Once Montrezl Harrell is able to rejoin the LA Clippers inside the bubble, Lou Williams says opponents should beware of a motivated Harrell.
“He’s back ready to work,” Williams said on Tuesday of Harrell, who is currently in quarantine on the NBA campus at Orlando, Florida. “Obviously Trez is a high-energy guy, he is a guy that plays at a high level, extremely physical player, extremely emotional player.
“With some things on his mind, I feel sorry for the other guys on the other team.”
Harrell returned to the NBA bubble in the middle of the night between Sunday and Monday. The Sixth Man of the Year finalist left the team on July 17 and recently lost his grandmother. The grief-stricken Harrell has posted numerous messages on his social media accounts of how emotional the loss of his grandmother was while also sharing messages about how motivated he is.
Harrell is one of three key Clippers who left the team briefly in July to tend to an excused family emergency. Patrick Beverley and Williams both departed and returned with heavy hearts.
They understand what Harrell is going through and now are ready for the Clippers to be whole again just before the start of the postseason.
“Obviously when Trez gets back, our group will be in full swing, our team will be in full swing,” Williams said. “… I think you see us play well in spurts, then with the minutes and everything, I think our coaching staff, they’re getting ready for the big picture.”
“Mentally we’re getting ready for the big picture,” Williams added. “I know there’s another level there. I know we have another place that we can tap into. I think guys are getting ready for that.”
Tapping into a highly motivated Harrell is something the Clippers are looking forward to. Pending NBA testing protocol and clearance, Harrell could potentially come out of quarantine before the Clippers’ regular-season finale against Oklahoma City on Aug. 14.
“It would be kind of nice to have our normal rotation at least one time in the bubble,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said when asked if Harrell could be expected to play on Friday. “We have to be the only team that has not had their normal rotation one game this entire bubble stretch. It’s been tough in that way. But hopefully we can get it for one game.”
