LATIMES.COM/SPORTS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019D5
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out for Wednesday is start-
ing shooting guard Landry
Shamet, who injured his left
ankle with less than two
minutes remaining in the
third quarter of Monday’s
defeat of Toronto and later
left the locker room on
crutches. No other update
was provided on the severity
of his injury.
Conspicuously absent
from the team’s injury re-
port, ahead of games on
back-to-back nights, howev-
er, was Leonard, who has yet
to play on consecutive
nights because of load
management. Both of Leon-
ard’s absences have come
during the first game when
the Clippers have played
back to back.
Leonard is recovering
from what the NBA has
called an injury to the pa-
tellar tendon of his left knee.
The Clippers have told the
league office that Leonard is
not healthy enough to play
both nights of back-to-back
games and the NBA’s medi-
cal officers have agreed with
that determination, clearing
the way for Leonard to sit.
“My health is No. 1 and
that’s what’s gonna make us
be a better team, make me
be healthy,” Leonard said
Monday. “We’ll just see how
things go.”
Though it has been ex-
pected for days that George
would debut this week, he
had his first full practice
with teammates Saturday.
The 6-foot-9 forward had no
limitations during that
workout, in which he scrim-
maged with a team of re-
serves against Leonard’s
starters. Afterward, he indi-
cated he did not intend to
rush back.
“From a health stand-
point, I feel great,” George
said. “But I think just
rhythm, especially where
these guys are at right now
in their season, they’re flow-
ing right now. So I just want
to come in with an easy tran-
sition.
“I’m gonna play hard,
make mistakes. It’s part of
the game, but I plan on
learning from that point on
to where late in the season,
I’m where I want to be.”
Teammates said they
saw “flashes” of the player
who finished in the top three
for last season’s most-valu-
able-player voting.
“His ability to get steals,
whether it’s on-ball defense,
getting his hands in there, or
whether it’s off-ball defense
being in the passing lanes
and taking off for transition
down getting a dunk,” said
forward Patrick Patterson,
who played with George the
last two seasons in Okla-
homa City. “Also in the half
court him just one-on-one in
the post making his moves,
leading to his nice, smooth
jump shot, nothing but net.”George’s return has been
highly anticipated since he
was acquired in a trade with
Oklahoma City on July 5, the
same night Leonard agreed
to sign with the Clippers as a
free agent. George is coming
off a season in which he set or
matched career-high aver-
ages of 28 points, 8.2 re-
bounds, 4.1 assists and 2.2
steals per game.
In May, he underwent
surgery to repair a partially
torn tendon in his right
shoulder. In June, a partial
tear of his left labrum was re-
paired.
“It will take him some
time. As soon as he gets back
he’s not going to be 12 for 20
from the field, 30-point
game, five steals,” Patterson
said. “He’s not going to have
that his first night out — I
would love for that to hap-
pen, I assume he would too,
but logically speaking I don’t
think it’s going to happen
the first night, so it’s going to
take him some time to get
his groove back and his tim-
ing back, everything that in-
volves P being P back. But
we’ve seen flashes of it inworkouts.”Rebound record
The 66 rebounds by the
Clippers on Monday were
the franchise’s most since
Michael Olowokandi helped
the Clippers grab 66 on Dec.
29, 2001, in an overtime loss
to the Boston Celtics.
The last time the Clip-
pers had 66 or more re-
bounds in a regulation game
was Feb. 24, 1991.
The performance Mon-
day helped the Clippers
jump overnight from 14th in
rebounding average to
fourth in the NBA, and they
now own the league’s third-
highest rebounding per-
centage (52.7%), behind San
Antonio and league-leading
Philadelphia.
“I definitely thought our
size defensively was a major
factor,” Rivers said following
the victory against Toronto.
“[The Raptors] are usually
the longest team and
tonight they felt a team that
was longer.”TONIGHT
AT HOUSTON
When:4:30 PST
On the air: TV: Prime
Ticket/ESPN; Radio: 570
Update: Houston (7-3) has
won four consecutive games
behind James Harden’s his-
toric start. His 373 points
through his first 10 games
are the most in the NBA
since Rick Barry scored 381
in 1966-67, according to
Basketball Reference. Only
Wilt Chamberlain has more
points through 10 games in
league history with 496 in
1961-62 and 529 in 1962-63.
Defensively, Houston’s aver-
age of 109 points allowed per
100 possessions ranks 21st in
the league.George to make Clippers debut soon
[Clippers,from D1]
A DAPPER but out-of-action Paul George sits with
his Clippers teammates during a game last month.Robert GauthierLos Angeles Timesmain in Costa Mesa.
Defensive end Joey Bosa
sounded less than ecstatic
about spending a week in the
Colorado mountains. “You
notice a difference out there
a little bit with breathing,” he
said. “I don’t know if a few
practices is enough to get ac-
climated to it. But, we’re
here. We’ll make the most of
it.”
Asked a follow-up ques-
tion, Bosa began to answer
and then said: “I don’t really
want to talk about this. I
don’t want to say anything
stupid.”
The Chargers, as would
be their typical schedule for
a Monday game, will take
Wednesday off before return-
ing to practice Thursday.
In the Chiefs, they’ll be
facing an opponent that also
has had a more difficult time
winning this season than
was forecast.
After opening with four
victories, Kansas City has
dropped four of six. The
Chiefs were without Ma-
homes for two of those
games, but they have lost
three of his last four starts.
So, even sitting at a disap-
pointing 4-6, the Chargers
are only two games behind
first-place Kansas City in the
AFC West. The teams will
meet twice over the final sev-
en weeks.
“Every time a team in our
division loses it makes it eas-
ier on us,” Bosa said. “But we
need to take it upon our-
selves. We can’t worry about
what other teams are doing.
We know we can’t lose anoth-
er game.”Tranquill delivers
With linebacker DenzelCOLORADO SPRINGS,
Colo. — In a season that al-
ready has seen its share of
depths, the Chargers on
Tuesday reached a new
height.
To be exact, 6,621 feet.
According to a sign hang-
ing over the main tunnel at
Falcon Stadium, that’s the
altitude here, where the
Chargers will prep this week
at the home of the Air Force
Academy’s football team.
On Monday night, they
will play Kansas City at
Aztec Stadium in Mexico
City, which sits roughly 7,300
feet above sea level.
In an attempt to ready for
the thin air conditions, the
Chargers decided their play-
ers needed an altitude
change.
“It’s a little bit of an ease
of mind for the players,”
coach Anthony Lynnsaid.
“It has a mental effect, I be-
lieve. ...Going from sea level
to 73 [hundred feet], I didn’t
feel comfortable doing that. I
think it will be helpful.”
The general science of al-
titude training doesn’t sup-
port the notion that the
Chargers will receive a phys-
ical benefit, given that their
stay here will be brief. They’ll
practice three more times
before departing Sunday for
Mexico. Lynn, however,
played and coached in Den-
ver, which is approximately
one mile above sea level. He
said personal experience is
more important to him than
whatever the case studies
might suggest.
“I know research and sci-
ence say it takes more days
...,” he said. “But, as a player,
I’ve been on that field. I’ve
been in Dallas, Texas, and
Wyoming the very next day
and I’ve felt the effect. ... A lot
of scientists don’t play foot-
ball.”
The Chiefs remain in
Kansas City and aren’t alter-
ing their practice routine.
But, in terms of playing at al-
titude, it is worth noting that
strong-armed quarterback
Patrick Mahomeshas said
he believes he’ll be able to
throw a football 100 yards in
Mexico City.
After the Chargers played
Cleveland in Week 6 last sea-
son, they worked out in
northern Ohio for a few days
before traveling to London to
play Tennessee the next
weekend.
That came during a
stretch in which they won 10
of 11 games. The Cleveland-
London extended journey
was widely credited by the
players as being a key bond-
ing experience.
This trip, however,
doesn’t seem to hold a simi-
lar appeal. Running back
Austin Ekeler acknowl-
edged some teammates
would have preferred to re-Perryman dealing with a
knee problem, rookie Drue
Tranquill played every de-
fensive snap Thursday in a
26-24 loss at Oakland. The
fourth-round pick out of No-
tre Dame led the Chargers
with 14 tackles. Perryman
was active against the
Raiders but did not leave the
sideline.
“He came in and played
well,” Lynn said of Tranquill.
“He’s doing an outstanding
job on special teams. Right
now, he’s one of my best
teamers. When he’s been
called upon to play lineback-
er, I have not been disap-
pointed in what he’s done.”
Tranquill has 34 tackles
on defense and another nine
on special teams. Fullback
Derek Wattis leading the
NFL with 12 special-teams
tackles.
“What he’s done for a run-
ning back, I think that’s
pretty incredible,” Lynn said
of Watt. “But it also speaks to
his unselfishness.”Injuries
Left tackle Russell
Okung(groin) was not work-
ing with the team Tuesday
during the portion of prac-
tice open to reporters. Lynn
said last week that Okung’s
status against the Chiefs
would be questionable.
If the veteran can’t play,
rookie Trey Pipkins will
make his first NFL start. He
played 70 of the Chargers’ 77
offensive snaps against Oak-
land after Okung left the
game.
Trent Scottwill remain
at right tackle with Sam
Teviunlikely to play Mon-
day. Tevi had minor knee
surgery last week.HOLDER TY LONGand the Chargers practice at high altitude at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Chancey BushAssociated PressScience may not agree, but
‘scientists don’t play football’
By Jeff Miller
Quarterback Colin
Kaepernick will be featured
in a private workout Sat-
urday arranged by the NFL
and to be held in Atlanta.
In a memo sent to all 32
teams Tuesday and ob-
tained by The Times, the
league alerted general man-
agers, head coaches and
player personnel directors
that there will be a workout
and interview of Kaepernick
at Atlanta Falcons head-
quarters. There will be a re-
cording of the session made
available to all clubs.
Kaepernick, who hasn’t
played in the NFL since 2016with the San Francisco
49ers, was at the center of
protests about racial and so-
cial injustice, sparked when
he knelt during the national
anthem at games. In Febru-
ary, the league settled a
grievance filed by Kaeper-
nick and former teammate
Eric Reid.
One NFL team executive,
while not dismissing the val-
ue of a Kaepernick workout,
said it comes at a particu-
larly inconvenient time for
teams.
“It just never happens
during the season that I can
recall,” said the executive,
who spoke on condition of
anonymity because of the
sensitivity of the topic. “If
they can check a box, so be it.
Maybe it works out great
and someone signs him. But
if this is part of their settle-
ment, they should have done
this in June.”COLIN KAEPERNICK, who hasn’t played in the
NFL since 2016, will work out for teams Saturday.Steven SenneAssociated PressKaepernick to
take part in a
private workout
NFL arranges audition
for former 49ers
passer in Atlanta.
By Sam Farmerwith a field goal.
And then, suddenly, Gur-
ley was gone.
Brown, who sat out the
previous two games because
of an ankle injury, played the
first two series of the fourth
quarter. The Steelers then
masterfully took eight min-
utes off the clock during a
drive that ended with a field
goal.
“Not to take anything
away from Malcolm — but if
you knew that that was go-
ing to be the last possession
you get until 2^1 ⁄ 2 [minutes]
left, you probably would say,
‘I would’ve preferred to have
Todd get into more of a
rhythm and maybe get some
touches there,’ ” McVay said
Monday. “There’s nobody to
blame there but me.”
The Rams got the ball
twice with a chance to win
the game. Gurley never
touched it.
“Like anything else, when
you want to be reflective as a
coach, you say, ‘Could there
have been some things that
you wish you had done to
maybe keep him in that
rhythm?’ ” McVay said. “I
wouldn’t argue with that. I
would say, ‘You probably
should have done that.’ ”
McVay has yet to use Gur-
ley similarly to the way he
utilized Brown against the
San Francisco 49ers on Oct.- Gurley sat out that game
because of a thigh bruise. On
the Rams’ first series, McVay
made a statement, calling
four consecutive running
plays for Brown, and five to-
tal, during a seven-play drive
that also included two runs
by receiver Woods, including
one for a touchdown.
Can’t he do the same with
Gurley?
“You’d like to say, ‘Yes.’
But, I can’t always tell you
exactly how a game is going
to unfold,” McVay said. “You
don’t always exactly antici-
pate, ‘Man, we’re going to
have this many efficient
plays in a row, so we can
really continue to do that.’
“A lot of it is predicated on
what the defense is present-
ing, and what do we feel like
the best thing is to attack
that.”
Maximizing Gurley’s tal-
ents has not been part of
that equation. In 2018, Gur-
ley had at least 18 carries sev-
en times, including six
games in which he carried 20
times or more. Gurley has
not carried more than 18
times in a game this season.
McVay alternated Brown
with Gurley early in the sea-
son. Rookie Darrell Hender-
son got more opportunities
as the season progressed.
But neither puts the fear
into the hearts of defensive
coordinators like Gurley.
It won’t get any easier
moving forward. The Rams’
offensive line, shaky and in-
experienced at a few posi-
tions during first half of the
season, is now in full crisis
mode. Center Brian Allen
suffered a season-ending
knee injury against the
Steelers and veteran right
tackle Rob Havenstein suf-
fered a knee injury that will
sideline him against the
Bears and possibly longer.
That could put the onus
again on the Rams’ defense,
which played well against
the Steelers.
“Defense played a hell of a
game,” Gurley said. “Just
weren’t able to help those
guys out, honestly. Great
game, but just gotta finish.”
Giving the ball to Gurley
down the stretch might help.Etc.
The Rams placed Allen
and linebacker Bryce Hager
(neck) on injured reserve. ...
The Rams will play the 49ers
at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 21
at 5:15 p.m., the league an-
nounced. ... The Rams were
off Tuesday. They resume
practice Wednesday.McVay: ‘Nobody
to blame but me’
[Rams, from D1]NFL WEEK 11
Chargers vs.
Kansas City
AT AZTEC STADIUM,
MEXICO CITY
Monday, 5:15 p.m. PST,
ESPNWEEK 11Rams vs. Chicago
AT THE COLISEUM
Sunday, 5:15 p.m.
Channel 4CHARGERS REPORT