Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are headed home after the Nuggets came back from being down 3– 1 to advance to the Western Conference finals. Leonard and the Clippers were a dissatisfaction this season, however it was a wild year, shaken by the pandemic, and it is only Year 1. An efficiency like Leonard had in Game 7 as the Clippers blew the series to the Nuggets while the Raptors team he willingly left had a perky title defense in going just as far as he did does hurt a bit. Leonard was so heroic in Torontos championship run last year and it felt as if it was just a matter of time that he was going to save the Clippers from their postseason lulls this time around. At the same time, would it be totally surprising to see Leonard the Clippers atone for their early exit next year?
Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are headed home after the Nuggets came back from being down 3– 1 to advance to the Western Conference finals. While Leonard has won two NBA Finals MVPs– how severely will the loss to Denver impact his tradition moving forward? The Crossover personnel weighs in.
Chris Mannix
George and Leonard are in their primes. Specifically with a star (Leonard) with a shaky knee. The Clippers will be among the favorites next season.
Michael Rosenberg
Nope, nope, nope..
Yes, Leonard shot 6-for-22 in Game 7. Well, Kobe Bryant when shot 6-for-24 in Game 7 (the 2010 Finals). Bryants team won that a person, but in Game 6 of the 2008 Finals, with the Lakers down 3– 2, Bryant shot 7-for-22 and his group lost by 39. Did that hurt Kobes tradition? Every great player has some losers. We forget them for everybody other than, inexplicably, LeBron James, who gets advised of them all the time. Leonard is a two-time NBA champ. He will constantly be (at least) a two-time NBA champ. Each time a star chooses a brand-new franchise, there is pressure to win there to justify the relocation. Leonard and the Clippers were a frustration this season, however it was a wild year, shaken by the pandemic, and it is only Year 1. When we talk about Kawhi Leonard in 20 years, this game will hardly show up.
Jeremy Woo.
I believe its prematurely to say much about tradition here. Whats going to matter more is how the Clippers respond next season, which will reflect on their finest player and how he decides to move on from this. Kawhi wasnt the only one at fault for the collapse. L.A.s chemistry was odd all season, and their defense was overvalued. If the Clippers do this once again next year and Kawhi chooses to leave, then yeah, itll end up being a genuine talking point. However I believe he should have the advantage of another year and the doubt to get things in order. The Clippers situation wasnt like Kevin Durants walking onto the Warriors, or even Leonards joining the Raptors– situations where superstars joined cohesive, focused teams with previous playoff experience. Clearly, Leonard and George have a lot of work in front of them, and this failure is an opportunity for development. I believe all of us overstated the Clippers, which doesnt excuse blowing the 3– 1 lead, however also does not make this simply someones fault.
Melissa Rohlin.
No, Leonard has actually shown himself after leading the Toronto Raptors to a title last season. This is more of a reflection of the Clippers.
Robin Lundberg.
When you are in the kind of conversations Kawhi Leonard was, the standards are exceptionally high, especially if you are going to be pointed out in the same breath as LeBron James. And for Kawhi, considering that he doesnt have the very same analytical profile as the true greats, much of his reputation was based on a winning mystique. A performance like Leonard had in Game 7 as the Clippers blew the series to the Nuggets while the Raptors group he willingly left had a perky title defense in going simply as far as he did does hurt a bit.
Michael Shapiro.
Winning a third title with a 3rd team would have greatly improved Leonards tradition, however I do not see his credibility taking a huge hit after Tuesdays embarrassing Game 7 loss. Leonard remains maybe the top two-way force of his era, and his playoff guts was shown in 2015s postseason. Leonard will need to hear the 3– 1 jokes all offseason, and the Clippers title possibilities will be treated with an abundance of caution entering 2020– 21. Looking long-term, Tuesdays loss will not impact our view of Leonards legacy. Hes a guaranteed Hall of Famer and one of the finest gamers of the 21st century. We wont be talking about 2020s second-round exit when Leonard takes the podium in Springfield.
Ben Pickman.
How can it not be? A minimum of just a little bit. Leonard was so heroic in Torontos champion run last year and it felt as if it was only a matter of time that he was going to rescue the Clippers from their postseason lulls this time around. That time, however, never ever came and Leonard shot just 6-of-22 for 14 points in LAs Game 7 loss. Now, Leonard and the Clippers are entrusted to numerous concerns about what failed. And the aura of Leonard being an unstoppable postseason player has actually relatively vanished. Leonard is still unquestionably one of the best gamers in the league and one of the leading postseason entertainers of his era. But Tuesday night showed that creating a blemish-less profession resume is next to difficult. He will face a mainly deserving wave of criticism for his latest battles. But at the exact same time, would it be entirely surprising to see Leonard the Clippers atone for their early exit next year? Absolutely not.
