard earned the win with 41 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting an insane 69/80/100 from the field. Despite his performance, Leonard, like his character, remains focused on the mission.
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“It’s a long season, so every time we put this jersey on, you go out there and try to win a basketball game. That’s my priority. I think everybody else is too,” Leonard said after the game.
It’s been a tough season for the Clippers, who are currently 8-21 and ranked 14th in the Western Conference, but surprisingly, the Clippers have a lot to be encouraging about.
Kawhi Leonard is fully healthy.
The “when healthy” stigma seemed to stick with Leonard throughout his six-year tenure with the Clippers, even when he was perfectly fine. This season, Leonard averaged 26.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 points per game. His steals per game tied his career high, and his free throw shooting rate this season is as high as 97.8%! Yet his production was off the stat sheet.
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Leonard spent most of his time on the court actively guarding Rockets All-Star forward Kevin Durant. It won’t be easy by any means, but Leonard is ready for the challenge.
“I mean they have two Hall of Fame players,” Durant said. “I think they’ve been at an elite level the last few years, so Kawhi and James (Harden), they can win on any night. Tonight, they stepped up and did that.”
The Rockets did everything they could to try and take Leonard out of rhythm. They changed their defensive coverage, double-teaming wherever he had the ball, and even Rockets forward Tari Eason tried to get physical with Leonard. This is not enough.
Kawhi Leonard’s mentality reflects ‘The Terminator’
Coming into this season, many expected the Clippers to be a top-notch team, primarily due to the presence of their best player. However, the 30-game stretch is tough due to a combination of injuries, playing time restrictions and the intensity of the schedule. However, despite their poor record, the Clippers are still in playoff contention and have a lot to look forward to.
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Team emotions tend to ebb and flow throughout the long 82-game season, and it’s beneficial to allow your best players to maintain a level of composure. The name “Terminator” fits Leonard like a glove.