Kawhi Leonard’s ankle injury did not look too good. He sprained his ailing left ankle not once but twice in Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors. After the game, he admitted that the ankle was “very painful.” Leonard was spotted walking without a limp, but he had his ankle taped and iced. He will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine his status for Game 2. If Leonard is unable to play, the San Antonio Spurs are going to need these four players to step to the occasion.
LaMarcus Aldridge
Obviously, without Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge clearly becomes the best player on the team.
Since Aldridge can produce his own offense, he will be the focal point for the Spurs and must shoot efficiently to help his team win. Aldridge led the team in scoring Sunday afternoon with 28 points in Game 1 and must continue to score in bunches. There will certainly be a lot of pressure on Aldridge, but he was able to handle it in Game 6 against the Houston Rockets, showing his capability.
Kyle Anderson
Kyle Anderson earned some playing time once Leonard left the game, and he gave head coach Gregg Popovich good minutes. The beauty of the Spurs is that they can call on anybody on the roster, and they will deliver. Anderson is a young, lengthy, versatile forward, who has shown the ability to handle heavy minutes.
In the playoffs, the pressure may bother him a little, but he just needs to play smart and remain consistent.
Manu Ginobili
The 39-year-old Manu Ginobili has aged gracefully. Even at this stage, he is stepping it up when his team needs it the most. He had a stellar Game 1, scoring 17 points to help the Spurs maintain the lead for as long as possible.
Ginobili has the ability to create his own offense and could shoot the ball from outside when necessary. He is a high I.Q. player, which has allowed him to last in the league this long. If there is anyone on the roster Popovich trusts the most, it’s Ginobili.
Jonathon Simmons
The young, athletic Jonathon Simmons has shown a ton of potential during the playoffs.
He stepped to the occasion in Game 6 against the Rockets and played well in Game 1 against the Warriors. Popovich has put extreme trust in the youngster, and he has delivered. With Leonard out, Simmons will become the starting small forward, a role he is very familiar with at this point. So far, the 27-year-old has remained consistent, and that is going to be the key for the Spurs to survive without Leonard.
