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SOURCE SPORTS: Paul George Hits Game-Winner to Lift Clips Over Warriors

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Paul George Hits Game-Winner to Lift Clips Over Warriors

The Los Angeles Clippers have struggled a bit since the arrival of James Harden. But Paul George’s game winner at the end of Saturday’s matchup against the Golden State Warriors could be the push they need.

Paul George hit a step-back 3 with 8.9 seconds left to life the Clippers and cap off a 22-point combeack win. PG13 finished the game with 25 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four threes. Harden added 21 points and Kawhi 20.

You can see the moment below.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Paul George Hits Game-Winner to Lift Clips Over Warriors first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Paul George Hits Game-Winner to Lift Clips Over Warriors appeared first on The Source.

Gregg Popovich Defends Kawhi Leonard As Spurs Fans Boo Clippers Star

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Gregg Popovich actively defended his former star Kawhi Leonard when Spurs fans booed the Clipper during a free throw attempt. Popovich addressed the crowd via a microphone on the scorer’s table towards the end of the second quarter. “Excuse me for a second. Can we stop all the booing and let these guys play? Have a little class. That’s not who we are. Knock off the booing,” the veteran coach said to the crowd. After the game, Popovich explained his actions as not wanting to “poke the bear”. “I think anybody that knows anything about sports — you don’t poke the bear,” Popovich said.

However, the boos only increased after Popovich’s address. Despite this, Leonard put up a game-high 26 points, 18 of which came after Popovich’s comments. Leonard has long been booed due to his less-than-amicable exit from San Antonio in 2018. “If I don’t have a Spurs jersey on, they’re probably going to boo me the rest of my career. But I mean it is what it is. Like I said, they’re one of the best fans in the league and they’re very competitive. Once I step out on this basketball court out here, they show that they’re going for the other side. When I’m on the streets or going into restaurants, they show love. So it is what it is,” Leonard said after the game.

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Clippers Finally Find Their Footing

The 109-102 result over the Spurs, in which Victor Wembanyama put up a 22-point double-double, was the Clippers’ third consecutive win. That streak snapped a dismal 0-6 run that began James Harden’s tenure in LA. Granted, all three wins have come against lottery teams in the Rockets and Spurs. However, it’s a much-needed bounce-back that has the Clippers one game under .500 and two games back in their division.

Despite this, the real test looms for the Clippers. They end November with games against New Orleans, Dallas, Denver, Sacramento, and Golden State. That’s a mix of strong playoff contenders and seasoned rosters. As mentioned, it will be the first major test of whether the Clippers’ new-look roster has finally found its footing. Things do look promising. Despite his “I am a system” comments, Harden has settled into a facilitator role similar to the one he held in Philly. He currently leads the Clippers in assists, while Paul George and Leonard remain the primary scoring options.

Read More: LeBron James Speechless After Learning He’s Older Than Utah Jazz Head Coach

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Russell Westbrook Benches Himself As Clippers Keep Losing

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Russell Westbrook has asked the Clippers coaching staff to transition him to a bench role amid the team’s current losing streak. The Clippers have lost their last six games, including James Harden’s first five with the team. Despite LA being Harden’s only acceptable trade destination, the team has struggled to integrate him effectively. While Harden is an elite scoring and passing threat, he does not surpass the 1-2 tandem of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Furthermore, Harden’s stagnant off-ball play as become all the more obvious since joining the Clips.

According to sources who spoke with Bleacher Report, Westbrook requested the move in an attempt to allow the first team unit to develop more cohesion. It will allow the recently recovered Terance Mann to play a more impactful cleanup role alongside Harden, George, and Leonard. As a result, Westbrook can bring a bigger veteran leadership role to the second unit and help open the floor up more while Harden and Leonard aren’t there.

Read More: Draymond Green Suspension Supported By Steve Kerr

Paul George Gets $35K Fine

However, problems continue to compound for the Clippers. Paul George was recently handed a $35,000 fine for criticizing the officiating team after a recent loss to the Nuggets. “I thought we played great. It’s tough, the adversity of playing against the extra three. I thought they were awful but, the defending champs, we’ve got to play better. So many times I got hit on layups, 3-pointers. It was constant. Jump shots, getting hit, smacked on the forearm. It was a poor job,” George said after the loss.

Furthermore, the league noted that the size of Paul’s fine was due to his history of publicly criticizing the league’s officials. Meanwhile, the 3-7 Clippers have a tough slate to end the month. Their remaining November games include the in-form Rockets as well as the Pelicans, Mavs, Nuggets, and Kings. Furthermore, they will also have to face the Spurs and Warriors. The Clippers’ last win was a 118-102 victory against the Orlando Magic on Halloween. They were 3-1 at that time.

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Joel Embiid Claps Back After James Harden Claims Sixers “Kept Him On A Leash”

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Joel Embiid disagrees with James Harden’s claim that the Sixers kept the veteran “on a leash”. “I don’t think so. I think he did a lot of great things for us. But in my opinion, we gave him the ball every single possession, because he’s really good. He’s an amazing player. Obviously, being that great of a passer, I think we gave him the ball … we’d give him the ball every single possession to just go out and, you know, do his thing. And from there he had to make decisions as far as getting guys open or looking out for himself. But I thought he did a pretty good job of getting us into an offense and just passing the ball, getting guys open. That’s the reason why he won the assist title last year,” Embiid said after the Sixers’ win against the Raptors.

Furthermore, Embiid’s comments come as a result of Harden’s fiery introductory press conference with the Clippers. Harden said the Sixers kept him “on a leash” and didn’t respect his knowledge of the game. “I think the game and I’m a creator on the court. So if I got a voice to where I can, ‘Hey, Coach, I see this. What you think about this?’ Somebody that trusts me, that believes in me, that understands me. I’m not a system player. I am a system. You know what I mean?” Harden told reporters.

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Clippers Express Faith In Harden

Meanwhile, the Clippers have expressed full confidence in Harden being their missing piece. “James Harden should have been an All-Star last year. But he’s a 10-time All-Star. He has an elite skill set, and all he cares about is one thing. He wants to win a championship for the LA Clippers. And he wants to be part of something bigger than himself. He’s had all the individual awards. He’s about doing something really special,” said the team’s President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank.

The Clippers gave up a lot to acquire Harden, sending a monster package of depth players and first-round picks to the Sixers. If he can learn the system in time, Harden is expected to debut for the team in a game against the Knicks at MSG this weekend. The Clippers are coming off an overtime loss to the Lakers. Harden was present on the bench but did not suit up. However, head coach Ty Lue did state after the game that he would have liked to have been able to use Harden. The Clippers continue to struggle with early-season injuries, hampering their now-depleted depth.

Read More: Chris Broussard Uses Ableist Slur While Discussing James Harden Trade

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SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron Leads Lakers Past Clippers in Overtime

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LeBron Leads Lakers Past Clippers in Overtime

LeBron James showed that he is still LeBron James in a 120-115 overtime Los Angeles Lakers win over the Los Angeles Clippers. James had 35 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 42 minutes.

The thrilling game included an overhead alley-oop from Austin Reaves to James, thrilling the Lakers faithful. Reaves finished with 15 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. Anthony Davis also added a double-double of 27 points and ten rebounds. He also threw in four blocks.

On the other end of the ball, the Clipper’s dynamic duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul Geroge added 38 points and 35 points, respectively. Russell Westbrook dropped 24 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

The victory for the Lakers was the first in the last twelve matchups.

You can see highlights from the game below.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron Leads Lakers Past Clippers in Overtime first appeared on The Source.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron Leads Lakers Past Clippers in Overtime appeared first on The Source.

Kawhi Leonard Credits WNBA With Adding New Technique To His Game

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Kawhi Leonard went out of his way to credit the WNBA with him teaching him a new technique to improve his game. During the Clippers’ season opener, Leonard was spotted employing the “step-through” on several occasions. The move involves using the pivot foot to step around the defender during a basket drive. It was popularized and perfected by athletes in the WNBA and Leonard was sure to mention that when asked. “A lot of WNBA players do it. I thought it was just a WNBA rule at first, but I realized that you could pick up that back foot,” Leonard said at the Clippers’ post-game presser.

The move has become a signature for the likes of DeWanna Bonner of the Connecticut Sun and A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces. Leonard went 23-5-6 in the Clippers 123-111 win over the Blazers. The Clippers next play the Jazz later today.

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Aces Win WNBA Title, First Repeat In 21 Years

The aforementioned Wilson made extensive use of the step-through during the recent WNBA Finals. The Aces secured their second WNBA title in as many seasons with a 70-69 Game 4 victory. After a double-digit loss in Game 3, the Aces bounced back to take a one-point win in front of a hostile and sold-out New York home crowd. A’ja Wilson had a game-high 24 points as injuries to key starters limited the Aces’ dominance but did not relegate them to silver scrapes. With the win, the Aces became the first team since the 2002 Los Angeles Sparks to win back-to-back titles. They were also the first defending champions to even make the Finals since the Sparks in 2017.

“This one’s sweeter. It just is. It’s harder to do,” head coach Becky Hammon said after the game. “This is what it’s all about, to have your name etched in history right now with other teams. We never gave up, and this is a moment that we need to celebrate. This is a moment that not a lot of people get a chance to do it, and for us to do it shorthanded, it is truly amazing. It just makes winning that much better,” Wilson, who was named Finals MVP, added.

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Clippers “Pause” James Harden Trade Push, May Revisit Talks Later

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The Clippers are reportedly turning their attention to the start of the NBA season instead of continuing to go after James Harden. At least, that’s what sources have told ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski. “I’m told that, with the start of the season now, at least for the foreseeable future, the Clippers are stepping back from these trade talks about James Harden. They are essentially pausing them. They have talked with Philadelphia for months about a trade, they’ve made their best offer for Harden. And they are now gonna start their season and see what this team looks like with a healthy Kawhi Leonard, a healthy Paul George,” Woj said.

However, the Clippers may return to the table later in the year, Woj noted. “Now, the Clippers may revisit this at some point. But they know they’re the only bidder for James Harden, they’re the only team that’s made a serious offer. They don’t wanna bid against themselves, and again, while they may revisit this later in the season, I think the Sixers have to wonder: Have we already gotten the best offer we’re gonna get for James Harden? Especially as the games start to peel off the calendar, if you’re the Clippers, why offer more when there’s fewer and fewer games that James Harden can play for you?”

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Clippers Open Season With Win

Meanwhile, the Clippers showed the league that didn’t need James Harden to be successful. The team opened their season against the new-look Blazers, beating Portland 123-111. Kawhi and PG3 combined for 50 points, with Kawhi going 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. Ivica Zubac also put up 20 points in the win. The Clippers are seen as an outside contender in the West this year, if Kawhi and George can stay healthy.

However, it was a sluggish start for the new era of the Blazers. Scoot Henderson, their #3 pick in this year’s draft, dropped 11 points in his NBA debut. Meanwhile, the newly acquired Deandre Ayton picked up 12 rebounds. However, the team’s scoring output was led by Malcolm Brogdon off the bench. The former Celtic put up 20 points in 23 minutes.

Read More: James Harden To Miss First Two Sixers Games Of The Season

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Clippers Still Working Hard To Trade For Harden

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The LA Clippers are still working hard to find a deal that would allow them to trade for James Harden. That detail may explain why Harden is yet to be the disruptive presence many believed he would be during training camp. “League sources say Harden also is taking part because he remains hopeful that a trade to the Clippers is still in the works and believes, for now, that it would be wise to not be a distraction. And the Clippers, league sources say, are going to great lengths to make it happen. League sources say the Clippers have been talking to several teams about ways to move pick swaps for additional draft capital with the intention of bolstering their offer and getting a deal done,” Sam Amick and Shams Charania reported for The Athletic.

Furthermore, the report shed some light on what sort of compensation the Sixers are looking for from the Clippers. The Sixers reportedly rejected an unprotected first, a pick swap, and salary compensation for Harden. Instead, the current counter-offer appears to be Terance Mann and multiple firsts. This would explain why the Clippers were looking to involve a third team. Mann had 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game last season.

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Clippers Refocus On Harden After Missing Out On Holiday

The resurgence of interest from the Clippers reportedly comes after the team missed out on trading for Jrue Holiday. The Portland Trail Blazers traded Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics for two first-round picks, Robert Williams III, and Malcolm Brogdon. The first-round picks are the Warriors’ 2024 pick and the Celtics’ 2029 pick, which is unprotected. Williams III was the 27th overall pick in 2018 and had 8.3 rebounds a game last season. Meanwhile, Brogdon was drafted in 2016 and traded to the Celtics in 2022. He had 14.9 points per game last season. Holiday, who had 19.3 points and 7.4 assists last season, will likely become the Celtics’ starting point guard in place of Derrick White.

Holiday’s time in Portland only lasted a couple of days, although that was to be expected. Holiday was one of the pieces that moved around the league during the Damian Lillard trade. However, the Blazers made it clear that Holiday was still on the trade block as the team was happy with its complement of young guards. Now he will continue his journey in Boston as part of a Celtics team that has built themselves into a serious Eastern Conference favorite. Earlier in the offseason, the Celtics dealt with the Washington Wizards for a new starting center in Kristaps Porziņģis.

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Kawhi Leonard Injury Details Revealed

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Kawhi Leonard had 69 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists through the first two games of the Suns-Clippers series. He had put the team on his back in the absence of co-star Paul George and had helped the Clippers stun the Suns in Game 1. If the Clippers were going to top the Suns, Leonard was going to be the most vital piece in that effort.

However, Leonard was sidelined towards the end of Game 2 and ruled out of Games 3-5 with a knee injury. There had been reports, and hopes, that he would be able to return to the series. However, these reports only ever went as high as a 50/50 chance that he would play. He was officially ruled out of the series-ending Game 5, with the Clippers losing 136-130. However, further details have now been revealed about Leonard’s injury.

Kawhi Leonard Out Indefinitely With Torn Meniscus

According to sources who spoke with The Athletic, Leonard has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee. That will shut down the Clippers star for most, if not all, of the offseason and could even extend into the 2023-24 season. Leonard played 52 this season as he dealt with a handful of nagging, small-scale injuries. However, he is quickly gaining a reputation as a GOAT-level player…when he’s healthy. Kawhi has missed a total of 160 games during his stint with the Clippers. In comparison, he has played in 187. ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith has already declared that this latest injury should be the end of Leonard’s time with the Clippers.

However, Leonard’s injury all but guarantees he will play for the Clippers next season. 2023-24 is a player option year for Leonard, meaning that he had the right to opt-out and pursue free agency if he wished. However, the market for the veteran forward will be much smaller now that he’s publicly dealing with such a severe injury. Barring a contract extension, Leonard would be a free agent at the end of next season. Furthermore, the Clippers can’t cut Leonard because his contract his fully guaranteed. That means LA is on the hook for nearly $49 million (cutting Leonard also imposes a cap hit of $45 million). However, it remains to be seen what the recovery timetable looks like for Leonard.

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Shaq Reveals Why He Isn’t Sold On The Clippers

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Over the years, Shaq has been one of the most critical voices on Inside The NBA. The TNT broadcast has always been known for being hilarious. However, when it comes to serious commentary on today’s game, Shaq and Charles Barkley are hyper-critical. Moreover, sometimes it feels like they are being straight-up unfair to certain teams and players. One would just have to watch Barkley talk about Kevin Durant to understand what we mean. Not to mention, Shaq’s recent comments about Rui Hachimura are an indictment of his knowledge of the game.

That said, one area in which O’Neal has been largely correct is none other than the Los Angeles Clippers. Overall, the Clippers are trying to win a championship with their dynamic duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Unfortunately, injuries have prevented them from getting that done. Furthermore, they just brought in Russell Westbrook, and since his acquisition, the Clippers have lost three-straight games. This is not good at all, and there is this sense that the Clippers will not be able to make a deep playoff run. As it turns out, Shaq is one of the pundits feeling that way.

Shaq Talks Clippers

In the clip above, Shaq can be heard explaining what it will take for the Clippers to go far. Overall, he thinks it will all hinge on George and Leonard. He needs to see more from them, otherwise, they are likely to be a first or second-round out. “When you’re the one-two punch..you have to play extraordinary, you have to play magnificent, and you have to play legendary,” Shaq said. As far as Shaq hot takes are concerned, this one is actually pretty fair and reasonable.

The Clippers were a team constructed to win a championship. Leonard hand-picked George to be his teammate, however, it hasn’t gone as planned. This could be one of their last chances to get a title together, and if they don’t do it, then the experiment will be considered a colossal failure. Give us your thoughts on the Clippers’ title chances, down below. Also, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

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