No Kawhi Leonard? No problem for Clippers as Paul George scores 40 in win
It would be natural to look at Saturday’s box score from inside Golden 1 Center, see who was not playing for the Clippers and assume that the absences of Kawhi Leonard and John Wall were the spark that lighted Paul George’s offensive fireworks.
But George’s 20th career 40-point game and fifth as a Clipper, in a 111-109 victory against the Kings that moved the Clippers to 2-0, had been building for days. Long before the decision was made to rest Leonard and Wall as they return from long layoffs, putting more offensive responsibility on George’s shoulders, a conversation was had.
Late in the preseason George had publicly declared himself the Clippers’ second option to Leonard, who was returning after a 15-month recovery from knee surgery, a comment George made to nip in the bud what he saw as the inevitable discussion regarding the team’s two-star dynamic.
The Clippers’ depth allows them to bring Kawhi Leonard off bench and play dozens of lineup combinations as they focus on building a title contender.
“Didn’t want nothing going into this year where people are saying this and saying that — if I’m the two, I’m fine being the two,” George said.
Coach Tyronn Lue was alerted to George’s comments by reporters, and called them an example of the ego-less sacrifice he expected from his team in its pursuit of a championship. But privately, he pulled George aside for a talk that was as much a factor in Saturday’s 40-point, six-assist and six-rebound game as the Kings’ defense.
“I think it is not one-two, it [Kawhi and PG] is one-and-one,” Lue said. “Those two guys have to produce and perform at a high level for us to win, on both sides of the floor. I had that talk with PG. He is a great player so you got to be aggressive and do what you do.”
“You can’t take a backseat, you got to be aggressive. And both of you all have to be aggressive because Kawhi is going to be a process. It is going to be a while before he is back to the Kawhi we know.”
That talk was in George’s mind when he made just four of his 12 shots in Thursday’s season-opening win against the Lakers, a performance he felt did not meet his standard. Both were factors why he entered this arena ready to reassert his offensive potential against Sacramento (0-2), “regardless of who was in the lineup or not,” he said.
From late in the second quarter to the game’s end, starting from the moment he was irked after being called for an offensive foul and drew a technical for arguing the call, there was an onslaught by George, who scored 17 points in the next six minutes, spanning the second and third quarters.
After scoring four points in his first 11 minutes he got 36 in his last 28 to finish with 40, six rebounds and six assists with two steals. After reentering with seven minutes to play in the fourth quarter, George needed only 29 seconds to isolate on the right side, spin and shoot a falling jumper that gave the Clippers a 12-point lead. Two possessions later, George scored a layup through the flailing arms of two defenders to keep the lead at a dozen.
George called his conversation with Lue “easy.” He had filled the same role last season, and had performed at an MVP level before injuring his elbow.
“I know exactly where [Lue] is coming from,” George said. “I do have to carry the team until Kawhi gets back on his feet and back comfortable and minute-wise, he’s up there ready to go full time. So I know I’m very aware of that and I take on that challenge. I appreciate the challenge.”
The challenge won’t be necessary every night, as Leonard and Wall work into the rotation slowly. And it won’t be necessary, also, because the Clippers again showed their depth against Sacramento, with Ivica Zubac scoring 10 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes before the Clippers went small, playing without a center for the final quarter. Luke Kennard showing an increased comfort driving the paint — he finished with 11 points — and Robert Covington was wildly effective in his 22 minutes, with eight points and seven rebounds. His dunk in traffic, followed by a steal and score, was a second-half boost when a second unit with inconsistent offensive success needed a run.
“Their team, when you look at their team, you look at Boston, you look at all that length and athleticism, you think that is the prototypical NBA team that you want to build,” Sacramento coach Mike Brown said before tipoff.
That team won’t look the same night to night as the Clippers hold back some players to reduce their workload. On Saturday, all they needed in key moments was George, who days after his talk with Lue, put what he’d learned into action.
Up next for Clippers: Sunday vs. Phoenix Suns
When: 7 p.m. PDT
On the air: TV: Bally Sports SoCal; Radio: 570, 1330
Update: Phoenix (1-1) has gone to the wire in both games to start its season, after the season-opening comeback win sealed by Damion Lee’s game-winning shot then a loss Friday in Portland in which Anfernee Simons made a last-second hook shot over Suns defender Mikal Bridges. Suns point guard Chris Paul has started the season six-for-17 shooting, but has 21 assists against only four turnovers.
The Clippers decided to start the season with Kawhi Leonard coming off the bench in an effort to keep him fresh for key stretches and end of games.
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