It was an eventful weekend in the sports world. 

The playoff race is heating up in a historically rare way out in the West. The NCAA tourney came to an end last night.

And we dropped another YouTube video, exploring the 2006 finals, and all the intricate steps that led to Dwyane Wade’s party at the free throw line. 

Which you can Check out Here: https://youtu.be/-IpM9vDkFg8?si=ENiXXa4--JudUT5l

But before you check that out, let’s have a quick discussion about the star of the other team down in LA. 

The Kawhi resurgence is well underway, and it’s time for halfpast*noon to give it a closer look.

M.I.A in LA

The Kawhi Leonard conversation has been a difficult one in recent years.

No one would dispute his greatness when he’s healthy, but he just hasn’t been healthy all that often.

The injuries seemed plentiful and ambiguous, and even when he was on the court there were stretches where he looked limited.

Being on the wrong side of 30 it was hard to know where this was heading. Obviously 33 isn’t too old to play at an elite level, but it’s the age range where trends start to matter, and this one wasn’t heading in the right direction.

Shaking The Rust Off

This year we didn’t see the Klaw on the court until January, and when he did make his debut, he wasn’t the Kawhi Leonard we had grown accustomed to.

He was a little more passive offensively. It made sense, the Clippers had found a rhythm without him and any good teammate would try to avoid disrupting that.

But we all knew for the Clips to have a chance at making some noise in the postseason, they needed the terminator to move like the terminator.

February was more of the same. Feeling it out, letting the game come to him. But when the winter frost thawed, the cyborg woke up.

Not That Old

Just when we were ready to write him off as a legend past his prime, Kawhi made sure we all knew he still had his fast ball.

After opening March with his first 30-ball of the year against the purple and gold, Leonard went on to have his best month in recent memory, increasing his averages across the board, highlighted by 25 a game on 52/40/82 splits. 

The same terrorizing defender he’s always been, the same cold calculated scorer he developed into down in San Antonio. 

The handle, the jumper, the footwork on both sides of the ball, it was all still there, he just needed some time.

A Perfect Fit

The best part was the Clippers had gotten better in his absence. They forged one of the better blue collar defenses in the league, hanging their hat on a hard nosed, intelligent approach that was paying dividends.

But they needed a superstar. A guy to close games out, and knock down those pivotal shots that shift momentum.

Norm Powell blew every expectation out of the water, but they needed more to threaten the West coast titans in the playoffs. 

It’s the exact style he’s built for, and the exact role he thrives in.

Don't Count ‘Em Out

This postseason is going to be a bloodbath, that much we know. 

From Oklahoma City’s relentless defense, to the Lakers potent offensive attack, there are no easy matchups out west, but with a healthy, rejuvenated Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers are firmly on the list of teams no one wants to see.

They have the defense to muddy up half court sets and keep transition offenses in check, the interior presence to own the boards, a backcourt that can reliably create, and now, a signature two way closer.

Don’t forget how good this guy can be at his best. This is a top tier talent, and he’s getting back into that groove.