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Former NBA Coach Calls Out Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to Fix the Chemistry Issue at Clippers

Published 12/14/2020, 11:09 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

This coming season is the time for redemption for the Los Angeles Clippers. However, the preseason games haven’t been very good for them. Though these games hold little significance, losing to their rivals, the Lakers isn’t an easy pill to digest. Looks like their chemistry is still not there yet and former NBA coach, David Fizdale thinks Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are the ones who can fix this.

No other team went home as humiliated as the Clippers last season. Yes, losing is part and parcel of the game, but not when it comes to a team that was labeled as the title favorites. What was worse was that the Clippers lost to a team that one had no expectations from, the Denver Nuggets.

Who would have expected that the Nuggets would make a second comeback from a 3-1 deficit? They had done it against the Utah Jazz, which wasn’t as surprising as the Clippers tanking their lead. One of the biggest reasons behind the Clippers losing was their chemistry on the court as a team.

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Even off the court, the players weren’t getting along either. Paul George and Montrezl Harrell had gotten into a heated argument after Game 2 against Denver in the locker room. There was a constant blame-game that led Harrell to leave the Clippers and go to the Lakers.

USA Today via Reuters

Clippers’ star duo responsible for team chemistry?

On ESPN, Rachel Nichols and David Fizdale touched upon the Clippers’ chemistry situation and what they should do about it to avoid embarrassing themselves more. Fizdale stated, “I think T. Lue, and the staff deserve a fresh start because he is a championship coach… The pressure absolutely lies on those two [Kawhi Leonard and Paul George] guys. I mean, look at the amount that the Clippers have invested in having those guys here.”

Fizdale further elaborated on the deals they made to bring the two together for the franchise and said, “They just paid him [George] a four-year monster contract. So, I just think that with that investment, those two guys have to take this team to another level. And I think what will be a big difference for them this year is, can Reggie Jackson play at a high level as a point guard? And really fill that position that they need.”

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Reggie can be the true floor general that they need. However, only Kawhi and George can bring back the Clippers from the dead. With such a competitive Western Conference, do the Clippers have what it takes?

 

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Written by:

Yashima Bhatia

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Yashima Bhatia is an NBA writer for EssentiallySports who specialises in providing nuanced predictions and updates for matches. She has a Bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication. Yashima's love for playing the game came up at a young age, when the excitement of the games coupled with the intensity of the Playoffs had her hooked.
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