Kawhi Leonard: "I don't care about the Western Conference Finals. I'm trying to win a championship ... I didn't even know we took criticism. I don't pay attention to the outside world."
Kawhi Leonard threw a win lose or draw in here too ๐, so I'll hook you all up with this.
He remains the most unintentionally funniest player in the NBA. The FUN GUY
Sources tell
@TheAthletic
that the LA Clippers have made a strong offer to the Brooklyn Nets for Kyrie Irving, and that head coach Tyronn Lue is open to coaching Irving again after the two won a championship with Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Paul George mentioned today that several members of Clippers worked out in San Diego this month, including PG, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard (returning from knee injury)
So PG broke out his Kawhi impression again lol (h/t
@PodcastPShow
)
I know Poole is hooping
And Curry is coming off the bench and off injury
But what Klay is doing in this series at age 32 and after two lost seasons is incredible.
66 points, 14 3s in first 3 playoff games since the 2019 NBA Finals.
The LA Clippers have played one game this season without both of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George but with Russell Westbrook
This is that one game: Westbrook going for season-high 36 points in a 141-132 win at Memphis last month. Clippers hit 22 3s that night.
That's the blueprint
Terance Mann on Russell Westbrook: "That's just what he does. You've seen it with every team he's been on almost, except the last. That's a Hall of Famer at the end of the day. Everybody's going to respect him in the locker room."
lol
We don't talk about Kawhi Leonard because of the regular season. We talk about him because of the postseason.
And with thatโฌ๏ธ
Kawhi Leonard postseason career points: 2,865
Walker/Booker/Wiggins/Gordon postseason points combined: 2,141
Joel Embiid postseason points: 1,058
NFC teams that have made an NFC Championship in 21st century:
Giants
Eagles
Bears
Packers
Vikings
Falcons
Panthers
Saints
Buccaneers
Cardinals
Rams
49ers
Seahawks
Still waiting:
COWBOYS, [Redacted], Lions
Something to note:
@saquon
set the rookie record for most touches without a fumble with 352, including this TD where he almost lost it.
Precious record for most touches without a fumble by a rookie was 300 by Bears RB Anthony Thomas in 2001.
Entering today's games
Free throw attempts differential, this season:
1. Lakers (+361)
2. Heat (+183)
29. Suns (-290)
30. Warriors (-382)
(Only Lakers game this season with greater FT attempt differential: November loss at Phoenix when Lakers attempted 35 and Suns attempted 5)
Apologies for not posting this yesterday
I asked Kawhi Leonard yesterday about a move that is quickly becoming a signature for him, where he finds a way to legally pick up his pivot foot.
Kawhi mentioned watching
@WNBA
players take advantage of the rule and watching his own ๐๏ธ
Tyronn Lue is 4-0 as Clippers head coach against the Lakers.
Here are the largest Lakers leads in those games
Tonight: 0
May 2021: 2
Easter 2021: 0
Ring Night 2020: 0
Hey
@KendrickPerkins
, I count my blessings every day and I donโt usually react to comments about me. But It's disappointing to hear someone I shared a locker room with spreading misinformation to be relevant and get views on TV and social media.
John Wall on helping slow Clippers:
"That is my job. Push the pace... I'm happy, because I don't have to have the best player guarding me every night like I have had my whole career. You tell me the third-best defender is going to have to guard me? Good luck."
Kawhi Zu and Jeremy Castleberry were debating about Wilt and Bill Russell and Shaq โฆ Kawhi told them watch the games instead of Instagram highlights ๐ญ
So...
PG last week
Norm expected this week
Preston possibly this weekend
And if Clippers earn a 7-game series... door remains open for Kawhi Leonard.
Could be the wildest sequence of returning players ever. Old heads can @ me though...
76ers really had 48 points in the 4th quarter on the road against the NBA's best defense to overcome an 18-point deficit and snap Milwaukee's 16-game win streak, down two starters
That's a message right there
Kawhi Leonard: "Nobody is just trying to get in so many games." Says when he is healthy, he will play.
"I'm not a guy that's sitting down doing a load management... if the league is trying to mock what I did with the Raptors, they should stop. I was injured that whole year."
John Wall says that he is healthy, while adding: "My last three years is like ... I was in the darkest place I have ever been... losing my mom, losing my grandmom, tearing my Achilles.... getting something that I love more than anything taken away from me."
Asked James Harden about All-Star reserve announcement tomorrow. He was a snub last year when he was leading the NBA in assists and wasnโt happy about it
This year? He is more focused on the bigger goal in mind. If it happens, cool. If not, on to the next
Nuggets don't go to LA again for Lakers or Clippers.
Told Reggie Jackson that I don't know when I'll see him again.
Reggie responds: "I do. Second round."
Here's the full Tyronn Lue quote after
@NotoriousOHM
asked Lue about Daryl Morey's tweet (and the out of context OP/aggregated quote from Friday night)
Warriors leading Celtics 422-421 with NBA Finals tied at 2-2.
Both teams have made exactly 64 3s.
Warriors have one more offensive rebound (40-39)
Warriors have one more takeaway (60-59)
Celtics have made 7 more FTs, Warriors have made four more field goals overall
Clippers had a 70-55 lead with 9:24 left in the third quarter...
And for the rest of regulation and OT, Nikola Jokic had 34 points (10/14 FGs, 1/1 3s, 13/14 FTs), 10 rebounds (5 offensive), 5 assists (2 TOs), 2 steals. In just under 21 minutes.
James Harden says he is happy for Kawhi getting his new deal, says hopefully Paul George is next soon, and that he is simply happy to be playing at home right now and not worried about more than the big goal. Control what you can control.
โIโm in my safe space.โ
Probably Paul George's most direct statements:
- "No knock" on Lakers, but feels fit is better with LAC
- Says he, Kawhi, Norm, T-Mann can run with Russ
- "Sucked John (Wall) didn't work. But what John brought is what we need."
Luka Doncic's teammates scored 78 points tonight in Phoenix
Suns not named Kevin Durant and Devin Booker scored 78 points tonight vs Mavericks
Luka Doncic (25 field goal attempts) outscored KD/Book (combined for 25 field goal attempts) 50-36 to decide tonight's Christmas game
Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the toughest player to guard in the league?
โI had a rude awakening with Shai one timeโฆHeโll give you the big shoulder, stop on a dime, behind the back and his shot is funky so you donโt believe in it, but itโs cash.โ
- Danny Green
Via: Run Yourโฆ
The Lakers and Grizzlies have never met in the postseason.
Until now.
That means that the only team in the Western Conference that the Lakers have not met before in the playoffs
Are the LA Clippers