San Antonio Spurs: Kawhi Leonard To Return Within 2 Weeks
By Aaron Mah
San Antonio Spurs fans everywhere collectively rejoiced when multiple sources confirmed star forward Kawhi Leonard, is set to return within 2 weeks.
With only three back-to-back games in January — none of which are of the four games in five nights variety — and six contests against teams with sub-.500 records, Leonard’s imminent return could come at a perfect time as the Spurs try to bolster their record and climb the Western Conference standings.
Moreover, with Tony Parker‘s return on Tuesday night, San Antonio is primed to rattle off an under-the-radar winning streak in classic Spursian fashion — on their way to chasing the team that, ironically, originated the term, #fullsquad.
In conjunction, Patty Mills and Tiago Splitter, two vital rotation players who also missed a majority of the season due to offseason surgery and nagging ailments, respectively, both perhaps played their best games of the season over the weekend.
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During the Spurs’ tilt with the Washington Wizards on Saturday, Mills finally rounded back into “Tasmanian Devil”/”MVPatty” form — pulling up from 3, jetting into lane and finishing at the rim.
In addition, he brings same type of ball-pressuring, defensive intensity that Cory Joseph brings — giving the Spurs 48 minutes of hounding defense at the point of attack.
As Parker inevitably recaptures his starting role, their backup backcourt, consisting of Mills and CoJo, could cause havoc for opposing ssecond unit guards. As well, it would give the Spurs three ballhandlers coming off their bench — in Mills, Joseph, and Manu Ginobili — all of whom are capable of running and scoring as the handler off of pick-and-roll situations.
Moreover, as well as CoJo has played during absences of Mills and Parker, Patty brings another element to the offense that no one, with the exception of Manu, can bring to the Spurs — a primary ballhandler who’s also a legitimate threat from the 3-point line, either spotting up or off-the-bounce.
In fact, a healthy Mills from last season converted on 40.2 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, and a staggering 48.0 (!!!) percent on pull-up 3s, per NBA.com.
Meanwhile, Splitter provides similar impact, on the aggregate, but in an entirely different way.
Not only does he allow the Spurs the versatility to play in a lineup anchored by a twin-tower backline, he can also serve as an invaluable backup for the Big Fundamental when he rests — and with the amount of minutes Tim Duncan logged in December, one would guess Gregg Popovich is anxiously searching for avenues to sit Duncan (as evident by his 4th quarter benching last night).
Most notably, Splitter is an exceptional passer in high-low sets, as well as on the move, in the pick-and-roll game. Additionally, he is a highly-efficacious post player — especially effective when he can turn over his left shoulder to execute his (ground floor/basement) hook.
Where Tiago really makes his hay, however, is on the defensive end. His expertise is particularly crucial for San Antonio, at the moment, as the Spurs have fallen out of the top-5 in defense — currently trailing last year’s pace, despite their encouraging start on that end of floor.
In fact, last season, opponents had an offensive rating of just 94.5 and shot at an anemic 42.8 percent within 10 feet, with Splitter as the Spurs’ defensive anchor, per NBA.com.
With Leonard coming back, the Spurs defense should shore up nicely, just in time to make an extensive run by mid-to-late January.
A starting lineup that features Danny Green, Leonard, Splitter, and Duncan — essentially, two elite perimeter defenders and two top-end interior anchors — should vault the Spurs back into the top-three territory in defensive rating.
The respective returns of Parker and Leonard will also revamp the Spurs’ bench, which will eventually house the likes of Mills, Joseph, Ginobili, Marco Bellineli, Boris Diaw, and their much-improved, versatile rookie, Kyle Anderson.
A month from now, the Spurs’ December blues may very well be a distant, forgotten memory.