Express-News sportswriters Jabari Young, Mike Finger, Tom Orsborn and Jeff McDonald weigh in on sports issues and topics of the day.

Why do you think the Spurs been so cagey about Kawhi Leonard’s injury?

McDonald: It’s an odd injury to be sure, and strange there’s no timetable on it when we can already get the sense Tony Parker will be back from his ruptured quadriceps at least by next month. I do think Leonard beats Parker back on the floor, but it’s been difficult to tell his status so far. It’s an overuse injury, so I suppose it’s hard to know when it’s ready to be overused again.

Orsborn: It’s just the Spurs way. When it comes to injuries, they’ve always been super careful with the information they provide. Gregg Popovich’s military background is probably a factor, but I think it’s more about how they choose to operate as an organization from the ownership on down. Plus, most organizations these days do everything they can to guard against offering anything of a personal nature, especially injuries.

Young: I don’t think the team has been cagey about it. When Popovich is asked about Leonard status, he answers. It may not be in detail, but he answers. Leonard isn’t 100 percent yet, so he’s not returning until that happens. The team has made that clear. With any injury involving legs, the two things Leonard relies on to perform on both ends of the floor, the player has to be careful not return too early. I know for a fact there are people in Leonard’s corner urging him to take it slow. It’s about the future, not just the present. With that said, don’t be surprised to see Leonard back on the court sometime this week if there are no setbacks. Once he returns, we can put this injury to rest.

Finger: Because they’re the Spurs. As a franchise, they are not forthcoming about much of anything, and they’re not inclined to provide much more information than the NBA mandate. All the league requires is an injury update by the evening before each game, and that is pretty much all the Spurs are providing on the Leonard front.

Why isn’t Davis Bertans contributing more for the Spurs this season?

McDonald: Somebody is always going to be the odd man out at this point of the season. Rudy Gay’s arrival has a lot to do with Bertans’ bench time. Gregg Popovich is using Gay as the small-ball four at this point, a position that used to be Bertans’ best bet for playing time. Kyle Anderson is also getting some looks at that spot, so there aren’t many minutes to go around. Bertans will get his chance at some point. It always happens that way.

Orsborn: As Popovich likes to say, “You can’t play everyone.” Bertans is just the odd man out in the rotation, especially with Bryn Forbes shooting so well and Brandon Paul offering an all-around game. The good news is Bertans continues to maintain a positive attitude.

Young: With the addition of Gay, someone had to suffer when it comes to playing time. Bertans is that guy. Gay is playing the three and at times the four, the same position as Bertans. As athletic as Bertans is, Gay is better for the Spurs at this point. He’s a veteran who has experience. Bertans will have his moments, but right now, it’s about continuing to incorporate Gay in time for April.

Finger: There was a thought that Bertans would find a role as a stretch power forward if the Spurs followed the rest of the league and shifted toward small ball. But that is not what the team is doing. Which leads us to the next question.

In light of the NBA’s faster paced small ball, are the Spurs smarter than everyone else by bucking the trend or behind the times?

McDonald: It’s a good question, and I think the Spurs are doing their best to be versatile enough to go either way. As I mentioned above, the Rudy Gay pickup has allowed the Spurs flexibility to play small maybe moreso than in the past. Popovich has said one of the plans when Gay was signed was to play him alongside Kawhi Leonard. Leonard has yet to see action this season, but once he’s up to speed, I expect to see Gay and Leonard together in many small-ball lineups. That said, for now the Spurs still start a pair of traditional bigs in LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol and can still pound you that way. I think it’s probably good to be able to do both, because nobody is going to be able to out-small ball the Warriors for 48 minutes.

Orsborn: Right now, I think it’s just a matter of them playing to the strengths of their personnel. But in due time, I’m sure we are going to see more multiple wings on the floor, with Kawhi Leonard, Rudy Gay, Kyle Anderson and maybe even the aforementioned Bertans all getting reps at power forward. It’s still so early in the season. Let’s give Popovich time to do his usual tinkering and for the club to finally get healthy.

Young: You could argue they are in between. As Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens pointed out weeks ago, the Spurs are one of the few teams still playing with double bigs and making it work. Said Stevens: “They are maximizing it probably better than anyone with regard to defending the way they want to defend and take the shots they want you to take. With their length, it’s really hard.” I think Popovich will go small when he feels it’s to the Spurs’ advantage, but going with the trend of the NBA, he’s not at that point. Nothing wrong with going half and half. The Spurs have size when they need it, and can go small with Aldridge at the five, Gay at the four, and when Leonard returns he’s at the three, with Danny Green at the two. The Spurs aren’t behind the times, just using their own format.

Finger: The decision they have made is this — given their current roster, if they try to adopt the style of the Warriors and Rockets, they probably won’t be as good at it as the Warriors and Rockets are. So by slowing things down a bit, eschewing the 3-point shot and utilizing their superior post players, they are betting that teams like the Warriors and Rockets will have difficulty with them, too.

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How many World Series titles do you think this current crop of Houston Astros will win?

McDonald: I don’t know, but I’m looking forward to a Cubs-Astros series next October, followed in short order by the apocalypse.

Orsborn: Seems like we — sports commentators and fans — have this conversation every season in every sport after the crowning of a new champion. Weren’t the Cubs, with so many talent young players like Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, going to dominate for years to come? Let’s face it, winning multiple titles, especially back-to-back ones is a tough, tough thing to do. And let’s not forget several clubs in the American League are positioned as title contenders for years to come (think Yankees, Indians and Red Sox), while several mid-tier teams like the Rays and the Blue Jays) could rise up. And even if the Astros return to the World Series, the National League could offer some severe roadblocks in the form of the Dodgers, Cubs and Nationals. With all that said, though, these Astros have too many things going for them not to win at least one more title in the next two seasons.

Young: Every year we ask the same question. How many titles were the Chicago Cubs slated to win after that World Series victory last year? I heard some predicting a repeat. In baseball, things have to go right like every other sport. You can almost argue things have to go perfect. There are so many games, slumps, winning streaks turn into losing streaks. Injuries throw players off rhythm. The Astros have a good young core, but they will need to be lucky again next season just like this season. Fans in Houston should continue to enjoy the championship now, with the understanding that the next one could be years away. Trust me, I’m from Philadelphia. I know.

Finger: Obviously, the Astros have a great nucleus and will remain contenders for years to come. But it’s tougher to win multiple championships in baseball than it is in most other pro sports. Over the past 10 years, the Giants are the only franchise with more than one World Series victory, and no team has repeated as champion since the turn of the century.

How far do you think the Texans would have gone with a healthy Deshaun Watson this season and what is the expectation without him?

McDonald: They were probably a playoff team with Watson at the helm, but it’s difficult to envision that offense being dynamic enough to pull off that feat without him.

Orsborn: With Watson healthy, I think a 9-7 record and a second-place, Wild Card-berth finish in the AFC South was in the offing. With or without Watson, they still would have finished second in the division to the rugged Jaguars. Although they will stay competitive, the Texans have suffered too big of a loss, face too tough of a schedule and have too weak of a defense to rebound. Three of their next four games are on the road, beginning with a trip to Los Angeles today to face the high-scoring, surging Rams. So pencil them in for a 6-10 finish that will place coach Bill O’Brien on the hot seat.

Young: This is probably the worst injury in the NFL this season. Watson was showing flashes of being a solid quarterback who could be great. Now, he could be about two years away. And that’s if he recovers properly. It takes about one year from the time of the injury for players to get back to playing the way they did before the injury occurred. Robert Griffin III tore his ACL in 2013 and never was the same. Now he’s out of the league after such high hopes. Hopefully Watson can recover and return with no setbacks. I still believe the Texans would have won the division if Watson was still the quarterback. But losing to the Colts, that tells me everything I needed to know. Maybe a wild card if the Texans are lucky, but the playoffs seem like a longshot.

Finger: It’s a quarterback-dominated league, and with Watson the Texans at least had a chance. Winning a playoff game would not have been outside the realm of possibility. Now, saddled with the routinely dreadful Tom Savage while still refusing to sign Colin Kaepernick, they will struggle even to approach .500.