San Antonio Spurs: 5 goals for Kawhi Leonard in 2017-18

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a free throw during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game One of the Western Conference Finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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3. Increase his number of chase-down blocks

There are some defensive plays that get the crowd onto their feet and into the game. The chase-down block is one of these. An opponent looks like they are going to get an easy bucket. Unfortunately for them, a defender comes out of nowhere to reject it.

This just makes the game exciting to watch. This has a number of effects. It brings the crowd to their feet, and the players will usually raise their intensity level when this happens.

Last season, Jonathan Simmons and Leonard were good on the chase-down. This season, Simmons has gone to the Orlando Magic, so the chase-down block to raise the intensity of the game will rest on the shoulders of Leonard.

Leonard has shown in the past he is more than capable of doing this. His blocks on opposition players sometimes defy belief and physics. He is able to block a shot with such power and yet keep the ball in his hand.

If Leonard is able to produce one chase-down block a game (he averaged 0.7 blocks per game last year), this will help the Spurs is a major way. It will make opposition players doubt the easy transition points they get against other teams.

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