KAWHI LEONARD AND Paul George made their debuts Wednesday as Los Angeles Clippers teammates, vowing to turn their hometown club into an NBA champion and eclipse city rival Lakers.
“We’re not looking at the Battle of LA. We’ve got bigger goals in mind,” George said. “We’re not thinking about the Lakers shadow. We want to be holding that trophy and we’ll build up Clipper Nation along the way.”
Leonard made the biggest free agent signing in the NBA this month by leaving the Toronto Raptors after leading them to the NBA title while George was obtained in a blockbuster trade deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder at Leonard’s request.
“I’m on my next journey,” Leonard said.
These guys have got a great future. Paul is a player I always wanted to play with. Both LA guys. Played down the street from each other. Now we’re on the Clippers.
“We’ve got something speical. I think we can make history.”
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer’s high-octane introduction video became a quick social media sensation, the 63-year-old former Microsoft chief executive screaming and yelling his joy and excitement about his club suddenly becoming a prime NBA contender for the first time.
“I’m just fired up to be here today,” Ballmer yelled. “It’s pretty cool. It’s pretty damn cool.”
In a much more low-key manner, George and Leonard also showed their excitement about what the future has in store for them and the Clippers as they accepted blue Clippers jerseys, George number 13 and Leonard number 2.
“I’m extremely happy and extrmely excited to be back home,” George said after thanking the Thunder for making the trade deal. “Ultimately they helped me find my way back to LA. I’m pretty appreciative of that.”
Clippers outshine Lakers lately
The Clippers are second favorites among Caesar’s Palace sportsbook NBA championship oddsmakers at 7-2, trailing only the 3-1 odds for the Los Angeles Lakers, who boast LeBron James and Anthony Davis plus a host of solid support talent after being unable to add Leonard to their own lineup.
The Lakers have won 16 NBA titles but none since 2010 with retired star guard Kobe Bryant as the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
Leonard instead chose a Clippers’ squad that has never gone past the second round of the NBA playoffs, never reaching even a conference finals since being formed in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves.
But in each of the past seven seasons, the Clippers won more games than the Lakers, a trend Leonard plans to continue.
“The last few years, the Clippers have been better,” Leonard said. “They are going to get the attention — the Lakers have been winning championships for a long time.
Who knows how the Clippers will change things over? I’m not focused on that. I just want to win. My goal is just to make us happy. If we’re winning and not getting no coverage, that’s fine with me.”
Asked about the growing power of NBA players under contract to force teams into trade deals, George said, “As long as there’s a mutual respect between both (club and player), there’s nothing wrong with it.”
Inspiring next generation
George hopes that with both players being among the NBA’s top defenders, the Clippers will alter dynamics to bring more attention to two-way work than simply scoring skills.
“What me and Kawhi can do is inspire the next generation, go out and play hard on both ends,” George said.
The Clippers’ existing core was attractive to Leonard and George.
Everybody elevated their games. To be part of that camaraderie, what they already had, to sprinkle in what we have to offer, that’s what made it such an attractive spot,” George said.
Leonard was happy the team kept contract talks from leaking to the public.
“They were true to their word. Nothing got out,” Leonard said. “I just felt like it was a good decision for me.
It’s a good pairing. They go hard both ways. They want to win. That’s my competitive mindset when I step on the floor. I’ll pass the ball to someone else. That’s the culture here.
“It’s going to be a team effort. It’s going to take 15 guys to make this work.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Best hurling team of the year won the All Ireland
@Martin Brennan: Correct Martin. I’m a Limerick man and feel they were the best team all year.
@Decko49: fair play to you Decko, 100% in agreement
@Aonghus OReilly: Tipp got most of their scores from play all year. They were class all year except for the blip on the Munster final. Well done Tipp.
Wasn’t the classic i was hoping for, game ended as a contest with the sending off, which was probably deserved IMO, but hats of to tipp they were the far superior team today.
@Devilsavocado: best game I’ve ever seen..best part was Leo getting blanked and passed on by the whole team!! Made my day
@Craig Clancy: no way could it have been the best game you’ve ever seen unless you never watch hurling. A great win for Tipp and I was delighted they won but it wasn’t a classic by any means. But then again, I dont count the politicians in the stand as being part of the game
@Craig Clancy: tipp were deserving winners but it was by far not the best game of hurling, there was nothing riveting about it, that part was disappointing.
Completely outgunned.
@davey boy: do we have to listen to Rohan fo the next year, up the banner
Bad day at the office for KK. Beaten comprehensively in both minor and senior. It’s hard to feel sorry for them though
@Finnster1977: Correct it’s hard to feel sorry for such an arrogant bunch. When they beat Limerick they celebrated like they had the All Ireland won.
@Finnster1977: Why dont you Go talk Sh*te somewhere else
@Decko49: Kilkenny and arrogance go hand in hand
@Finnster1977: good lad Galway couldn’t even make it out of Leinster this year calm down
@Decko49: And Limerick had it won at the start of the year. Get off yer horse lad.
@Finnster1977: By god they do. They will just insult us now for telling the truth
@Finnster1977: Decko49 you know what the two of you , no matter what else you comment about just know you are a pair of clowns Kilkenny lost to the better team in the end , no problem with that well done tipp but just boil your heads the two of you ,ye didn’t see Kilkenny people picking up dog shit online with tipp shirts , you two should go away and talk to yourselves ,easy comment here they pair of you , well done tipp ye won today … classless comments from some here
@jeremiah: Let’s be honest here. The classless comments are from the Kilkenny fans defending Richie Hogan. Sad. The Kilkenny fans were celebrating like they won the All Ireland when they beat Limerick. Fact. I felt sorry for Richie but it was a red all day.
@Decko49: Kilkenny celebrated after reaching an all Ireland final for the first time in 2016 and by the way beat the best squad and all Ireland champions to get there !!! Where is the arrogance there ???? They are a new squad with young players coming through ???
@Decko49: they celebrated winning a hard fought win, they’re a team with alot of new blood, it was a tense win. Worked in kilkenny for 6 months years back, fierce nice people.
@Paddy: we beat your lads at home and beat your minors today but maybe you weren’t in to support them today like a lot of the KK supporters . Looking forward to having KK back in Salthill for the round robin next may or June
@jeremiah: Ritchie’s red card is within the rules to be fair , I feel sorry for him as a fellow Kilkenny person but nobody from Kilkenny would never use that as an excuse for losing and that is the difference between Kilkenny and other counties … so for you and others to call Kilkenny arrogant is just wrong plain and simple , man up now show yourself now and retract and apologise ?
@Finnster1977: Kilkenny 36 all Ireland’s Galway ???
@Paddy: well done . You win Paddy ; )
@Vote4Pedro: My point is that no medals are given out for winning semi finals. Being a Limerick man I know only too well. I think they felt that they were going to win after beating limerick. I’m talking about the fans not the team by the way. And before people reply yes some Limerick fans were getting carried away before the Kilkenny game. I heard some say limerick would hammer Kilkenny. Why? We only beat them by a point last year. Best team won this year for certain. Same as last year
@Barry Dowling: Ok. We will leave you to do the shite talk. You’re good at it too by the way. Bye
@Decko49: you are a total g×bs×ite, Kilkenny upset the odds and beat defending champs Limerick. So f++k you
@Finnster1977: Couldn’t happen to nicer people!
@Barry Dowling: Do you need a tampon Barry?
@Decko49: they did beat Limerick. Hold there man Tipp lost one game this year Limerick lost 3
Jesus the speeches are getting out of hand, who hasn’t he said thanks very much to?
@Rory Purcell: haha he is still talking
@Rory Purcell: He’s still at it.
@The Debater: the football final will be on and he’ll still be thanking people
@Rory Purcell: see ya all in Coppers thats all ya need ha ha
@Rory Purcell: he’s well entitled to his chance.
@Rory Purcell: Richie Hogan
@Decko49: sport can be cruel, richie has been a fantastic servant for kilkenny but that was a rush of blood
@The Debater: Sorry I’m just messing. Yes it was. He has served his county great. Sorry lads. Richie is a great player. He’s beaten my team a good few times.
@Decko49: limerick will be back next year no doubt Decco
@The Debater: Hope so. Tipp Cork Limerick Kilkenny Galway and possibly Clare all capable of winning it. Remember Tipp were very poor last year and turned it around this year
@Decko49: Tipp can never be written off in fairness
@The Debater: By god you’re right. Those forwards are unreal. I think Tipp without a shadow of a doubt are the best team in the country. They got most of their scores all year from play so they totally deserve being the champions. I’m a Limerick man by the way
@Rory Purcell: he completely forgot to thank his mammy, his missus, the parish priest, the binmen and the Gardaí escort to Croke Park.
@Rory Purcell:
Think he missed Mr Eastwood!
@Rory Purcell: People who made the sandwiches
It’ll probably be lost in the inevitable red card debate, but Tipp had survived the first half tornado Kilkenny the at them, and started getting control of the game, even before the red card. Not, of course, that the card didn’t have a huge mpact, but just to point out that Kilkenny had lost a five point lead with 15 men and Hogan’s impetuosity was perhaps indicative of a stress at not having put a lead on Tipp when they were on top. Kennedy and Heffernan in particular started hurling well after nervous beginnings and Kilkenny set relying on TJ’s frees even when they were well on top. Serious lack of dangerous forwards like the ones Tipp have.
@James Doyle: plus 1
@James Doyle: That’s a great comment.
@James Doyle: got ot in one James .. did kk get 3 points from play in the first half . The rest off tj frees .. not good enough for all Ireland final.. none of the forwards were hitting them today and it cost them …15 men or not .. tipp were gaining momentum especially when they hit that first goal. Pity about the red it dampened the game a bit .. well done tipp ..
Red card ruined the game
@Paddy: It was a straight red. No question.
@Tomás O’Loughlin: did I say it wasn’t a red card
@Paddy: The deliberate elbow to the head ruined the game
@Paddy: Richie Hogan’s inability to control.his temper ruined the game.
@James Doyle: id say he will be inconsolable tonight, probably for a weeks actually, I’ve seen worse offences only earn a yellow, but unfortunately for him and Kilkenny the decision today was red, that’s just the way it fell for him today….
@Paddy: twas a red in fairness, Killian Buckley got lucky in the semi for an elbow on Barry Nash. Not this time. Tipp would still have won. Best in the land this year. Well done.
@Paddy: didn’t ruin Tipp / wed game
@Paddy: it did ruin what could gave been a smashing game, it was a red but how barrett didnt get a yellow for striking across Hogan’s face is a mystery
Donal Og and Joanne Cantwell are painful to watch
@Linda Ni Fhaolain: can’t be as painful as listening to Henry Shefflin defending a deliberate elbow to the head
@Martin Brennan: Henry has let himself down terribly today. If a Tipp man was sent off for the same offence do we really think Henry would have said the same thing? No chance. Kilkenny are well able to play this type of game to intimidate. It came back to haunt them today. Tipp would have won anyways
@Martin Brennan: Of course he’s going to defend it but to be fair he also said his tackle deserved a yellow! It is what it is now . Tipp were by far the better team today …unfortunately for us
@Linda Ni Fhaolain: But why defend it? It was a clear elbow to the head. The only people complaining about it are Kilkenny people as far as I can see. I’ve watched it loads of times. It was a red.
@Decko49: Still think it was a yellow and Tipp by far the better team in 2nd half ! The referring is inconsistent. Any other day and that would have been a yellow
@Linda Ni Fhaolain: agreed that the reffing is terribly inconsistent, straight red for Hogan nothing for barrett for the blood injury
@Vote4Pedro: Exactly!!! Again , Tipp outplayed us in the 2nd half and they’re deserved winners but consistency is key with regards to the referee!
@Martin Brennan: He let himself down
@Decko49: because thats called loyalty Decko and i admire him for it. Even after retirement he is so loyal to that jersey he wont put them down. He no doubt speak the truth to a kilkenny circle but dam sure not for doing it on national tv.
@Doire: But what about telling the truth? What about being unbiased as a pundit which is what he’s paid to do? He let himself down today. He can still be loyal to his teammates. Just call it as it is.
Well done Tipp… From a Mayo man.
@Rory Murphy: big rivals ye are
@Jack: We’ll probably win it next year!
@Jack: Comment of the year
@Rory Murphy: Should you not be congratulating Kilkenny on their loss, seeing as that’s the only thing ye have in common?
The sending off ruined the game, ref should have left it go.
@Negan Lucille: thought the red card was harsh. Changed the complexion if the game
@Negan Lucille: lol, just simply lol.
@seanmccann: don’t try to take the head off an opponent with your elbow
@Negan Lucille: let go a legit sending off?? Cop on, might aswel not have rules so! Delighted to see it being clamped down on, reckless and stupid on Hogans part, all winter to reflect on it.
@john s: Not a red card all day, honestly they should introduce a warning card, then Yellow and Red, only fair
@Negan Lucille: Put away that vodka bottle.
@Negan Lucille: It was a clear red under the rules.We are always calling for refs to implement the rules, he did just that.Hogan can have no complaints.
@Negan Lucille: those 2 were at it all half. You hit someone in the head like that its a red card. To say leave it go is a joke. Its a pity more refs dont dish out reds for contact to the head. There was a plenty this year that did get away with it. Has to be stamped out.
@Negan Lucille: he should have let Hogan get away with an elbow to the Head? Why? Just because it was an All Ireland? Hogan let himself and his teammates down by seeking revenge on Barrett for the bloody nose he got.
@Paul O Mahony: wasn’t Riche hit in the head earlier on. It drew blood
@James Doyle: Henry Shefflin just said no red card so there you go! enough said, it was a yellow card!
@Negan Lucille: i see the village is missing its idiot
@seanmccann: Tipp sending off in Wexford game had the effect of galvanizing Tipp and Kilkenny could not respond
@Martin Brennan: I disagree. Wexford failed to make use of the extra man and paid the price for poor substitutions.
@CmaGoo: my point is it should be stopped. Hit someone inthe head get a red card. I dont care who does it and who it was too. It has to be stopped.
Richie Hogan deserved that every day. Deliberate elbow/upper arm to the head. He meant it because of the previous messing. He wasn’t worth 14 points though.
@Paul O Mahony: Its hurling. I bet there is not one hurler on here who has mistimed a tackle. If often looks worse than it is. You go for a shoulder and the guy ducks or steps back. It happens every game. Red cards should only be for intentional attempts to hurt or take out another player.
I wasn’t inside Richies head but my impression was that he went to connect shoulder to shoulder but Barrett pulled back.
Everybody will have an opinion but I guess the only one that counts is the refs.
My guess is that if an ex player was ref it would have been a yellow at worst.
@Negan Lucille: it was Richie Hogan committed the fou, no one else.
Ref was right to consult assess situation and made informed decision. Time to stamp put this type of play.
Kilkenny play on the edge and this time toppeled over
The only one to blame here is Richie Hogan. He made the tackle .
@CmaGoo: ya but he lifted his elbow after he knew Barratt had dodged his shoulder
Congratulations, Tipperary
Amazed at those saying the sending off was harsh. I am sure the KK player will reflect and regret his action (probably on the spur of the moment). Replay showed a clear intention to elbow and strike the opposing player. A strike to the head is a red! Ref. made a big call and got it right.
Unfortunately it ruined the contest but when players lack discipline that’s what happens.
KK set the bar,we matched it, fair play to TIPP tonight and by the way we don’t make the rules but rules is rules HON TIpp
@Michael Sage: KK gate crashed that AI, there’s 2-3 other teams ahead of them
CONGRATULATIONS TO TIPPERARY HURLING TEAM ON WINNING THERE 28TH ALL IRELAND HURLING FINAL 18/8 /2019. FANTASTIC GAME. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MANAGERMENT AND TEAM OF TIPPERARY ON A FANTASTIC JOB LOOKING AFTER THE SENIOR HURLING TEAM. GOLDEN STARS TO EVERYONE.
@Eileen Delany: don
Red card me ar#e. Joke of a decision. Changed the whole game. Lines man should stick to pointing his flag left or right.
@Barry Dowling: he elbowed another player
@Barry Dowling: so if he sees a player elbow someone in the head he should say nothing. Go home your drunk
@john paul crowley: Take yer blinkers off and watch the replay.
@Barry Dowling: say that again without crying. Men against boys today. You’ve got one, we’ve fifteen!!!!
@Barry Dowling: what am I’m suppose to see differently elbow to head red card easy decision
@Barry Dowling: what about the linesman for the 65 in the semi. Bit of karma for KK maybe?
@Tom49: Stop taking rubbish
@Barry Dowling: did a number of times. It was red, I’ll be watching it quite a bit this winter actually (“,) 3 All Irelands this decade for Tipp and each one from smashing kilkenny.
@Barry Dowling: Sore loser. Or maybe just, loser, to paraphrase Danny De Vito
@Barry Dowling: I reckon that’s the last you will see of Richie Hogan. 5 years ago he would have ran straight into Barret. The spring is not in his feet any more to keep up with the side steps.
O meara s goal against the run of play brought tipp back into it. They had played a poor first 20 min and were still ahead before HT. Paudie and Brendan Maher led that revival. Think they would have gone on to win anyway but was surprised to see KK going for goals so early in 2nd half when they had points for the taking with 25-30 min left. . They persisted with long ball into fennelly when it clearly wasn’t working. Not like them to do that. Feel sorry for Richie but it was a red.. He was nowhere close to being shoulder to shoulder. Noel mcgrath or Ronan maher for man of the match followed by Kennedy the surprise package.
Terrible tactics from Kilkenny in second half, same as against Wexford. Lobbing in high balls Wong work against Ronan Maher.
Fennelly and Walter need space…
Made the margin of victory so great.
Terrible game!! Sending off ruined the game. Poor final
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: dangerous play ruined the games
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: stupid comment!
@Jonathan Ryan: why so?!!
Any sign of Alan Brazil? He’s had plenty to say all year? Alan, where are you?
The ref is an arse.. Bad decision.. Ruined the game
@Ed O Malley: going in with the elbow is red card all day. Dangerous play
@Ed O Malley: Nope – Tipp were fantastic in defence
@trebloc01: Barrett made a meal of it… Imo it wasn’t a red card.. Look at the footage..
All the people blaming the red card for Kilkenny losing, can you explain how they could only score 3 points from play in the first half? Even if Hogan had spent 70 minutes on the pitch Tipperary would have won by 6 or 7 points.