The Plague of Injuries: Kawhi Leonard’s Struggles and their Impact on the Clippers’ Playoff Performance

For the fourth consecutive year, Kawhi Leonard has struggled with injuries during the NBA Playoffs, causing the Clippers to underperform once again. Despite multiple efforts to manage Leonard’s health, including load management and regular season play, the Clippers have not found a solution to keep him healthy during crucial playoff games.

This season, in particular, was marked by bad luck as Leonard’s absence was deeply felt by the team. Lawrence Frank, the team’s President of Basketball Operations, shed some light on Leonard’s injury situation. It was revealed that Leonard would not have been able to play in Game 1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to ongoing inflammation in his knee.

Looking ahead to next season, the Clippers are hoping to retain their core players, including Leonard. However, Frank recognizes the need for improvement in other areas to complement the team’s star players. Regardless of how the team enhances its roster, Leonard’s availability during the playoffs will be crucial to their success. The uncertainty surrounding his availability has been a recurring theme each year and will continue to be a major concern for the Clippers as they look towards future seasons.