I Want Some Nasty nh Vol 2. Kawhi’s Improvement = Spurs Success

The San Antonio Spurs are right where they are used to being as 1/3 of the season has been completed.  They are used to hanging near the top of the Western Conference standings. They are used to being “under the radar,” with this year’s reasoning being the dominance of the defending champion Golden State Warriors.  Still, the Spurs have hung up 15 straight wins at home, and have done so on the back of emerging superstar Kawhi Leonard. Now before, I have mentioned that this was Kawhi’s team, but that new teammate LaMarcus Aldridge would be the team’s best player. Well, I take that back. Here’s why:

Kawhi is averaging a career-best 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.00 steals.  He is shooting .509, from the field, .490 from long range  and .875 from the foul line.  He currently leads the NBA in three-point shooting, is top 10 in steals (last year’s league leader,) and 18th in scoring. All while his team has an unheralded 24-5 record.

Paul George was victim to the clamps, courtesy of Kawhi Leonard on 12/21/15

Their 24^th win came last night at home against the Indiana Pacers in a marquee matchup versus comeback star Paul George. George went 1-14 scoring only 7 points, and blamed his illness for his poor play. Leonard has been celebrated in the media for the actual cause of George’s game, and for good reason. George turned the ball over six times while Leonard was his primary defender. On the other side of the ball, Kawhisenberg (I didn’t make this up, I swear) put up 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in the 106-92 win.  Currently second in the power rankings, the only way they overtake #1 GSW is by beating them. If Leonard continues his hot streak they just might.