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LA Clippers: Which supporting cast was Kawhi Leonard’s best?

By Ethan Smith

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 5: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a free throw against the Atlanta Hawks on November 5, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 5: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a free throw against the Atlanta Hawks on November 5, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Number 6: 2017-2018 San Antonio Spurs

Best Supporting Player: LaMarcus Aldridge

Record: 47-35 

Playoffs: Lost Western Conference First Round to Golden State Warriors 4-1 

We all remember when Kawhi Leonard and the San Antonio Spurs had issues in 2017 with Leonard’s health becoming a major issue to the club, resulting in Leonard only playing in a career-low nine contests.

To be honest, though, Leonard’s team that season was also not at its best either despite making the playoffs as a seventh seed in the Western Conference. Led by forward LaMarcus Aldridge, the Spurs had no viable second scorer on a roster that featured an aging Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Rudy Gay was the team’s second-best player and scorer while young guards Dejounte Murray and Derrick White were still developing.

This Spurs team was the worst that Gregg Popovich had coached in a long while and without Leonard, the supporting cast struggled with the Western Conference’s top talents, which was shown in the first round when the Spurs were quickly handled by Golden State in five games.

To get a general idea of how this team performed, they were 27th in the association in points per game but first defensively but Kawhi’s absence definitely made an impact on how the supporting cast performed.

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