Practice Report: 1/10/14

[ace3g]

http://ht.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/video/teams/spurs/2014/01/10/140110diawmov-3102714-6.576x324.jpg (http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/2014/01/10/140110diawmov-3102714)
Practice: Boris Diaw
1.10.14 |
4m20s

http://ht.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/video/teams/spurs/2014/01/10/140110leonardmov-3102710-3.576x324.jpg (http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/2014/01/10/140110leonardmov-3102710)
Practice: Kawhi Leonard
1.10.14 |
3m37s

http://ht.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/video/teams/spurs/2014/01/10/140110popmov-3102709-3.576x324.jpg (http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/2014/01/10/140110popmov-3102709)
Practice: Coach Pop
1.10.14 |
3m46s

[justinandimcool]

Yep, Kawhi's gonna bolt the first chance he gets.

[wtgspurs]

After listening to Kawhi's interview it sounds like he is unhappy with the amount of touches he's getting and wants a bigger role. I don't blame him though, the dude knows he can do more and just wants the green light :/

[apalisoc_9]

Yep, Kawhi's gonna bolt the first chance he gets.

he's 22 but treated like a 38 year old


EDIT:

Damn, that was actually a pretty depressing interview with Kawhi..

He should watch his words tbh..

Not liking the attitude, not that I can fault him for that though.

[Baam]

Lol at KY "my role is exactly the same as last year, not getting many plays called" so much for Pop giving him a bigger role...

[apalisoc_9]

loved how he chukeld.." yeah sure every 4 or 5 games" :lol

But at least he understands it's the system.

[bklynspursfan]

I think Kawhi is getting more touches in post up situations (just seems like it, don't have a stats comparison to last year) , he's earned a lot of trust there I think. His USG% has gone up each year, and that's the case this year too. His minutes are down a little from last year (31-28) and I think Pop is just really paranoid with his injury problems last year and really saving him for the playoffs. His FT% is down from 82% to 70% and his 3 point shooting is down from 37% to 30%. So although is stats are identical to last years, he's been leaving some points off the board with his poor shooting thus far.

But in the last few games, he's shooting better, so let's hope that trend continues. I don't think he sounded negative or down at all, I think that's just him.

[TheyCallMePro]

LOL Kawhi. Reporter asks: "Kevin Love dropped 40 on you guys, is that frustrating for this defense?"

Kawhi: "We still got the win, so it didn't really matter."

[SpursFan86]

It's hard to tell if Kawhi is unhappy, because he always sounds pretty mellow and doesn't show too much personality.

I really hope we're able to keep him.

[RD2191]

LOL Kawhi. Reporter asks: "Kevin Love dropped 40 on you guys, is that frustrating for this defense?"

Kawhi: "We still got the win, so it didn't really matter."
:lol

[EVAY]

Kawhi seems to indicate that his relative lack of touches is a function of plays not being called for him. That suggests to me that the young man has been paying attention. It is not a matter of any point guard (starting or back-up) not 'seeing' him or ignoring him. It is a function of the offense that the Spurs run. Only certain Spurstalk posters seem to remain ignorant of why the young man doesn't get more shots. The three position in the Spurs offense exists to take the occasional three when the ball comes out of the paint, and/or to slash to the basket if you get run off the three point line. Slashing to the basket does require an ability to dribble without losing the ball, however, and that has occasionally been a challenge for Kawhi. Finally, slashing to the basket only works if there is spacing that allows that to happen, and this year's Spurs team has had the worst spacing of any in recent years, imo.

Kawhi seems to understand entirely that he is not there primarily to score. He is there primarily in the same role as Bruce Bowen used to be - to defend the best perimeter player on the other squad and take the corner three when he can. 30% from the three point line is not gonna get that down, however.

[boutons_deux]

we can understand why, when Kawhi "touches" a defense RB, he dribbles madly down court end to end.

[jARS mEsH sEt]

we can understand why, when Kawhi "touches" a defense RB, he dribbles madly down court end to end.

Not really... Pop literally begged him to do just that. He's not doing that on his own accord out of a sense of frustration. He had to be pushed by Pop to do that.

[cd021]

Yep, Kawhi's gonna bolt the first chance he gets.

RFA. its actually pretty difficult unless you're a superstar and have leverage (I don't want to play here, don't match the offer). Eric Gordon wanted to join the Suns but the Hornets matched anyway. He has shown as much potential as Kawhi has and has put up better numbers in the past. Another way is the current team is cap strapped and another team takes advantage (Houston with Lin and Osik).

Kawhi isn't a superstar or a star. He is a young player who contributes nicely on a championship caliber team. He doesn't have much leverage and the Spurs aren't going to be cap strapped. Kawhi is staying unless traded first.

[cd021]

:lol

Story of Kevin Love's life. Big game and team loses.

[Budkin]

Kawhi knows he's the future of the franchise. He's not going anywhere.

[bigfan]

Two things I get from the vids is KL sounds like a guy doing time in prison and BD has turned into a great Spur. I hope KL sticks around when his contract is up but man, it sure seems like he is just marking time.

[wildchild]

Kawhi knows he's the future of the franchise. He's not going anywhere.

I'm not sure. I think he needs a change of team.

He said "Once every four or five games" about Pop called plays for him, "It's not for me to score on the team...So it's pretty much the same role as last year" (Imagine if Pop let Kawhi take 15 shots a game like let Marco...but that it's never gonna happen)

Sounds like he looks for more opportunities to improve, as Spurs player he won't have this chance and he's limited to Bruce role (like EVAY says "used to be - to defend the best perimeter player on the other squad and take the corner three when he can"), when he has the talent to be a better player and he wants to use that talent.

He could receive promises of being a scorer leader (or at least, better scoring role) from other teams and he should take this way. Sad but true.

http://i.imgur.com/4kXW9RY.jpg