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NBA Power Rankings: Cavaliers are right where they want to be

By Brandon Jefferson

Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with guard Kyrie Irving (2) in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 115-101. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) celebrates with guard Kyrie Irving (2) in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 115-101. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 27, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts to a play against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Spurs won the game 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) reacts to a play against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. The Spurs won the game 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /

29. The San Antonio Spurs are going to be in one of these top five spots as long as two things remain true. One, Gregg Popovich is the head coach. Two, Kawhi Leonard continues to wear the Spurs black and gray. Those two together is like the NBA’s version of Watch the Throne (Pop is 100 percent Kanye West in this scenario in my head). <p>Gregg Popovich is a gift to the basketball world. Not only has he turned the San Antonio Spurs into a clinic of how to play basketball right, but he’s also a genuinely great (and funny) guy. Pop has once again revamped the Spurs in ways only he could’ve foreseen. They’ve gone to a Leonard-centric team and he has responded to the additional workload in an amazing fashion.</p> <p>Tim Duncan has moved on from the court, though he and Pop are still BFF’s, but Kawhi Leonard has picked up the slack for the future Hall of Famer. It was rumored that Leonard had worked out with Kobe Bryant over the summer and whether he did or did not there is a noticeable change in Leonard’s game again. Leonard is now as lethal at putting the ball into the basket as he’s been at taking it away from opposing players. Leonard is once again in contention for both the Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. It might be early to start thinking about awards, but Leonard has just been that damn good.</p> <p>On a team where the interior presence is a combination of LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol, David Lee and Dwayne Dedmon, San Antonio is holding opponents to 54.9 percent from five feet and closer, which is the sixth lowest percentage in the NBA. Just when you think you’ve seen it all from the Spurs they go and make the improbable look easy.</p>. . . San Antonio Spurs. 3. team

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