Are you ready for some kind-of-good Kawhi Leonard news that really isn’t all that good?
Okay, here it goes: The San Antonio Spurs still haven’t provided a definitive timetable for his return from a quad injury, but head coach Gregg Popovich is optimistic he could be back on the court in three weeks or so, per Turner Sports’ Kristen Ledlow:
Coach Pop tells us it "could be tomorrow – could be a month from now," on Kawhi's (quad) return, but hopeful for the next 3 weeks. #SASvsGSW
— Kristen Ledlow (@KristenLedlow) November 3, 2017
This news will come as a bummer for some people. Many had been hoping that Leonard could return for the Spurs’ current six-game home stand (which now has five tilts left to go). Though Popovich says Leonard could technically return whenever, he doesn’t really give off the impression he’ll be back extremely soon.
Who knows, though. The Spurs operate in relative mystery when it comes to injuries. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Leonard return without warning. But one thing’s for sure: The Spurs need him. They’ve now dropped four straight games following Thursday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. Their defense has slipped over this stretch, but they’ll be fine on the less glamorous end. They still rank in the top 12 of points allowed per 100 possessions.
The offense is an entirely different issue. The Spurs are 27th in points scored per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com. Where there starting lineup was once blitzing opponents, it is now a net negative.
All of which follows a trend that began last season: Leonard is the Spurs’ offensive system. They cannot solely rely on LaMarcus Aldridge. They need Leonard’s blossoming arsenal—arguably more than ever when you look at their rickety and inexperienced point guard situation. Many, including yours truly, had Leonard pegged for a Kevin Durant-esque leap as a playmaker, adding to an already-deep offensive rapport that includes phenomenal spot-up shooting, terrific off-the-dribble work and fantastic finishing.
So yes, despite their hot start to the season, the Spurs absolutely do need Leonard to function at superpower levels for more than a couple games at a time.
