2 min read • February 14, 2022
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Normal Powell joins Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the injury report, effectively ending the Clippers season. Who will step up in their absence?
Clippers guard Norman Powell is out indefinitely after suffering a broken sesamoid bone in his left foot earlier this week, the team announced today.
The Clippers, who have fought to a 28-30 record and the 8th seed in the West without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for most of the season, acquired Norman Powell and Robert Covington from the Trail Blazers on Feb. 4, likely with an eye on next season when they are at full strength.
If there was any chance of Los Angeles competing this season, it went out the window with this recent injury.
All-star forward Kawhi Leonard, who tore his ACL in the West Semis last June, was reported in early January to be ahead of schedule in his recovery, but is unlikely to return early if the Clippers are out of playoff contention, knowing his personal history.
He was already faced with a tough slate to come back from the fully-torn ACL he suffered 8 months ago.
Paul George, meanwhile, is still out with the torn UCL in his right elbow he suffered in late December. We opined at the time of concern for nerve damage in the elbow, and his return was pushed back in mid-January to give his elbow more time to heal. Without a chance for a deep playoff run, George is likely to be held out for most of – if not the entire – season.
Without those 3 dynamic and offensively-gifted wings, who will star for the Clippers for the final third of the season?
Ty Lue has seen solid contributions from multiple young wings, headlined by 24-year-old Amir Coffey and embattled 25-year-old Luke Kennard.
Coffey, who was a 2nd-round pick in 2020, is averaging 13.4 points and 3.7 rebounds on .486/.418./934 shooting splits over the last 18 games.
Kennard, meanwhile, has jumped in-and-out of a key piece of the rotation, but has posted 11.6 points on efficient .438/.430/.882 shooting splits.
Rookie BJ Boston, who has sat for the last 2 games, is likely to see playing time as well without Powell. He is averaging 6.6 points with 2.4 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per game.
Those 3 will add to the scoring and playmaking of Terrance Mann and Reggie Jackson.
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