San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has admired the way LaMarcus Aldridge has managed to carry this team without two key cogs in Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard, the latter who has yet to play a single game this season with a quad injury.

“He's gotten us through this period of time without Tony and Kawhi in a wonderful way,” Popovich said of Aldridge, according to ESPN's Michael C. Wright. “He's scoring, he's playing defense, rebounding, running the floor. We'd really be lost without him.”

The stretch four had his best game on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks with 33 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and three blocks — putting both sides of the ball together in a 115-108 win over the in-state rivals.

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Popovich also praised Kyle Anderson, who's acted as the “stalwart” of this team in a similar way that Jonathon Simmons did last season when Leonard got hurt during the playoffs.

“Injuries happen in this league,” Aldridge said. “You want all your guys healthy, but guys have to be ready to play. Kyle has been great for us playing that role. He worked hard all summer and came in ready to go.”

The Spurs have managed to keep the boat afloat this season, getting off to a 13-7 start and having won six of their last eight games, sitting third in a very competitive Western Conference.