Clippers’ joyful mood will be tested during 6-game trip
Not even in the darkest days of the season, when players bounced on and off the injured list, losses mounted and preseason expectations were no longer expected, did the Clippers give up. Adversity became normal and normal was challenging.
Yet, the players will say the mood in the locker room never faltered. They remained upbeat through a six-game losing streak, driven by the knowledge that the season wasn’t going to be perfect. There wasn’t any finger-pointing.
“I think us having the mindset that we’re going to have to play through some things, I think that’s what saved the locker room, because the locker room never folded,” All-Star guard Paul George said. “We never got on one another. There was never a chirpy-ness going on.
“I think we just prepared for that – that it’s a long season. It’s a long year.”
George was one of those players who had to endure injuries that kept him off the court for an extended period. He missed 15 games because of hamstring and left knee juries. But he’s back and playing as if he never left.
In his past three games, the guard has scored 21 points, 27 points and 35 points on Thursday night in a 138-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Kawhi Leonard also is back up to speed. He missed a significant chunk of the season because of a knee injury and subsequent injury management but has regained the explosiveness and defensive mindset that made him one of the league’s consummate two-way players.
He is averaging 29 points in his last nine games while dishing out 4.1 assists.
“I think we’re starting to see the light,” George said.
The Clippers’ current four-game winning streak and the upbeat chatter and laughter in the locker room can be linked directly to the return of their two stars.
“It is as simple as that,” guard Terance Mann said.
Norman Powell agreed. He said having Leonard and George back enables the team to stick to the game plan that was first drawn up in the preseason.
“Having everybody back, putting in the extra time, working on our rotations and stuff defensively and going through our plays, talking about the rotations we’re making and everybody who steps on the floor is playing basketball the right way. And when you do that, everybody is feeling good, everybody is touching everybody, being effective,” Powell said.
“Everybody feels good they’re playing basketball while making the team better.”
The Clippers (27-24) now embark on their annual Grammy trip, a six-game, 10-day East Coast swing that will test their good times starting Saturday against Atlanta (25-24). Among the teams they will face on the trip are Milwaukee (31-17), Brooklyn (29-19) and Cleveland (30-20).
George said the trip certainly will challenge the Clippers, who will face Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmpo for the first time this season next Thursday. He said all six opponents are potential playoff teams and the Clippers need to accept the challenge if they hope to maintain this feel-good moment.
He pointed out that they started their current streak on the road, won two at home and “now it’s time to put it all together.” That includes keeping everyone healthy.
“Everything is tied to us being able to play and be on the floor together and do what we signed up to do,” George said. “And so, the joy is just us, everybody being happy and celebrating one another being at their best, and so it’s starting in the locker room and it’s working on the court.
“You see it on the court. The chemistry has been great. We’re enjoying it. We’re enjoying being on the floor together.”
CLIPPERS AT HAWKS
When: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta
TV/radio: Bally Sports SoCal, 570 AM, 1220 AM