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What Should The LA Clippers Starting Lineup Be When Kawhi Returns?
Dec 27, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and guard James Harden (1) sit on the bench in the second half against the Golden State Warriors at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Title: Kawhi Leonard’s Return: Analyzing the Clippers’ Starting Lineup Options
The long-awaited return of Kawhi Leonard is just around the corner, with the star forward set to make his comeback on January 4th against the Atlanta Hawks. As a Clippers fan for two decades, I’m excited to see how his presence will impact our team’s dynamics and performance.
With Kawhi’s return imminent, it’s time to discuss the potential starting lineup configurations. My ideal starting five would consist of James Harden, Norman Powell, Kawhi Leonard, Derrick Jones Jr., and Ivica Zubac. This lineup provides a balanced mix of offensive firepower and defensive prowess.
Norman Powell has been exceptional this season, averaging 23 points per game. His performance has been too impressive to consider moving him to the bench. The combination of Harden, Powell, and Leonard creates a formidable offensive trio that will be challenging for opponents to contain.
Derrick Jones Jr. has been a pleasant surprise, shooting 39% from three-point range and providing solid defense. His size and versatility make him an ideal fit alongside our star players. Zubac continues to anchor our defense and has shown improvement in his playmaking abilities.
One concern with this lineup is Kawhi potentially guarding the second-best player on opposing teams. However, I believe the overall defensive capabilities of this unit, coupled with our team’s current fourth-ranked defensive rating, will mitigate any potential issues.
Alternative lineup options include starting Chris Dunn over Derrick Jones Jr. for additional defensive intensity, or moving Norman Powell to the bench to preserve Kawhi’s energy. However, I believe the proposed starting five offers the best balance of offense, defense, and size.
The Clippers’ bench unit will likely feature Chris Dunn, Nico Batum, Amir Coffey, and potentially Terance Mann. The key will be staggering the minutes of our top four players (Zubac, Powell, Leonard, and Harden) to ensure we always have offensive firepower on the court.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Clippers’ lineup options and Kawhi Leonard’s return, tune into the Locked On Clippers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Clippers Podcast:
• Analysis of the Clippers’ upcoming game against the New Orleans Pelicans
• Discussion on potential trade deadline moves for the Clippers
• Brief look at the Lakers’ recent acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith
Dec 21, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a question during a post game interview after the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. | Ed Szczepanski/Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown was fired on his way to meet his team at the airport, Anthony Edwards was fined again — this time a cool $100k — for profanity, Amen Thompson picked Tyler Herro up and skipped him like a stone over the hardwood floor, the Suns and Mavs got into it too, and D’Angelo Russell was traded to the Nets (again) in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. It was a busy weekend in the NBA.
But let’s not focus on the chaos. Let’s instead look to a milestone within the milieu of the NBA’s theatrics, one that’s sat looming, casting a long shadow over the league for years now and especially over LeBron James, who turns 40 today.
James is a rare athlete in many ways. He’s been dominant in every decade of his career — and it’s rare enough to pluralize “decade” when discussing the length of an athlete’s career — and at one point was the greatest athlete on the planet. He’s won NBA titles, Olympic gold medals, has played a huge role in furthering athlete autonomy and reshaping the public’s perception of what an athlete can do and be off the court (or field, rink, etc.) in terms of political and social awareness and advocacy. He’s the first ever athlete to play alongside his son at a professional level and he’s advanced, even introduced, the concept of recovery and physical and mental longevity for an athlete.
He’s also still capable of forcefully taking your breath away with a rousing block, dunk, and the ability to toss his team on his back and take control of the game — he’s still averaging 23.5 points, 9 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game.
James’ rarest attribute though is something of a double-edged sword: his longevity. The quality of longevity, pure staying power, James has maintained throughout his career is the kind of consistency we just don’t see in sports yet he’s made it feel routine, totally normal.
The gift of this for basketball fans has been having James as both a metronome and a backdrop for over 20 seasons. Other players have taken what he’s done and made their own improvisations, but he’s the rhythm that drives the game like he’s the mountain set at the horizon, offering a perennial sense of direction. What happens when these two constant factors aren’t there anymore?
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Preview The Clippers hit the road, aiming to win regardless of who’s on the court. This resilience underscores their commitment to overcoming challenges and maintaining performance. (Daily News)
Analysis As the Clippers wait for Kawhi Leonard, they successfully bide their time. This period highlights their strategic approach and depth in maintaining team performance. (Daily News)
Ranking NBA power rankings discuss whether anyone can challenge the Celtics, Thunder, and Cavaliers. The Clippers’ position and potential to disrupt these top teams are analyzed in the latest report. (Bleacher Report
Watch James Harden reflects on LeBron and Curry’s Christmas Day duel, emphasizing the significance of such moments. Clippers fans are encouraged to cherish these moments in NBA history. (Bleacher Report)
Preview The Clippers will meet the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center at 8:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Celebrate 40 great moments for LeBron James on his 40th birthday. (NBA.com)
Milestone By the numbers: a statistical look at NBA milestones as LeBron James turns 40. (TSN)
Biz A look inside Mike Brown’s final days with the Sacramento Kings. (The Athletic)
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Monday, Dec. 30 | 7:00PM | Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA | Get Tickets
Clippers @ Spurs
Tuesday, Dec. 31 | 6:00PM | Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX | Get Tickets
Clippers @ Thunder
Thursday, Jan. 2 | 7:00PM | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK | Get Tickets
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Implications Of The Lakers & Nets Trade
Dec 28, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell (1) moves the ball against Sacramento Kings guard De’Aaron Fox (5) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez/Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The NBA trade market is heating up, and the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers have made the first significant move of the season. In a surprising turn of events, D’Angelo Russell is heading back to Brooklyn, while Dorian Finney-Smith makes his way to Los Angeles.
The trade details are as follows:
Brooklyn receives:
D’Angelo Russell
Maxwell Lewis (2023 second-round pick)
Three second-round picks
Los Angeles receives:
Dorian Finney-Smith
Shake Milton
This move has significant implications for both teams and fantasy basketball managers alike. For Brooklyn, Russell’s return could shake up their backcourt rotation. With Cam Thomas also returning from injury, the Nets suddenly have an abundance of scoring guards. While this might lead to some exciting offensive performances, it could also create a defensive nightmare for Brooklyn.
Noah Clowney’s value may see an uptick with Finney-Smith’s departure. The rookie has shown flashes of potential in recent games, and this trade could open up more consistent minutes for him. However, it’s important to temper expectations, as the Nets’ rotation remains fluid.
Ben Simmons’ role is now in question. With Russell taking over primary ball-handling duties, Simmons might see a reduction in minutes and usage. Fantasy managers should monitor this situation closely, as Simmons could become a potential drop candidate if his playing time dips significantly.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Clippers podcasts.
How Ivica ZuShaq Led The Clippers to Their Best Win Of The Season Kawhi Leonard is back in action, and the Los Angeles Clippers are buzzing with anticipation. Could his return reshape the NBA landscape? This episode dives into Leonard’s first full-contact practice since his injury, exploring how his presence might transform the Clippers’ strategy.
Will Kawhi Leonard Play Vs Golden State? Kawhi Leonard’s anticipated return to the Los Angeles Clippers lineup has fans buzzing, but will his absence against the Golden State Warriors impact the team’s momentum?
