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In some respects, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are mirror images.
Both are California souls who played college ball an an in-state mid-major – Leonard spent two seasons at San Diego State; George attended Fresno State from 2008 to 2010 – and neither were pegged as sure-thing superstars.
Now George, in his seventh season, and Leonard, in his sixth, are universally revered as two of the NBA’s best.
They are arguably the two best two-way savant in today’s game, and each carries on his shoulders the weight of a franchise.
It is impossible not to get hyped over a meeting between the two, especially when they are so rare.
Unless you’re Pacers coach Nate McMillan.
“It’s not Paul vs. Kawhi,” he said. “They’ll move him around defensively, and we’ll do the same thing. The thing is to execute your sets offensively. You have to screen this team. They’re solid defensively working to get over screens, but they will go to switching and we’re going to have to be patient if they start to switch, which they’re very capable of doing.”
Leonard and George will not battle each other exclusively, but they will likely engage at pivotal junctures within the game.
George had the upper hand in their first four meetings, averaging 19 points (on 52.9 percent), 4.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists to Leonard’s 11.3 points (on 36 percent), five rebounds and two assists.
The situation has reversed recently as Leonard has expanded his catalog of moves and taken on an outsize role in coach Gregg Popovich’s offense.
In Leonard’s last two games against George he is averaging 23.5 points (on 45.2 percent), six rebounds and 3.5 assists. George’s numbers have dipped to 15 points (on 23.5 percent), six rebounds and four assists.
George and the Pacers would undoubtedly like for another reversal to occur.
The Pacers have dropped three straight following a seven-game winning streak and sit three and a half games out of third place in the East.
McMillan believes getting back on the positive side of the ledger involves vigilance, especially when the Spurs’ leading scorer is on the floor.
“As far as guarding Leonard, he’s going to be all over the place,” McMillan said. “He’ll be in the post, he’ll be involved in pick and rolls. It’s no different than what we’ve seen in previous games where Paul has had to defend certain players. As a team we have to be sharp.”
nmoyle@express-news.net
Twitter: @NRmoyle
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