Kawhi Leonard
The value of a player can be determined in two ways – how his team does with him in the lineup and how his team does with him out of the lineup.
Let us simply say that the San Antonio Spurs miss forward Kawhi Leonard. Really miss him. Really, really miss him.
With Leonard on the court in Game 1 of the NBA’s Western Conference finals, the Spurs led the Golden State Warriors by 25 points. When Leonard went out with an ankle injury, the lead vanished and the Warriors won. With Leonard absent for Game 2 on Tuesday night, it wasn’t even a game.
The Warriors led 33-16 after the first quarter and by the second the Spurs were going to their bench in an eventual 136-100 disaster. Why waste the legs of the starters when this beating was not going to stop unfolding?
The series heads to San Antonio for the next three games (if three are needed). The teams don’t play again until Saturday, which will give Leonard’s ankle time to heal. The Warriors have a few bumps and bruises, but not to any player as significant as Leonard, who has missed two of their last three playoff games.
Leonard averaged more than 33 minutes of playing time in the regular season and 25.5 points a game. The Spurs need him.
As viewers, WE need him.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman
-
Robert Kraft wants to re-sign Brady just long enough that he can retire as a Patriot. Earlier this week,...
-
The skilled third-baseman will be enshrined in Cooperstown. Scott Rolen is one of the most skilled and recognized third-basemen...
-
Brady’s 23rd football season has ended. On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys went head-to-head for...
-
Smith has been fired after one season with the team. Over the weekend, the owners of the Houston Texans...
-
Pelé passed due to complications related to colon cancer. On Thursday night, the sporting world received unfortunate news: Pelé,...
-
His return heralded a victory over the Phoenix Suns. On Sunday, Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas needed to take...
-
Mayfield will be available on waiver to other NFL teams. After an underwhelming performance in his current role as...
-
Mike White led the team to a decisive victory over the Bears over the weekend. On Saturday, the New...
-
The game has been moved out of New York due to an encroaching snowstorm. This weekend, the Buffalo Bills...
-
Negative pushback prompted the team to give the role to someone else. Recently, the Brooklyn Nets have been in...
-
The Bears got Claypool in exchange for a 2023 second-round pick. This week, the Pittsburgh Steelers cut a deal...
-
Belichick has cycled through several players in search of the right one. Recently, the New England Patriots have been...