Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard's knee inflammation limited him to 24.5 minutes in Game 3, impacting his performance significantly. Despite his struggles, Leonard expressed frustration with his late-season injury but remains committed to helping the team. The Clippers lack a backup plan to replicate Leonard's unique skills, making him difficult to replace even with Paul George's presence. Given Leonard's injury, Coach Ty Lue may consider expanding Amir Coffey's role due to his recent scoring success.

By the Numbers
  • Leonard is averaging 12.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 29.7 minutes per game this postseason.
  • Coffey averaged 11.3 points per game over the last 47 games in the 2021-22 season.
Yes, But

The Clippers' lack of a player to mimic Leonard or George's abilities poses a strategic challenge, despite their injury concerns.

What's Next

Coach Ty Lue plans for Leonard to play in Game 4, but considering Coffey's potential impact could provide a strategic advantage against the Dallas Mavericks.

Bottom Line

The Clippers need to address their reliance on Leonard and explore alternative strategies, potentially leveraging Coffey's recent scoring success to counterbalance Leonard's limitations.