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NBA: How major injuries to star players has impacted the 2017-18 season

By FanSided User

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets during their game at Barclays Center on November 19, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 19: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts in the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets during their game at Barclays Center on November 19, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. 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. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – MAY 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs stands on the court during Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on May 14, 2017 in Oakland, 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – MAY 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs stands on the court during Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on May 14, 2017 in Oakland, 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. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Injury

As the season has gone on, the “right quadriceps tendinopathy” that has kept Kawhi Leonard out of the Spurs’ lineup has only gotten more mysterious and confounding. Leonard has yet to play this season but it is looking like he will return to the court soon.

Impact

The Spurs have still been the Spurs without the two-time Defensive Player of the Year and MVP-Candidate. They are currently 19-8, ranking 13th in offense and 4th in defense, per NBA.com. These numbers will only improve with a healthy Kawhi.

Seeing one of the five best players in the world miss significant time in the prime of their career is incredibly disappointing. This season looked like the year that Kawhi was finally going to win the MVP award that he has narrowly missed out on these last few years. His absence has led to a two-man race between LeBron James and James Harden .

If Leonard comes back at full strength, the Spurs will join the Rockets and Warriors in the top tier of the Western Conference.

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