The Los Angeles Clippers have been one of the biggest stories in the NBA over the last month, and it's finally been for a good reason. Most stories around the team were negative, such as the allegations around circumventing the salary cap and their 6-21 start through 27 games.

However, on Thursday night at home against their cross-town rivals, the Lakers, the Clippers secured their 20th win of the season, defeating them 112-104. It's been a transformative past 17 games for the Clippers, who are now sitting as the 10th seed in the Western Conference and still climbing.

A key fixture behind the Clippers' recent success has been Kawhi Leonard, who has been playing at an All-NBA level, with a handful of 40-plus point games over this stretch. While part of it has simply been being healthy, Leonard has made one major change to his game that casual fans may not have noticed.

While he's been viewed as a good three-point shooter, Leonard has taken his outside shooting to another level, attempting over seven threes per game, a career-high for him. After the win over the Lakers, Leonard addressed what had led to it and how it affected the team.

"Me and Jeremy Castleberry, we discussed the evolution of my game, trying to get up 12 threes a game. I give it credit to Coach Castleberry, we been working on it. When I told T-Lue that I’m gonna shoot 12 threes, he said ‘How?’ It was probably about December, I was like ‘You gon see,'" Leonard said.

Leonard has five games this season where he's attempted at least 10 three-pointers, converting 7-of-11 attempts against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

"We were in a hole. We wasn't making threes early...I thought that's what me needed for me to get more threes up, encourage guys to shoot the ball even if it doesn't go in. Imma struggle with them if that's the case," he added.

While the Clippers are still ranking in the bottom half of the league in three-point attempts per game, young guys like Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller have increased their outside shot volume as of late, which only opens the floor up more for the rest of the team.

Well, it's clear to say that since Leonard has increased his three-point volume, it has translated to success on the court for the Clippers. They finished Thursday's NBA slate now 2.5 games back of the Portland Trail Blazers for the ninth seed, as well as four games behind .500.

The Clippers return to action on Sunday at home against the Brooklyn Nets.