Kawhi Leonard stepped as much as the rostrum on Tuesday evening and answered questions on Russell Westbrook’s match with the Los Angeles Clippers following the crew’s newest loss.
On the NBA Commerce Deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers despatched Westbrook to the Utah Jazz in a three-team swap. Shortly thereafter, Utah launched the previous league MVP and freed him as much as signal with the Clippers.
There have been some questions on how he would match, given his time with the Lakers, however Paul George advocate strongly for his former Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder teammate.
Sadly, the Clippers are winless since Westbrook’s arrival – together with a state of affairs the place Ty Lue was already pressured to bench him. Which is what led to Leonard stepping as much as the rostrum following a consequential loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves and addressing his influence on the crew.
Kawhi Leonard on how Russell Westbrook has match alongside him and Paul George thus far and the way the Clippers “gotta hold combating and it’s on us if we wish to get higher” to get out of this 3-game slide. pic.twitter.com/pKk1c6lFbH
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“I believe he’s doing a very good job,” Leonard mentioned. “He’s enjoying each ends of the ground… being aggressive…pulling down photographs…entering into the paint, kicking out, so he’s enjoying good.”
Statistically, Westbrook had a high-quality sport – 14 factors, 10 assists and seven rebounds. However he at all times appears to have an honest stat line. The place he struggles is making a significant distinction to the wins and losses.
After the sport, Westbrook admitted that he wanted to be higher.
“Simply gotta be higher. I gotta be higher, beginning with myself, simply setting the tone. Gotta lastly get a win. It begins with me, gotta ensure that I’m higher for these guys, ensure that I’m higher throughout.”
Russell Westbrook on the Clippers loss tonight.
(through @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/3EpCis0Opf
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Leonard, for his half, continued to evangelise persistence.
“It’s lots of new items right here,” Leonard mentioned.
“These guys are enjoying some minutes, so simply studying the type of how T-Lue is teaching and our protection. You already know may make some errors right here and there. You might see our expertise on court docket at occasions, however we simply gotta hold constructing our chemistry with one another.”
Westbrook was fast to take a lowkey jab on the Lakers following his Clippers signing, but it surely appears fairly clear that he’s having the identical points on his new crew that he had on his outdated one.
Clearly the pattern measurement is small, however the Clippers appeared higher with out Westbrook than with him. And the stats bear that out. When Terance Mann was the start line guard, the Clippers went 10-2. Since Westbrook’s arrival the crew has recorded 62 turnovers.
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The rest of the NBA season can be an attention-grabbing one.
And it’ll inform followers loads about the place all events concerned will stand going ahead.
If Westbrook can’t discover a option to win with Leonard, George and the Clippers, there probably isn’t going to be a lot of a spot for him within the NBA after that.
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