PTR:-Kawhi Leonard is No Bruce Bowen

[cd021]

http://www.poundingtherock.com/analysis-7/2013/9/10/4708724/kawhi-leonard-is-no-bruce-bowen-but-who-is-he (Full Article Here)

The article instead compares him to Late Celtics Allstar Reggie Lewis

Michael Jordan was interviewed a couple of months ago about Lewis for the 20th anniversary of his death. His answer to Lewis' playing style sounds eerily familiar...

"
Most players weren't athletic enough to literally "hang" with Jordan. Lewis was one of the exceptions.
"He was a tough matchup," Jordan said. "He had those long arms that really bothered me.

"I was trying to be aggressive with him. I was trying to take advantage of his passive demeanor, but he didn't back down. He never relinquished his own aggressiveness.

"He shocked me a little bit."

As he so often did with young players, Jordan tried to verbally engage Lewis, yet Reggie wouldn't participate. He merely smiled and made a move to the basket.

"I saw it happen all the time," Shaw said. "Players tried to intimidate him, make it personal. But Reggie never said a word.

"He was a silent assassin."

MJ dismissed Reggie's initial block as an anomaly. When it happened again, this time on a pull-up jumper, Jordan became irked. The next time, he became concerned.
And by the fourth time, on a lefty drive to the hoop, Jordan was irritated -- and somewhat spooked.

"His length confused me," Jordan conceded. "Every time I thought I had him beat, he'd recover and get up on me. When you have the skills to break someone down on defense and you can't, it makes you tentative offensively."

"

Sounds like a closer comparison for Leonard.

Reggie Lewis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQTFpXgEVw0




Kawhi Leonard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBg7PWDsdBA

[Chinook]

I agree in general that Leonard and Lewis seem similar. But that Leonard highlight video sort of obscures that. Kawhi looks to be more explosive offensively and a much better rebounder. Obviously, if he becomes a 20 ppg scorer, that will only be good for the Spurs.

[Skull-1]

Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce! My favorite player.


Leonard has more offense but slightly less defense. So, yeah, he is no Bruce. But lots of potential.

[Darius McCrary]

I wish someone would make a mixtape of every play Kawhi guarded LeBron. I was blown away by what he did. Not that he shut him down naturally, but he did make things difficult for the the greatest player in the universe.
Danny Green on the other hand....*shudder*

[Chinook]

I wish someone would make a mixtape of every play Kawhi guarded LeBron. I was blown away by what he did. Not that he shut him down naturally, but he did make things difficult for the the greatest player in the universe.
Danny Green on the other hand....*shudder*

What the hell is wrong with Spurstalk? You'd think that James scored all his points on Green by listening to these posters. Almost every notable defensive sequence against James was Green's doing. Leonard was great, but that doesn't mean that Green did a bad job at all. On the list of reasons why the Spurs lost the Finals, having Green as the secondary James defender is near the bottom.

[DesignatedT]

Leonard is a much better overall player.

[Juggity]

What the hell is wrong with Spurstalk? You'd think that James scored all his points on Green by listening to these posters. Almost every notable defensive sequence against James was Green's doing. Leonard was great, but that doesn't mean that Green did a bad job at all. On the list of reasons why the Spurs lost the Finals, having Green as the secondary James defender is near the bottom.

Completely agreed. Green's defense was certainly respectable. Sometimes he can be a little too energetic and blow by the offensive player while trying to contest a shot. But too energetic is better (and easier to fix) than too lethargic.

[heyheymymy]

What the hell is wrong with Spurstalk? You'd think that James scored all his points on Green by listening to these posters. Almost every notable defensive sequence against James was Green's doing. Leonard was great, but that doesn't mean that Green did a bad job at all. On the list of reasons why the Spurs lost the Finals, having Green as the secondary James defender is near the bottom.

I agree, not sure where this sentiment is coming from. I saw Green making tons of great defensive plays and he did admirably against Bron. Everyone forgot about Green chasing Bron down and blocking him at the rim? That was a huge play down the stretch.

[Skull-1]

I agree, not sure where this sentiment is coming from. I saw Green making tons of great defensive plays and he did admirably against Bron. Everyone forgot about Green chasing Bron down and blocking him at the rim? That was a huge play down the stretch.


That was a great play. Hustle play.

[racm]

Leonard reminds me of Shawn Marion in some aspects and Reggie Lewis in others. Beast any way you slice it, but I put the onus on him to improve his free throw shooting. :lol

[DMC]

I agree, not sure where this sentiment is coming from. I saw Green making tons of great defensive plays and he did admirably against Bron. Everyone forgot about Green chasing Bron down and blocking him at the rim? That was a huge play down the stretch.

Green backpedaled and stopped a fast break several times, even getting the ball back a few times. His defense on the break was amazing.

[heyheymymy]

Green backpedaled and stopped a fast break several times, even getting the ball back a few times. His defense on the break was amazing.

Seems like his good D got lost in the shuffle of his record-breaking offense during the finals. I too recall a few times it looked like the Heat were gonna get an easy bucket on the fast break and Green swoops in outta nowhere to clean up the mess. His on the ball D was pretty solid too, even when stuck on LeBron. I hope DG can build on that confidence next season, because he could be a pretty crucial cog to the Spurs system, He already is pretty important.

[Gagnrath]

So while Leonard has had a big improvemant year to year in the spurs system so far has it really been bigger than Green's improvement over the same period? I'm not saying that green has the same overall ceiling, (I don't think he does though he would be a very good sg if he could get slightly surer handles and any ability to finish at the rim.) We have someone who went from getting cut b the cavs to starting the finals in 2 years.

[PlayNando]

Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce! My favorite player.


Leonard has more offense but slightly less defense. So, yeah, he is no Bruce. But lots of potential.
ur a f00l lmao

[DMC]

Bruce was a world class defender. Leonard is a great defender, but let's be real, you won't see many defensive specialists like Bowen.

[Sean Cagney]

Leonard is a much better overall player.

On offense he does blow him away, that alone would make the difference because Leonard is already good on D and has a upside to get even better! Bruce was as great defender and hard worker with a corner three he learned, that was his ceiling. They are not similar IMO.
Bruce was a world class defender. Leonard is a great defender, but let's be real, you won't see many defensive specialists like Bowen.

That is true, I would take a Bowen on my team anyday to defend your best player. He keyed solely on his D to make his career and did well at it! He also could hit a timely corner three and he developed that shot through hard work. Leonard alot more gifted as an athlete.

[therealtruth]

What the hell is wrong with Spurstalk? You'd think that James scored all his points on Green by listening to these posters. Almost every notable defensive sequence against James was Green's doing. Leonard was great, but that doesn't mean that Green did a bad job at all. On the list of reasons why the Spurs lost the Finals, having Green as the secondary James defender is near the bottom.

Green was probably more Reggie Lewis like than Kawhi. There were several times Green blocked him and you could tell Lebron was just not expecting it.

[therealtruth]

Another thing that is Bowen like is Kawhi can hit the big shot without being affected by the moment.

[Chinook]

Green was probably more Reggie Lewis like than Kawhi. There were several times Green blocked him and you could tell Lebron was just not expecting it.

I thought a similar thing after watching the video of Lewis versus Jordan. Green might have blocked James more in the Finals than any player has ever, and that is especially true for the transition. It was very obvious that it got to James' head. He went from looking at Green during a Game 1 jump ball and saying (almost literally), "Oh, I get to jump against him? All right." (James lost that jump, actually.) To hesitating whenever Green was protecting the rim in the final four games. If the Spurs had pulled out Game 6 in overtime, then the most talked-about play may have been Green's block on James in the Final minute. That was legendary.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgAbo6IJB_A

[G-Dawgg]

Reggie Lewis was slower and more methodical and he was less athletic than Kawhi. His offensive game however seemed much more refined.

[Darius McCrary]

What the hell is wrong with Spurstalk? You'd think that James scored all his points on Green by listening to these posters. Almost every notable defensive sequence against James was Green's doing. Leonard was great, but that doesn't mean that Green did a bad job at all. On the list of reasons why the Spurs lost the Finals, having Green as the secondary James defender is near the bottom.
I don't disagree.

I still think Green got worked. But I'm not blaming him. Kidding? I love Green. He's one of the most solid SG's in the league

[Hoops Czar]

I wish someone would make a mixtape of every play Kawhi guarded LeBron. I was blown away by what he did. Not that he shut him down naturally, but he did make things difficult for the the greatest player in the universe.
Danny Green on the other hand....*shudder*

Maybe you should make a mixtape of the final 30 seconds of game 7. Down by 2 and Lebron sinks a walk up 15 ft jump shot to seal the victory. Where was Leonard? Playing a good 5 feet off the ball (conservative estimate). Lebron probably saw better contested shots during shootaround than he did from Leonard on the series clincher.

*** Don't say it was Pop's defensive strategy to give Lebron a wide open uncontested, backbreaking jump shot or that Kawhi was playing off the ball to prevent him from driving because that's what help defense is for.

[xmas1997]

I thought Green did a better defensive job on James than Kawhi.
Kawhi was awesome though in most other areas.

[therealtruth]

Maybe you should make a mixtape of the final 30 seconds of game 7. Down by 2 and Lebron sinks a walk up 15 ft jump shot to seal the victory. Where was Leonard? Playing a good 5 feet off the ball (conservative estimate). Lebron probably saw better contested shots during shootaround than he did from Leonard on the series clincher.

*** Don't say it was Pop's defensive strategy to give Lebron a wide open uncontested, backbreaking jump shot or that Kawhi was playing off the ball to prevent him from driving because that's what help defense is for.

Pop broke a cardinal rule of defense. Don't give the offensive player consistent looks. He's too stubborn to realize that. Even when we played Lebron in '07 with Bowen we didn't back off him that much. Also our help defense and ability to get shooters open of picks went down when Pop decided to go away from Splitter.

[Hoops Czar]

Pop broke a cardinal rule of defense. Don't give the offensive player consistent looks. He's too stubborn to realize that. Even when we played Lebron in '07 with Bowen we didn't back off him that much. Also our help defense and ability to get shooters open of picks went down when Pop decided to go away from Splitter.

It's one thing to give a little space in the first half of games because it prevents foul trouble and fatigue. But, to do it with the game..... STRIKE THAT...... season on the line was ludicrous.

[ace3g]

Yeah once Wade/Bron had their jumpers going, Pop should have forced them to drive to the basket. That or just don't give them 3 feet of space to shoot in game 7.

[Skull-1]

Ouch.

[Sean Cagney]

It's one thing to give a little space in the first half of games because it prevents foul trouble and fatigue. But, to do it with the game..... STRIKE THAT...... season on the line was ludicrous.

I would have been up in his damn face with hand up and so on beyond belief and not given him 5 feet or showed him any respect with the season on the line! If I fouled him or phantom call so be it. I would never give a man a open look though, especially not of his caliber! God I hate going back to the finals man, damn lol. I will not say another word on that now. I agree with you.

[Bill_Brasky]

I wish someone would make a mixtape of every play Kawhi guarded LeBron. I was blown away by what he did. Not that he shut him down naturally, but he did make things difficult for the the greatest player in the universe.
Danny Green on the other hand....*shudder*

green had numerous strips and deflections on transition plays that really fucked Miami up.. their offense revolved around getting easy transition buckets and Danny did an awesome job of preventing a lot of those, especially on James. not sure what you were watching.

[Bill_Brasky]

I thought a similar thing after watching the video of Lewis versus Jordan. Green might have blocked James more in the Finals than any player has ever, and that is especially true for the transition. It was very obvious that it got to James' head. He went from looking at Green during a Game 1 jump ball and saying (almost literally), "Oh, I get to jump against him? All right." (James lost that jump, actually.) To hesitating whenever Green was protecting the rim in the final four games. If the Spurs had pulled out Game 6 in overtime, then the most talked-about play may have been Green's block on James in the Final minute. That was legendary.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgAbo6IJB_A

fuck Lebron on that play. fucking whiner. that was ALL BALL. gotta be stronger than that if you wanna score on DMFG bitch.

[Chinook]

fuck Lebron on that play. fucking whiner. that was ALL BALL. gotta be stronger than that if you wanna score on DMFG bitch.

In his defense, he probably thought that he just lost the series by getting blocked. Had the Spurs drawn up a good play and scored off that next possession, I don't know if the Heat have enough left for another comeback.

[ace3g]

watching that play again, Parker should have stayed on the opposite side of the wing, he crowded that corner and brought Lebron over there as well; Green would have been open for the pass from Manu.

[maverick1948]

No Kawhi is no Bowen. Bowen spent a couple of years in Europe developing his defense. Bowen could guard the best in the league, including KOBE. He was a 3 point specialist. He had offensive skills but they were not what got him in the NBA.

Kawhi has the solid skills on defense that Bowen had. He needs another season to progress to the level of an elite defender. His 4th season, 2015, will be where he shines as a top defender. His offensive skills are already where Bowen was in his later seasons. Kawhi will be on the Allstar level in 2 more season. He may in his prime be the top Western Conf small forward.

No Kawhi is not Bowen, but by the same logic Bowen was no Kawhi.

[Chinook]

watching that play again, Parker should have stayed on the opposite side of the wing, he crowded that corner and brought Lebron over there as well; Green would have been open for the pass from Manu.

True. On plays like that, Ginobili has no choice by to trust that the other players would keep good spacing. It's like a quarterback throwing an interception because a receiver falls down.

[Skull-1]

No Kawhi is no Bowen. Bowen spent a couple of years in Europe developing his defense. Bowen could guard the best in the league, including KOBE. He was a 3 point specialist. He had offensive skills but they were not what got him in the NBA.

Kawhi has the solid skills on defense that Bowen had. He needs another season to progress to the level of an elite defender. His 4th season, 2015, will be where he shines as a top defender. His offensive skills are already where Bowen was in his later seasons. Kawhi will be on the Allstar level in 2 more season. He may in his prime be the top Western Conf small forward.

No Kawhi is not Bowen, but by the same logic Bowen was no Kawhi.


Bruce is what we have been missing all these years. Leonard is doing a great job stepping into those very very big shoes.

[xmas1997]

No Kawhi is no Bowen. Bowen spent a couple of years in Europe developing his defense. Bowen could guard the best in the league, including KOBE. He was a 3 point specialist. He had offensive skills but they were not what got him in the NBA.

Kawhi has the solid skills on defense that Bowen had. He needs another season to progress to the level of an elite defender. His 4th season, 2015, will be where he shines as a top defender. His offensive skills are already where Bowen was in his later seasons. Kawhi will be on the Allstar level in 2 more season. He may in his prime be the top Western Conf small forward.

No Kawhi is not Bowen, but by the same logic Bowen was no Kawhi.

I'd like to see if Nunnally is for real. He likes to compare himself with Bowen, his idol.
Kawhi is a different player all together than Bruce, completely different in fact.
May as well compare him to Sean, or Rodman, the difference is so great.

[xmas1997]

No Kawhi is no Bowen. Bowen spent a couple of years in Europe developing his defense. Bowen could guard the best in the league, including KOBE. He was a 3 point specialist. He had offensive skills but they were not what got him in the NBA.

Kawhi has the solid skills on defense that Bowen had. He needs another season to progress to the level of an elite defender. His 4th season, 2015, will be where he shines as a top defender. His offensive skills are already where Bowen was in his later seasons. Kawhi will be on the Allstar level in 2 more season. He may in his prime be the top Western Conf small forward.

No Kawhi is not Bowen, but by the same logic Bowen was no Kawhi.

I'd like to see if Nunnally is for real. He likes to compare himself with Bowen, his idol.
Kawhi is a different player all together than Bruce, completely different in fact.
May as well compare him to Sean, or Rodman, the difference is so great.

[therealtruth]

True. On plays like that, Ginobili has no choice by to trust that the other players would keep good spacing. It's like a quarterback throwing an interception because a receiver falls down.

Manu shouldn't have jumped into the air to pass.

[cd021]

I don't disagree.

I still think Green got worked. But I'm not blaming him. Kidding? I love Green. He's one of the most solid SG's in the league

I thought Green did an excellent job, so did Diaw. Had it not been for that burst of scoring in game 2 and game 6 (not to mention staying in game 4 and scoring 9 points in the final minutes of a blowout against our bench) James series numbers would have been pretty suspect.

[cd021]

Manu shouldn't have jumped into the air to pass.

Most of the time, that is the case but Miami had two players literally jump in front of him. It was either stop on a dime and get trapped baseline or attempt jump pass while jumping under the backboard. it was kind of a lose-lose after he drove.

[ynh]

Leanord is the wilt chamberlan of 12 and 6 players.

[Skull-1]

Most of the time, that is the case but Miami had two players literally jump in front of him. It was either stop on a dime and get trapped baseline or attempt jump pass while jumping under the backboard. it was kind of a lose-lose after he drove.
Throw the ball off the opposing player's leg or foot so it goes out of bounds. Spurs ball. DUH.

[Ice009]

I would have been up in his damn face with hand up and so on beyond belief and not given him 5 feet or showed him any respect with the season on the line! If I fouled him or phantom call so be it. I would never give a man a open look though, especially not of his caliber! God I hate going back to the finals man, damn lol. I will not say another word on that now. I agree with you.

I'm still baffled by the amount of room that the Spurs gave Lebron in game 7. I'm was screaming at them to get up on him and stop leaving him wide open. Did Kawhi do what Pop asked, or did he give him even more room than Pop wanted? I mean, is that on Kawhi or Pop? That was just a stupid, stupid strategy. Giving him that much space at home was just asking for trouble.

[Sean Cagney]

I'm still baffled by the amount of room that the Spurs gave Lebron in game 7. I'm was screaming at them to get up on him and stop leaving him wide open. Did Kawhi do what Pop asked, or did he give him even more room than Pop wanted? I mean, is that on Kawhi or Pop? That was just a stupid, stupid strategy. Giving him that much space at home was just asking for trouble.
They let him have WIDE open threes the whole game and just dared him to shoot, even after he made 4 or so they still let him shoot wide open threes. It was not a good strategy and it backfired in that game. I still don't want to go back and watch any film man. You leave the best player in the game open he might just hit you know? Pop completely loses it at times IMO nowadays, he is not what he was.

[ace3g]

It was something they did most of the series; but they should have recognized and changed (especially in game 7)and given Bron and Wade less space as soon as they started to hit a few jumpers.

That gave them so much confidence.

I also wished they would have focused more on shutting down Wade in game 7 (again once he started hitting some shots, take out their 2nd playmaker); possibly switching Kawhi over to him.

[Skull-1]

They let him have WIDE open threes the whole game and just dared him to shoot, even after he made 4 or so they still let him shoot wide open threes. It was not a good strategy and it backfired in that game. I still don't want to go back and watch any film man. You leave the best player in the game open he might just hit you know? Pop completely loses it at times IMO nowadays, he is not what he was.
I wish he would have done a REALITY CHECK BENCHING of Manu to shake the cobwebs out of his idiotic mind. And the way he just yanked Splitter... Eye roll.

[xmas1997]

I wish he would have done a REALITY CHECK BENCHING of Manu to shake the cobwebs out of his idiotic mind. And the way he just yanked Splitter... Eye roll.

Excellent points are made by Cagney and others, yet you have bring up your BS Manu bashing in every single thread?
Shut the fuck up!
And get the fuck out of here with your insane inane ignorant redundant prejudicial hypocritical trolling!
:bang

[Ice009]

They let him have WIDE open threes the whole game and just dared him to shoot, even after he made 4 or so they still let him shoot wide open threes. It was not a good strategy and it backfired in that game. I still don't want to go back and watch any film man. You leave the best player in the game open he might just hit you know? Pop completely loses it at times IMO nowadays, he is not what he was.

The thing is though, did Pop want Kawhi to back off Lebron that much or did Kawhi fuck up and give him more room than Pop wanted? What do you think? I would have got up on Lebron and made him drive, shit, the guy is also a shaky free throw shooter at times, so it might have been even better to foul him and put him on the free throw line instead of giving him open shots. I think fouling him at the end of game 6 when we were up 5 and putting him on the free throw line would have been better than giving him open three after open three.

I'm not really interested in going back and watching the game either. I don't even think the players need a refresher like at the start of last season when Pop showed them tape of game 6 against OKC.

I just realized that I've had very similar thoughts to what Jason Kidd had after game 6 against the Spurs in the 2003 finals. I read somewhere that he said that his son could have coached a better 4th quarter than Byron Scott. I think almost anyone of us here could have coached a better 4th quarter than Pop did in game 6.

[Skull-1]

The thing is though, did Pop want Kawhi to back off Lebron that much or did Kawhi fuck up and give him more room than Pop wanted? What do you think? I would have got up on Lebron and made him drive, shit, the guy is also a shaky free throw shooter at times, so it might have been even better to foul him and put him on the free throw line instead of giving him open shots. I think fouling him at the end of game 6 when we were up 5 and putting him on the free throw line would have been better than giving him open three after open three.

I'm not really interested in going back and watching the game either. I don't even think the players need a refresher like at the start of last season when Pop showed them tape of game 6 against OKC.

I just realized that I've had very similar thoughts to what Jason Kidd had after game 6 against the Spurs in the 2003 finals. I read somewhere that he said that his son could have coached a better 4th quarter than Byron Scott. I think almost anyone of us here could have coached a better 4th quarter than Pop did in game 6.


Well, Pop may not have wanted Stern, I mean, the refs, to call Leonard for a Ticky Tack foul late to win it. Fear.

[xmas1997]

Well, Pop may not have wanted Stern, I mean, the refs, to call Leonard for a Ticky Tack foul late to win it. Fear.

See my last post!

[Skull-1]

See my last post!


Great original take, moron. I hope this is your last post.

[xmas1997]

Great original take, moron. I hope this is your last post.

See my last post.

[Skull-1]

See my last post.

We did. You just keep repeating yourself. Do us all a favor and leave so we can get back to talking basketball, parrot.

[xmas1997]

We did. You just keep repeating yourself. Do us all a favor and leave so we can get back to talking basketball, parrot.

See my last post.

[Skull-1]

It was something they did most of the series; but they should have recognized and changed (especially in game 7)and given Bron and Wade less space as soon as they started to hit a few jumpers.

That gave them so much confidence.

I also wished they would have focused more on shutting down Wade in game 7 (again once he started hitting some shots, take out their 2nd playmaker); possibly switching Kawhi over to him.

If he switches Leonard what happens to James? The guy is a punk but also a one man wrecking ball... He would have gone off.

[therealtruth]

They let him have WIDE open threes the whole game and just dared him to shoot, even after he made 4 or so they still let him shoot wide open threes. It was not a good strategy and it backfired in that game. I still don't want to go back and watch any film man. You leave the best player in the game open he might just hit you know? Pop completely loses it at times IMO nowadays, he is not what he was.

Pop really didn't understand why the backing of Lebron strategy would or would not work. The strategy works because Lebron is not a spot up shooter and needs some rhythm to make his shots. However if you allow him to know where the shots are coming from and gain that rhythm he will knock them down. You have to switch up the defense to make it work and keep him guessing. But to consistently give a great player consistent looks is stupid.

[xmas1997]

Pop really didn't understand why the backing of Lebron strategy would or would not work. The strategy works because Lebron is not a spot up shooter and needs some rhythm to make his shots. However if you allow him to know where the shots are coming from and gain that rhythm he will knock them down. You have to switch up the defense to make it work and keep him guessing. But to consistently give a great player consistent looks is stupid.

Not only that but Wade went nuts on the Spurs too. It seemed like every time they had pretty much contained James, Wade had a field day. He was supposed to be injured, but was he? All of a sudden he would go off on the Spurs like he was taking peds or something.

[Sean Cagney]

Not only that but Wade went nuts on the Spurs too. It seemed like every time they had pretty much contained James, Wade had a field day. He was supposed to be injured, but was he? All of a sudden he would go off on the Spurs like he was taking peds or something.

Wade was not as hurt as they lead you to believe, he is just getting older now or is not as consistent anymore as he was. I don't think he was too bad at all.

[Sean Cagney]

The thing is though, did Pop want Kawhi to back off Lebron that much or did Kawhi fuck up and give him more room than Pop wanted? What do you think? I would have got up on Lebron and made him drive, shit, the guy is also a shaky free throw shooter at times, so it might have been even better to foul him and put him on the free throw line instead of giving him open shots. I think fouling him at the end of game 6 when we were up 5 and putting him on the free throw line would have been better than giving him open three after open three.

I'm not really interested in going back and watching the game either. I don't even think the players need a refresher like at the start of last season when Pop showed them tape of game 6 against OKC.

I just realized that I've had very similar thoughts to what Jason Kidd had after game 6 against the Spurs in the 2003 finals. I read somewhere that he said that his son could have coached a better 4th quarter than Byron Scott. I think almost anyone of us here could have coached a better 4th quarter than Pop did in game 6.

I agree on almost every thing there. The thing is we took out TIM to defend the perimeter, then they fail to do that even and give wide open threes? Two in a row for Lebron? Yeah that makes sense, bench your man with 17 rebounds to defend the three but then don't defend it at all? Just all around bad on all ends.

[Skull-1]

Wade was not as hurt as they lead you to believe, he is just getting older now or is not as consistent anymore as he was. I don't think he was too bad at all.


He was faking it for his legacy IMHO.

[Sean Cagney]

He was faking it for his legacy IMHO.

I agree, he is slowing down with his style of play so he might use the hurt card at times from here on out. He looked pretty damn spry at times trying to fly in and dunk the ball.

[Skull-1]

I agree, he is slowing down with his style of play so he might use the hurt card at times from here on out. He looked pretty damn spry at times trying to fly in and dunk the ball.


Totally. Just like James being a fake flopper. It rubbed off on Wade.

[ginobilized]

Even Bowen admits the comparison of Kawhi and himself is very much in Kawhi's favor. At Kawhi's age Bruce had almost no skills. Kawhi could surpass Bowen on defense and already has on offense and rebounding.

[therealtruth]

I agree on almost every thing there. The thing is we took out TIM to defend the perimeter, then they fail to do that even and give wide open threes? Two in a row for Lebron? Yeah that makes sense, bench your man with 17 rebounds to defend the three but then don't defend it at all? Just all around bad on all ends.

Exactly. I think having Duncan out there would have reduced the chance of them making defensive mistakes. He's the QB of the defense. He would have made sure everyone was in the correct position. He might be slightly slower than Diaw but he's a much much better defender and rebounder. Another option is Splitter. He's shown the ability to stay with perimeter players and still bother their shot. The Spurs played it the worst possible way. I am a believer that simply contesting 3's is not as good as running the shooters of the line. It's a lottery whenever a 3 goes up and you never know what's going to happen with the rebound.

[Skull-1]

Even Bowen admits the comparison of Kawhi and himself is very much in Kawhi's favor. At Kawhi's age Bruce had almost no skills. Kawhi could surpass Bowen on defense and already has on offense and rebounding.
Yes, but peak Bruce was faster than a cat in reflexes. It remains to be seen if Leonard will match that.

[Sean Cagney]

Exactly. I think having Duncan out there would have reduced the chance of them making defensive mistakes. He's the QB of the defense. He would have made sure everyone was in the correct position. He might be slightly slower than Diaw but he's a much much better defender and rebounder. Another option is Splitter. He's shown the ability to stay with perimeter players and still bother their shot. The Spurs played it the worst possible way. I am a believer that simply contesting 3's is not as good as running the shooters of the line. It's a lottery whenever a 3 goes up and you never know what's going to happen with the rebound.
Thing is they did not even contest the threes, they left Lebron dead open for two in a row, so what was the point of going smaller if you are not going to even contest? Just throw your rebounders out there and have them sit if you aren't going to contest the damn shot anyways. All went wrong though like we said, the worst way possible.

[Lincolnkreifels]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkUxrM2m31s