“You beat teams that are ranked higher than you or teams that … have a better record than you, it definitely fuels the team,” said Clippers wing Terance Mann, who started at point guard for a third consecutive game versus Denver and had eight points and four assists. The lesson seems clear: The best teams typically sharpen themselves by regularly beating other good teams.Ĭlippers forward Kawhi Leonard shoots against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter. 619 winning percentage against teams with. Over those same 20 seasons, NBA finalists averaged a. Just one ultimately won the championship: Miami. But for a team that entered the season with championship goals, there is this history: In the last 20 seasons, only three teams that finished with losing records against teams with. How much such a record matters lies in the eye of the basketball beholder.

500-or-better records, and for context, within the top 10 of the Western Conference standings that comprises the field of the play-in tournament, every other team has at least eight wins against such competition, and five have at least 10. Friday’s loss left the Clippers 5-13 against teams with. But the Clippers’ struggles against the league’s upper crust aren't limited to this Mile High matchup. and John Wall each adding 16.ĭenver “has owned us,” Lue acknowledged before tipoff, and his team fell to 2-8 against the Nuggets since 2021. They could not against Denver at Arena in a 115-103 loss that leaves the Clippers 22-22 despite Leonard’s 24 points, Norm Powell’s 18, and Marcus Morris Sr. The last piece? Whether, or when, they can put it all together against the league’s best teams - now or in the postseason. They have regained some of their defensive stinginess. The Clippers have seen dividends from a change in coach Tyronn Lue’s rotation. Not answered Friday was the other question asked by NBA insiders. That box was emphatically checked Friday night as Leonard, after dribbling into the paint at a crouch to escape the reach of Denver’s Bones Hyland, planted his left sneaker outside the restricted area of the paint and dunked on Nuggets center Zeke Nnaji - a moment so quick and powerful it appeared as though out of a time machine from the 2021 postseason. The last question about his recovery from a 2021 knee injury, for NBA insiders, was whether or when his explosiveness would return. We are very fortunate that it was just a quick little cleanup.For the last month, Kawhi Leonard’s ability to dictate pace was back. Eight-week recovery from time of surgery where you are back on the court playing like it was a game. 'Just a cleanup, went terrific,' Frank said after the 2023 NBA Draft. In June, Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank announced that Leonard had undergone a procedure on his knee.

He did not play in the final three games of the series, and the Clippers lost all three en route to a five-game defeat. Kawhi Leonard is on pace to be ready for the start of training camp, Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue told the media on Sunday during a conversation with reporters in Las Vegas, where he's working with Team USA ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup later this month.Īfter two spectacular performances in Games 1 and 2 against the Phoenix Suns in the team's first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns last season, Leonard was ruled out with a knee injury that was later revealed to be a torn meniscus.

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