The San Antonio Spurs are fighting for their playoff lives over the last five days of the NBA's regular season, and after having to play all but nine of their games this year without star forward Kawhi Leonard, they'll have to continue to win without him when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Michael Wright of ESPN reported that Leonard will continue to be out due to injury management.
After coming into the season with high expectations, the Spurs have seen Leonard suit up only nine times this season, averaging 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds 2.3 assists 2.0 steals, and 1.0 block per game on 46.8 percent shooting. Since his final game on January 13, Leonard continues to rehab in New York and awaits clearance from his own personal medical staff. Additionally, the 2014 Finals MVP being ruled out more than a day in advance only suggests that he's not close to a return yet.
The San Antonio Spurs will continue to ride the shoulders of LaMarcus Aldridge, who is averaging 23.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game on 51.2 percent shooting. Obviously, Aldridge is a talented player, but he's carried the Spurs repeatedly this season and will need to have another amazing performance when the Spurs, currently the four-seed, take on the visiting Blazers, who are currently in the three seed and just three games ahead of the Spurs.
San Antonio is coming off of back-to-back disappointing losses in Los Angeles to both the Clippers and Lakers. Aldridge, however, flourished in the two games, averaging 31.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game on 61 percent shooting