A knee injury has Kawhi Leonard ruled out for the pivotal Game 5 between the Clippers and Mavericks. Yet, Shaquille ONeal, who has often hinged the Clippers’ success on Leonard’s health, believes it’s a blessing in disguise. The proof is in the numbers pudding as pointing on Inside the NBA’s tip-off broadcast. The Clippers are 2-0 without Leonard and Shaq points out the undeniable reason; because he’s not playing, Shaq firmly asserted that Game 5 is going to the Clippers.

The reason according to him is that when The Klaw is not in play, the Clippers’ other offensive stars shine.  “Kawhi not being in the lineup it puts them at ease because they [Paul George and James Harden] were deferring a little bit too much to him when him not being 100% healthy,”

“Paul George and James Harden, if they can continue to play like that,” Shaq is confident in LA’s chances. With a disclaimer that he means no disrespect to Leonard, George, and Harden, he said that PG and The Beard put up 33 points each to end Game 4 116-114 in their favor and tie the series. If they can do the same tonight, the Clippers will be unstoppable.

Kawhi Leonard was ruled out of Game 5 for a right knee inflammation. However, his knee issues have been persistent. Even before he returned to the court in time for the playoffs, it appears that the Clippers were prepared to play without relying on Kawhi. The PG-Beard duo was redemptive in that regard but others are also standing out, like the center Ivica Zubac who is giving off prime Shaq vibes.

Something Charles Barkley has been on about on the Clippers bandwagon for most of the season, Shaq said the Clippers are a talented team as a whole. But when Leonard is not around, “Playoff P [George] can be Playoff P. James Harden could be the old James Harden. I’m going with the Clippers tonight.”

Hopefully, Shaq hasn’t jinxed the Clippers. By halftime, the Clippers stood 46-56. Harden and George were still at single digits while it was Zubac leading the scoring charge for the team.

Shaquille O’Neal wants The Klaw to be a role player

The standards for the Clippers are sky-high within Studio J. Chuck was already hyped for the combination of players on LA’s roster. But Shaq’s opinion differed. He was especially brutal when the Clippers lost Game 2 with a home-court advantage and a fully active lineup that had The Klaw make a comeback. “I thought the Clippers let one get away,” was Shaq’s honest opinion. Even Chuck called Leonard ‘rusty.’

The honesty continued after the Game 4 win. O’Neal once again put the onus on Harden and George to make it clear that they won’t defer to Leonard anymore and take charge. In fact, he wanted those two to send Leonard to his “Spurs days” and reduce him to a role player.

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Would that work? Game 5’s outcome might confirm it.