The San Antonio Spurs are one of the best organizations in sports, with one of the best coaches in sports, but are playing without their best player. The Spurs are expected to drop games without Kawhi, but remain good just not great. The Spurs this season has been showing everybody how good they can be without Kawhi. Leonard is most known for his great defense, but in recent years his offense and all around game has been just as great. Last season, Leonard finished third in MVP voting, and had the best scoring season of his career as well as a rise in assists per game. Many considering Kawhi the best two-way player in the NBA, felt that San Antonio would depend on the highly criticized All-Star, Lamarcus Aldridge to step up after it became known Leonard would miss time this season.Leonard’s timetable for return has been unknown, but the Spurs hasn’t let him down in his absence.
(Lamarcus Aldrige to the right and Kawhi Leonard pictured to the left)
The entire team has been rolling, specifically Lamarcus Aldridge. Aldridge has been having his best season with the Spurs since joining in 2015. Aldridge is posting a stat line per game of 23 points on 52 percent from the field, which is a career best. Aldrige not frmerly known for his defense, is tied for his career best in blocks as well with 1.2 blocks per game. Aldridge who has always been a great offensive talent, is now playing both sides and has been leading the Spurs in Kawhi’s absence to the 3rd seed in the west with a 15-7 record.
(Coach Popovich aka Coach Pop)
Coach Pop has always had the special skill of getting the most out of his players, and right now everyone from the All-Star big man Lamarcus Aldridge to rookie Brandon Paul has been fulfilling their roles. Pop knows that he has a team that can compete with anyone in the league, and the key to this is because they have the best coach in the league. No other coach has the ability of Pop to bring the best out in players, and have the same intensity when he’s talking to his first option or last option on the team. Without starting point guard Tony Parker most of the season as well as Leonard, Pop has been showing his greatness. Teaching the younger guards the system, and allowing them to play and find their games as well.
Kawhi Leonard should be nearing his return to the Spurs, and when he comes back the Spurs will once again be back to full strength and more dangerous than they have been all season. Kawhi averaged 25.5 points per game last season, and if he can get back to that range while Aldridge can keep playing his phenomenal play, the Spurs will have a unguardable duo with the best coach in the game to make them even better.
Facts and Stats 