Injuries Still a Concern for Top-Heavy Clippers

The Clippers are a solid team with a solid roster. That is, if they can stay healthy. The squad’s biggest names do a lot of the heavy lifting, and are sorely needed on any given night. Without them, things just seem to be much more difficult.

Los Angeles, perhaps more than any other team in the NBA, are dependent on their top players to succeed at a high level. The bench and supporting cast are functional, but they haven’t been able to do much on their own.

The team is propped up by the star trio of James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Norman Powell, but even losing one of the three greatly hurts their chances of winning. If they’re missing two, the entire team seems to fall apart

That dependence on star power was on full display in their recent win against the Bulls. While the Clippers pulled out a tough victory, the contest was yet another example of why they need everyone on board if they want a chance at the postseason.

The Return of Kawhi

In what should have been a relatively easy game against a lesser opponent, Los Angeles struggled in the first half before pulling ahead in the third quarter. They then traded baskets down the stretch to come out on top 122-117.

The win, which marked an end to the Clippers three-game losing streak, was important for a few reasons. Most notably, it was Kawhi Leonard’s return to the court after a brief two-game hiatus due to a sore left foot.

As expected, the superstar did a little bit of everything

He scored 17 points, nabbed eight rebounds, and dished out four assists. His defensive presence also gave the team a huge boost, allowing them to play the up-tempo ball they’ve grown so accustomed to.

Even if Leonard didn’t solely take over the game, a rising tide lifts all ships

The wing jolted the offense, who bounced back after falling flat during his absence, and showed how weak the bench looks without star power leading the way.

Powell Still Missing

While Leonard being back is undoubtedly good news for the Clippers, they were still without season stand-out Norman Powell. The lanky guard is having a true career year, and appears to be even more impactful for Los Angeles than Leonard.

The team is a mere 4-8 without him in the lineup this season, and three of those wins came against teams with below .500 records.

Leonard can fill that hole, but the team without either of them can’t hold their own against anyone

While no squad in the NBA is going to win a championship or make a deep playoff run without their superstars, every win matters. The Clippers need to be able to stay afloat if Leonard, Powell, or Harden need to sit out or miss an extended period of time.

A Full Team Effort

Everyone on Los Angeles contributed to their recent victory. James Harden scored 30, Derrick Jones Jr. put up 16, Amir Coffey added 20, while Bogdan Bogdanovic had 14. That wide scoring spread, noticeably absent during the last two games, is something that’s only been present with Leonard or Powell

Harden, win or lose, is going to get his points. New pickup Ben Simmons appears to be back to his old self as well

Even so, the Clippers drop far too many easy games if one thing is out of place. They might put up a fight, but that’s usually all they do.

Their win against the Bulls showed what the bench can do

Coffey, Bogdonavic, and Jones Jr. all contributing with double digit points is a good sign, but it’s hard to know if that production is a fluke against a weak opponent or something that’s much more sustainable going forward.

Keeping Things Together

Leonard looked good in his return, but his injury history is no secret. He could go down at any time, which makes Powell's absence all the more concerning. The impactful guard put up an impressive 41 points against the Utah Jazz before sitting out the next game with knee soreness.

While initial reports assumed the ailment to be a rather minor issue, Powell has now missed four straight contests. His injury has also been upgraded to left patellar tendinopathy.

That’s something the franchise needs to monitor

Powell has played in 45 games this season, which means he does have a certain amount of toughness and resolve. The Clippers certainly don’t want to rush him back either. It’s a balancing act, and one that requires the bench to step up.

If the team can rally around Harden, who’s been healthy this season, they should be able to keep pace in the postseason race.

Their goal isn’t to be a top seed, they just need to make the playoffs with everyone healthy. If the bench can get them there, the stars might just take them the rest of the way.