Kawhi Leonard set to return Saturday against Phoenix
By Joe Romano
The San Antonio Spurs are hopeful that they will be getting Kawhi Leonard back this weekend.
Looking at the records in the Western Conference, it is no surprise to see the San Antonio Spurs sitting near the top. What is surprising is that they have that record without their best player. Forward Kawhi Leonard has not played in a game yet this season. The former Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star is recovering from a leg injury.
Leonard suffered quadriceps tendinopothy on his right leg. This injury causes severe pain in the knee. Typically that pain is attributed to the tendons connecting the muscles on the front part of the thigh being inflamed.
There was hope that Leonard would return for Friday’s game against the tough Boston Celtics. He will join the team in Phoenix on the second game of a back-to-back. It looks like the ever-cautious Spurs will wait until Saturday to bring him back.
This should allow them to ease Leonard back more so than a matchup with a potential one seed in the Eastern Conference. Phoenix is one of the worst teams in the league. The team has seen Leonard participating in full court five-on-five games in practice. He was quoted saying he feels okay according to MySanAntonio.com.
"“Soon to come,” Leonard said. “I’ll be able to play on the floor. It’s been a long wait, but I’m feeling pretty healthy right now.”"
San Antonio is currently sitting at 17-8 and third in the Western Conference. LaMarcus Aldridge has been carrying the team. Coming off possibly the worst season of his career Aldridge had been the fulcrum of the Spurs offense. The former All-Star will eventually concede some of that work to Leonard when he is fully healthy.
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Knowing the Spurs Leonard will transition back into the lineup seamlessly and they will not skip a beat. However it is going to be interesting watching Aldridge and Leonard share the ball after the success the team’s seen without Leonard.