Kawhi Leonard has a name for being sparse with phrases, however he has been a lot more vocal at Clippers practices since coaching camp started, writes Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. Coach Tyronn Lue believes it’s as a result of Leonard is worked up to be again at the court docket after lacking all of closing season with a knee harm.
“Just having a voice and showing these guys, like in the scrimmage the other day at USC [on Thursday], [guys] started out messing around and he pulled the guys in and said, ‘let’s play for real and let’s tighten it up,’ and guys started playing more serious,” Lue mentioned. “I don’t think he would have done that two or three years ago. I think with him and PG [Paul George] just having the biggest voices on the team and knowing that this is their team, he’s definitely taken huge steps in that regard.”
The Clippers don’t wish to be overly wary with Leonard as they get ready him for the common season. He performed 16 mins in Monday’s sport, and Lue plans to make use of him once more Sunday evening in opposition to the Timberwolves.
“I know he wants to get a lot of reps in because he hasn’t played in 15 months,” Lue mentioned. “So, he wants to get a lot of reps in, play as much as he can. So that’s why every day in practice, we’ve been scrimmaging a lot, just playing. Just trying to let him get his rhythm.”
There’s extra from the Pacific Division:
- In an interview with Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee, De’Aaron Fox expressed self assurance that the Kings have made the important adjustments to damage their lengthy playoff drought. After including Domantas Sabonis ultimately season’s industry time limit, Sacramento introduced in Mike Brown as head trainer, signed Malik Monk and traded for Kevin Huerter over the offseason. “We’re going to be a team that can score the ball,” Fox mentioned. “I don’t think that will be a problem. Even if we’re not shooting well, we have guys that can touch the paint, get open shots, get offensive rebounds. We have guys who are athletic enough to do those things, but at the end of the day we have to be able to stop people. I think we have the personnel that can do it, and we also have a coach who’s going to demand it, so I think that’s great for us.”
- Suns trainer Monty Williams underwent lens alternative surgical operation after it was once strongly urged by way of Chris Paul‘s mother, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “I was talking to my brother the other day, he was watching the game and said it was actually weird to see Monty not squinting,” Paul said. “It is crazy to see him not squinting, but we’ve been speaking to him about that for years.”
- Suns guard Josh Okogie is coping with a strained left hamstring, however he hasn’t given up hope of taking part in earlier than the preseason ends, Rankin tweets.