Rummpd
12-11-2017, 01:03 PM
https://www.si.com/nba/2017/12/11/lebron-james-rockets-rookies-donovan-mitchell-nba-biggest-surprises
The Delayed Debut of Kawhi Leonard
Rohan Nadkarni: Remember Kawhi Leonard? The Spurs' do-it-all star missed the first quarter of the NBA season, and it's unclear if his injury was that serious or if the Spurs were being that cautious. Still, it's interesting that a consensus top-five player in the NBA can miss so much time and it doesn't even register as a major storyline around the league. The Spurs (19–8) have hummed along without Leonard, which is perhaps not surprising. Gregg Popovich could probably MacGyver a formidable team in the West with Smush Parker and Michael Beasley playing the roles of Stockton and Malone. But for San Antonio to be third in the West, without Leonard, ahead of the likes of Minnesota and Oklahoma City, , is pretty remarkable.
What will the Spurs' ceiling be once Kawhi is fully integrated back into the lineup? How will he mesh with Rudy Gay? Will LaMarcus Aldridge continue his mid-career renaissance? These are questions that would have been absurd to ask at the end of last season. Leonard, an in-his-prime superstar, should be in the midst of an MVP Revenge Tour similar to James Harden's in Houston. Instead, he may not look fully healthy until Christmas. It is a testament to the Spurs that they can lose one of the best players in the league and play so well that no one really worries about it. Hopefully whenever Kawhi does return (potentially on Tuesday), it's receives more attention than his inconspicuous absence
The Delayed Debut of Kawhi Leonard
Rohan Nadkarni: Remember Kawhi Leonard? The Spurs' do-it-all star missed the first quarter of the NBA season, and it's unclear if his injury was that serious or if the Spurs were being that cautious. Still, it's interesting that a consensus top-five player in the NBA can miss so much time and it doesn't even register as a major storyline around the league. The Spurs (19–8) have hummed along without Leonard, which is perhaps not surprising. Gregg Popovich could probably MacGyver a formidable team in the West with Smush Parker and Michael Beasley playing the roles of Stockton and Malone. But for San Antonio to be third in the West, without Leonard, ahead of the likes of Minnesota and Oklahoma City, , is pretty remarkable.
What will the Spurs' ceiling be once Kawhi is fully integrated back into the lineup? How will he mesh with Rudy Gay? Will LaMarcus Aldridge continue his mid-career renaissance? These are questions that would have been absurd to ask at the end of last season. Leonard, an in-his-prime superstar, should be in the midst of an MVP Revenge Tour similar to James Harden's in Houston. Instead, he may not look fully healthy until Christmas. It is a testament to the Spurs that they can lose one of the best players in the league and play so well that no one really worries about it. Hopefully whenever Kawhi does return (potentially on Tuesday), it's receives more attention than his inconspicuous absence