Van Gundy says that Kawhi remains a game-changer on both ends as offensive numbers soar.
Los Angeles Clippers lead assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy broke his usual silence on Saturday, speaking to the media at practice for the first time since joining the coaching staff two years ago.
With head coach Tyronn Lue away from the team for personal reasons, Van Gundy stepped up ahead of Sunday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans and gave a detailed look at how the coaching staff views Kawhi Leonard's defensive role once Darius Garland makes his Clippers debut.
Van Gundy Sends a Message About Kawhi
Van Gundy used a simple baseball comparison to drive home his point about what Leonard means to this team on defense.
"When you have a home run hitter like Kawhi, you don't want to take the bat out of his hands ever," Van Gundy said to Joey Linn. "He's every bit as capable as he's always been defensively. There's nothing that Kawhi is incapable of."
Van Gundy explained that while Leonard may not guard the opposing team's best player from the opening tip every night, the staff knows they need to use his gifts in key moments.
The comments come as Garland, who was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 4 in exchange for James Harden, gets closer to suiting up.
He scrimmaged for the second time in three days on Saturday and could debut as soon as Monday in Golden State.
Since Lue has been starting defensive-minded Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. to help lighten Leonard's load, Garland is expected to slide into one of those spots.
The Defense Has Turned a Corner
The numbers back up what Van Gundy and the staff have been building.
After a brutal 6-21 start that saw the Clippers near the bottom of the league defensively, they have ranked 11th in defensive rating since December 20.
That turnaround lines up almost perfectly with Leonard getting healthy and staying on the floor, and it is a big reason the Clippers now sit at 27-31.
Leonard's numbers this season show a player doing everything on both ends.
In 44 games, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 28.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.1 steals while shooting 49.4 percent from the field.
His steals average ranks among the league leaders, and even at 34 years old, his combination of length, hands, and instincts still makes him one of the most disruptive defenders in the NBA.
Looking Ahead With Garland
Garland brings real offensive talent to a team that needs it, as the two-time All-Star averaged 18.0 points and 6.9 assists per game this season while shooting 36.0 percent from three, which should help a Clippers team that has been hovering around 34.0 percent from deep.
Getting him on the floor gives Leonard a second creator and should allow him to focus even more energy on defense during key stretches.
The Clippers currently sit 10th in the Western Conference and are fighting for a Play-In spot with 24 games left.
If Van Gundy's words are any sign, expect the two-time Finals MVP to be taking on the toughest assignments when it matters most.