The NBA Season is back! Just like your favorite superhero story, the NBA brings fun, entertainment, and a lot of uncanny subplots to unpack. That’s why NBA.com Philippines decided to preview the new season comic-book style. We pick out fantastic characters that will take the stage and new amazing arcs to watch out for. Bang! Pow! Boom! Let’s go!
What’s their superpower?
Welcome to the fifth season of the Kawhi Leoard and Paul George era of the LA Clippers.
The franchise had high championship hopes when they put the two stars together and so far, they’ve fallen below expectations with only one trip to the Western Conference Finals to show for. Injuries have been the theme for their underwhelming finishes in the past years but fans still have reasons to be optimistic with these two really talented players. The core is well and intact coming into the season.
When healthy, Leonard is no doubt one of the best players in the league. He’s a dominant scoring threat from anywhere, perfecting the art of outside shooting. Meanwhile, Paul George who is a two-way beast on the court whose range and defensive efficiency are remarkable.
What’s their kryptonite?
The curse that Clippers need a cure for is injuries. It’s a no-brainer for any NBA team or athlete that the players need to be healthy, but it is particularly more important for the Clippers. They simply cannot afford injuries to their starters again. Both Kawhi and Leonard have suffered numerous injuries that have sidelined them for long periods of time. Leonard missed 147 regular season games over the past four years, including the entire 2021-22 season with an ACL tear. George was also unavailable for 119 regular season games during that span after contracting a torn UCL in his right elbow.
The other role players like Bones Hyland, Nicholas Batum, Norman Powell, and Mason Plumlee might be stepping up alternately to keep the team afloat but they would still need the offensive power from the duo to seal more wins.
Who is their biggest hero?
Kawhi has to be the one wearing the red cape this season.
We don’t expect him to drop 40 to 50 points each night, we just need him to be consistent. Kawhi needs to focus on making himself available to keep his team on the list of contenders this year. His mere presence raises the Clippers’ ceiling in ways few other players can. LA just needs him available on the court.
Who is their biggest villain?
In all the opening nights and Christmas games, the Clippers-Lakers rivalry is always a favorite. Expect the Los Angeles Lakers to be the biggest opponent of the Clippers, just because everyone knows that LeBron’s squad is going all-in again this upcoming season. Hopefully, Kawhi and his teammates may feel the pressure down in L.A. and fight back for some healthy competition.
How does their story (season) play out?
The L.A. Clippers are still in a prime position to compete for a championship next year. They have two star players who hopefully are at full strength for the entire season, Powell, Wall, and Zubac can figure out the offense and the needed playmaking skills to be in sync with them. An experienced coach like Tyronn Lue should definitely help with that. No team is perfect, but the Clippers have the right pieces to get close to that title.
