INGLEWOOD — Norman Powell apologized repeatedly for his teeth chattering. He couldn’t control the shivers after spending 15 minutes in an ice bath, part of his extended postgame recovery routine that he has adopted.
Powell, like the rest of the Clippers, is tired. Not so much from having played three sets of back-to-back games within their first 10, but because of how they struggle to close out games – such as Saturday’s close 105-103 victory against the Toronto Raptors — and have had to rely on three players to carry the majority of the load.
Powell is one of them. The veteran guard is a starter this season, which not only involves more minutes, but more responsibilities to lead the team. One of those areas is scoring, a job he has readily adopted.
A former sixth man, Powell is averaging a team-high 25.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in his starting role this season over 34.2 minutes a game.
“I expected it from myself … the work that I put in and my belief was always for this. This level was nothing new to me,” Powell said. “I know a lot of people outside are surprised or shocked or whatever it is, but this has been how I’ve envisioned myself being in the league and finally getting an opportunity down the stretch and with the work that I put in.”
James Harden and Ivica Zubac are the other two who have had to take on bigger profiles during Kawhi Leonard’s absence. Leonard is out indefinitely and will not travel with the team when it heads to Oklahoma City for a game Monday against the Thunder and Houston for two games against the Rockets.
Harden, in his 16th year, is averaging 34.4 minutes a game. While his minutes are less than in recent seasons, he is scoring (21.2 ppg) and rebounding (8.1 rpg) more with Paul George gone and Leonard missing from action. He also has been averaging nine assists.
Zubac, the Clippers’ iron man, is playing a career-high 35 minutes a game and wished he could play all 48. He is averaging 16.4 points and 12.7 rebounds – both career highs.
Told that Coach Tyronn Lue complained of being tired, Harden shot back, saying “He’s tired? Imagine how we feel.”
The Clippers (6-4) are one of six teams that will play 16 back-to-back games this season. One media outlet rated their schedule as the second toughest to start the season behind the Phoenix Suns. Already they have played the Suns twice, the Denver Nuggets, the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Harden acknowledged the Clippers have a tough schedule but countered, “We’re here and we make good money to go out and play the game we love. We just have to figure out ways to win games. Figure it out.”
“Tomorrow, we travel to OKC and play another one,” he added. “This is the NBA. Welcome.”
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WALTON HONORED
Bill Walton, who played for the Clippers from 1979-1985, was honored this week by the G League San Diego Clippers, which named the court at Frontwave Arena after the late big man whose love of the San Diego community was well known.
In front of each bench is a decal of Walton’s signature to mark his legacy.
Walton, 71, died earlier this year at his home in San Diego.