Hoops Habit
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NBA Player Power Rankings: MVP Candidates Continue To Clash

By Maxwell Ogden

January 18, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 121-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 18, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Thunder 121-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 17, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball over Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots the ball over Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

Position: Small Forward
Age: 25 (6/29/1991)
Experience: 6th Season
2016-17 Slash Line: .490/.414/.909
2016-17 Season Averages: 33.3 MPG, 25.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.2 ORPG, 3.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 2.1 3PM

Per usual, the San Antonio Spurs have been one of the best teams in the NBA at the midway point of the 2016-17 regular season. The driving force behind the Spurs’ success has been superstar small forward Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard is dominating teams on both ends of the floor and is becoming the NBA equivalent to the NFL’s Revis Island.

Teams are hiding their best scorers in the corner and attempting to find ways to play around Leonard’s defense. The fact that teams are finding ways to avoid giving the ball to players who are defended by Leonard is a testament to his greatness.

Leonard is a deterrent on the defensive end of the floor and a testament to the fear that Leonard strikes in opponents.

This past week, Leonard extended his streak to five consecutive games with at least 30 points. He went off for 38 points against the Phoenix Suns, tallied 34 points on 12-of-17 shooting against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and had 34 again against the Denver Nuggets.

To paraphrase the brilliant Ian Levy of FanSided’s The Step Back, the best defenders aren’t those who contest shots; they’re the ones who prevent them from getting off.