Speaker 1: What is going on. Clippers fans, Welcome to a random
live that we're doing a couple hours before the Clippers
play the Warriors, which is going to be a weird
game considering none of the important Warriors are going to
be playing. To talk about the fact that there is
in fact a return date for Kawhi Leonard targeted. We
absolutely love to see this, law Murray tweeting out earlier
today on Friday twenty twenty seventh, there is indeed a
target date for Kawhi Leonard Saturday, January fourth at Intuit
Nome when the La Clippers host the Atlanta Hawks. So
we have a definitive date for Kawhi's return, which is awesome.
If you miss the last updates, there was a bunch
of stuff about ty Lu talking about how, you know,
Kawhi needed to stack these five on five, needed to
get more practices under his belt and making good progress
still with all that kind of stuff, and we got it.
The target date is going to be January fourth. If
you're near to the stream, I'm Chuck Mockler. Adam Oisin's
usually here, so is Will Updyke. But it's just me
right now. So this feels great. Clippers fans. Maybe we're
disappointed that he wasn't going to come back on the
game tonight against the Warriors. I still think we're going
to be fine. He's also not traveling on the upcoming
trip for the Clippers. I had said. I was like, oh,
these these games after the twenty seventh seem nice for
him to return to. It's a three and four. They're
not able to practice on the road, which is why
Kawhi is not going on this trip. But he will
be here practicing with the uh not Agua Caliente, with
the San Diego Clippers. While the Clippers are on the
road trip, he's gonna be practicing in the G League,
stacking those five to fives or five on five. So
it feels great. The Clippers are going They're gonna be
playing the Warriors tonight. Everyone's hurt, which is weird. I
think the Clippers are gonna be fine tonight. We're gonna
put this out as an audio stream as well an
episode for the podcast audio people. If you ever want
to watch these, they're random because that's what happens with
Clippers and return news. You can check us out at
YouTube dot accomplished at Clippers podcast, Alex Webb saying, don't
rush back Claw. I don't think anyone wants to rush
him back. I think this is a pretty I'm like
fine with this timeline, right Like, I think if they're
saying he's good to go, and he's stacked the five
on fives, if we've talked about, I think this makes
total sense for for quite to comeback now. Alex. I'm
not saying you were saying he was getting rush back,
but I don't think they've rushed him back. I think
they've done a really good job so far with this,
just given everything we've seen and heard from Tylu ill Yas.
I hope I pronounced that correctly. I apologize if I
didn't says how many minutes do you think he would
start out with? There's gonna be a minute restriction, as
tylu has talked about. I don't know. First of all,
I hope he's starting. I hope we keep a starting
lineup of James Harden, Norman Powell, Derek Jones, Junior Kawhi
Leonard of Vitza Zubats. I personally hope that is what
the starting lineup is. I don't think there's gonna be
a lot of arguments. The other way, you could maybe
convince me to start Chris Down over Norm Powell, But
I don't think it's gonna happen. Norm started every single game,
including the preseason. It just kind of feels like Kawhi
is gonna slot into that spot. I think it's probably
gonna be what twenty does twenty make sense? Fifteen feels low,
so I hope it's twenty. I think it makes sense.
So there are I do wanna I do want to
add this. We are getting more updates from Law Murray. Again,
if you're not following Law, if you're able to, you should,
because he's a wonderful big reporter. Law making it clear.
The Clippers are still taking Kawhi's Leonard's status slowly. There's
still a lot of developments that can take place, but
the time is coming very soon, and this next week
is a key step. So the key step part is
going to be how the knee responds to the practices,
to these full five on fives and all that good stuff.
It makes sense they're taking it slowly. That not a surprise,
I don't think to anyone who's been a Clippers fan
for a while. So this next week is a key step.
It's going to be a very key step. Thank you
to Lot Murray for providing this. We really appreciate it.
So yeah, the next week is step. Yeah, it's it's
I cannot wait to watch Kawhi Leonard play basketball again,
Alex Webb saying, if he's good, I'm cool with it.
I think that's where everyone's at. If the team has
been incredibly cautious, as we know, the medical staff has
been cautious with Kawhi throughout the whole kind of time
he's been here. Remember that that weird old game against
Memphis where they took him out at half and no
one knew why that was happening. But let's let's get
it right if there's any time to do it. The
Clippers have gotten through easily the hardest part of their schedule.
They don't have as many conference games left. I think
it's pretty split. Actually, I think they have the same
amount of conference and non conference games right now for
the team, so it'll be interesting. The Clippers are also
not very good in the Western Conference. I'm just gonna
look at like the records and everything like that. Oh yeah,
into it. Dome is going to be rocking on that night,
which again theoretically January fourth, that is the set target date.
There are more steps that need to be taken, but
the time is coming very soon. This next week, as
law Marie reported, is a key step. We gotta hope
it goes well. M incredible comment from Rerenzo the old head,
which I will I will agree with this. Every year
he gets hurt and it gets me mad that God
damn it. Every time he's about to return, I always
get hyped. Damn you, Kawhai, that's the way she goes.
I feel you're Rerenzo one hundred percent. Also, my neighbor
has started calling me o G so I think it
might be an old head. Now it's gonna be awesome.
The Clippers are in a wonderful place for Kawhi Leonard
to return, Terrence Man's return, which I know some people
maybe forgot that Terrence Man can be a useful player.
Terrence's timeline, let me see where it's at. Actually, Law
had some updates on this as well. Either way, Terrence
should be coming back around the same time that Kawhi
is is coming back, which is fantastic. Just having the
full on rotation is going to be great. Yes, Goku
underscore ten that first elbow jumper. Come on, come on,
shut it down. It's gonna be so great. The rotation
is going to be really interesting when Kawhi comes back,
because what I just you know, it's interesting what happens
to backup center, what happens to Kevin Porter Junior's role
When we have this roster. Tyler is gonna want a
shorter rotation, not a larger rotation. I still think kpj
is gonna be the backup guard. I think the bench
is gonna be ma because it's so hard right because
it's like Bomba has not been that good second shift.
Bomba is great. And then this does show why having
Derek Jones Junior as a pickup was great. Missing Derek
Jones Junior over those last couple of Dames was tough.
He had that great return game when he came back.
So no, it's huge Derek Jones Junior and Kawhi the
three four five of Kawhi Derek Jones. However, that checks
out and a Vitza Zubots is an incredible three four
five to have for this Clippers team when you have,
you know, your starting two guards who can make things
happen offensively, one of them being the system of James
Harden and one of them having their best year of
all time from outside and from mid range in in
Norm Powell. It's gonna be awesome. There there is gonna
be I'm sure sure there's gonna be some consternation when
it comes to who's gonna get the time and stuff
like that. But we gotta remember Tyler's gonna want a
shorter rotation. I don't know who gets pushed out. We
don't really have anyone else we can run backup point guard.
So again I think the bench, KPJ, Terrence Nico and
a mirror. That's the nine guys. You throw Bamba in,
there's your ten. I think we'll see that for a while.
And well and then Derek and then Chris Dunn. Right, so, like,
does Chris Dunn become the default backup point guard? Now?
I don't know. There's a lot of questions that Tyler's
gonna have to figure out with this rotation. Thankfully, the
nice thing is the Clippers have been playing great, right
the Clippers. Uh, when Kawhi does return, let's just say
things stay normal. Let's say all these stats as of Friday,
December twenty seventh. They got a handful of games coming
up in between there, so there's still gonna be a
top ten, top five defense. The offense is still going
to be not very good. But I don't think that
wasn't a big surprise to people. Jimmy g I agree.
I hope we get some more coffee minutes, but it
depends on how guys are playing. I don't think he
will lose a bunch of minutes, right because we've you know,
Tyler's talked about with you know, with Derek Jones Junior
out and Kawhi out. They were going to start either
one of these guys, So I don't think their minutes
are going to be lost. Again. The discussion of the
Clippers needing a power forward is going to be at
ten when Kawai comes back. And there's maybe one bad game,
so we're gonna see what happens with all that stuff.
But those are good problems to have, right.
Speaker 2: This is a.
Speaker 1: Team that has committed to defense, has committed to playing
you know this, like high energy, do the little annoying
things basketball, and they're at a perfect point for Kawi
Lander to come back into this rotation. I'm sipping on
a festive beverage because we got a a Cohi returned date.
Let's look at those games also that he's potentially coming
back for. So the Clippers play on January fourth at home,
then they're away the sixth and the eighth versus Nuggets
and the Timberwolves. Kawhi's first back to back that he
would have to deal with if he comes back on
the fourth. Its January fifteenth and January sixteenth. Clippers play
the Nets at home on the fifteenth, and then they're
away to the Blazers. I would assume Kawhi sits one
of those out I personally don't want him playing any
back to backs. The Clippers have an Eastern Conference back
to back on the twenty first and the twenty second
against the Bulls, and the Celtics sit him out of either.
I do. I could care the less about Coawhi Leonard
going against the Bulls. Lizo asking, uh is Jordan Miller cooked?
Speaker 2: Now?
Speaker 1: Yeah, probably. I like Jordan Miller. He's got potential. But
with the way clip the Clippers are playing right now
and the rotation getting smaller, the numbers just don't add
up for Jordan Miller. To have any minutes I don't know,
which isn't great for those of us who like Jordan Miller.
But also it's not his it's there's no time for him.
The Clippers are. The Clippers have played better than I
think a fair amount of people, myself included, thought they
would be with Kahira. If someone were to say Kawhi's
returning on January fourth, but the Clips are going to
be seventeen and thirteen to have a top ten defense,
I'd say, well, shit, okay, life is pretty good then.
But I think for Jordan Miller, things are probably this
is yeah, it's gonna be garbage time minute, it's gonna
be stuff like that unless you've shown some big stuff
in practice. But this is a team that it's just
not there's no room like I don't with how they're
playing now. This isn't a punt at year. The Clippers
don't have a pick they have. The only thing the
Clippers have motivation to do is continue to win. And
looking at the strength of schedule, let's look at the
strength of schedule for the rest of the season. So
the remaining strength of schedule per Tankathon, the Clippers have
the eighteenth easiest, hardest schedule from here on out. Their
strength of schedule is five hundred is the composite winning percentage,
so they're right in the middle. They got to play
the Calves twice, the Thunder twice, The Celtics wants the Rockets,
wants the Grizzlies in the Knicks twice. But they get
three games against the Pels, two games against the horn
It's two games against the Jazz. It's a it's an
up it's been up and down kind of schedule for
the Clippers the rest of the way. But the West
is tight as hell. The Kings are. I'm gonna say done.
I don't we don't have to worry about the Clippers
slipping down to twelve. Also, Mike Brown being fired is crazy.
Did not deserve it. I don't think if you're looking
at a top three seed, I don't think they're They're
not catching the Thunder. Sorry, Rockets are. They're four games
out of the Rockets and they're three and a half
games out of where the Mavericks are. Oh the man himself,
Adam Osland, how are you doing? Fella? Gotta be doing great.
Now that we have a target date, right, let's target date.
Speaker 2: I mean, I think it's the day everybody assume was
gonna be the twenty seventh. The next date would be
the fourth, when they're back into it, since he's not
traveling on this road trip, so I got to make
sure that there's no setbacks between now and then. But
outside of that, sounds like Kawhi Leonard will be back
against Atlanta Hawks.
Speaker 1: Yeah. I liked what lat Murray said and that the
follow up tweet, he said, this is a big week, right,
he's gonna be practicing with San Diego. I'm assuming they're
doing five on five. Lord help whatever San Diego Clippers
player has to guard Kawhi Leonard in these upcoming practices.
But I like that this is this step is a
it's a big it's a big week for him coming back,
and it makes sense they got to be cautious. Yeah.
Speaker 2: I like the fact that they're just emphasizing more five
on five, more workouts, more practice time. Clippers are seventeen
and thirteen, they have a great chance to be eighteen
and thirteen after tonight. Like the commercial comes out earlier today,
you know, everything's pointing in the right direction, but it
still is about his knee holding up and not swelling
up between now and then. So that's the that's the
only concern. But everything right now feels good. Here I'm
got into its home.
Speaker 1: People are talking about it. Got really loud out. They
got a practice. They got a practice, all right, I
guess that's having a game. Let me do buddy. We've
heard from Adam Oslin. People are excited. Adam got a
new haircut. This feels good. The Clippers again, not the
easiest schedule, not the hardest schedule remaining, but most of
their difficult games. I take that back. What four of
their hardest games remaining are against conference opponents? Five of them? Okay,
it's gonna be Thank god, we only put the rockets
one more time. But the Clippers have a path. And
I don't know if they're watching, but I think it
was junction. If you listen to this later or watch
this later, we said if the Clippers were a top
three seed, you could come on the pod. They have
a chance to be a top three seed. They are
two and a half games, excuse me, three and a
half games out of a top three seeding. The Grizzlies
or the MAVs just lost Luca. Like there's a. There's
a path for it, for it to happen for the Clippers.
I know this episode's coming out like an hour before
the Warriors game. Very weird roster coming up for both
teams for this Warriors game. Kevin Porter Junior sick, which sucks.
Seems like running this through the team right now. We'll
see what happens tonight. Here's the kahile Enard having a
good week. That's the important thing to remember. Big week
of practice down in San Diego. Teams traveling, and so
hope they clean up on that road trip. And then
he's so the target date is January fourth, verse the
Atlanta Hawk. If you have tickets, maybe sell them. If
you want tickets, maybe buy them. Thank you all for
hanging out. It was just a quick little stream. Happy
Adam got to be here. We're gonna have a full
episode with the full crew coming up tomorrow night. At
some point someone just logged on saying, good evening. What's
going on? Kawhi Leonard has a target date, everybody, January
fourth should be a good ass time. I should we
should be at that game. We'll be at that game.
If you're at the end of it, don't say what's up.
Here's to the Clippers getting a dub over a short
handed Warriors team tonight. Here's to Kawhi Leonard having a
good week of practice and progress. And here's to the
Clippers making some noise and maybe be in a top
three seat. Maybe we'll have the guest host on if
that happens. Thank you all for hanging out clips and
DIP is gonna come at you with a full episode
with the full crew myself, Adam Oslin and William Updike
tomorrow night. Yeah, rewatch the stream if you want the news.
But Kawhi Leonard has a target date with some progress
that has to happen for January fourth against the Hawks,
and the Clippers will be the most annoying team to
play in the entire NBA. Have a good rest of
your evening, Here's to a great New Year's and as always,
let's go