Kawhi needs to play like Batum

[letmk]

Other than stingy defense, be initiative and aggressive on offense.

[z0sa]

Kawhi playing like Kawhi would be good enough for me.

[Venti Quattro]

Other than stingy defense, be initiative and aggressive on offense.

He will surrender at the sight of German forces

[Malik Hairston]

Portland's best players(Lillard and Aldridge) are jump shooters that allow their offense to employ their free-flowing, jump shooting style of play..game planning for them creates a lot of spacing for the rest of the team..

[letmk]

Portland's best players(Lillard and Aldridge) are jump shooters that allow their offense to employ their free-flowing, jump shooting style of play..game planning for them creates a lot of spacing for the rest of the team..

I understand the systems are radically different. But Batum didn't simply stay on the wing side and defer to their two best players. And purely offense-wise, there is no current Spurs players as destructive as Lillard and Aldridge. Hence, Kawhi has more reasons to take his opportunities.

[Malik Hairston]

I understand the systems are radically different. But Batum didn't simply stay on the wing side and defer to their two best players. And purely offense-wise, there is no current Spurs players as destructive as Lillard and Aldridge. Hence, Kawhi has more reasons to take his opportunities.

I agree he should be more aggressive, but it's tough to find space when the Spurs have the Duncan/Splitter frontcourt with Parker(a non-shooter) at PG..

[Mikeanaro]

Needs to score more, like last season playoffs.

[playbonner15]

...with Parker(a non-shooter) at PG..
http://i.imgur.com/3RYwAqJ.gif

Pop: 'SHOOT YA MOTHAFUCKA'

[313]

http://i.imgur.com/3RYwAqJ.gif

Pop: 'SHOOT YA MOTHAFUCKA'LOL

[r0drig0lac]

kawhi need to play as kawhi

[letmk]

kawhi need to play as kawhi

The title may be somewhat a misnomer. Sure Kawhi need to play like himself, but he can definitely borrow some approaches from similar players.

[KL2]

What he needs is better teammates and a coach, Parker's dribble dribble dribble bull shit destroys the offense, while his bigs don't allow proper spacing, the team doesn't know wtf to do out there with him.

[wildchild]

Like Batum?
They have similar numbers but Leonard played significantly less in game 1 (game 2 foul trouble has kept him out of most of game).

Game 1
Leonard 11 points 10 reb 31 minutes
Batum 14 points 9 reb 45 minutes

Game 2
Leonard 6 points 5 reb 22 minutes
Batum 6 points 4 reb 40 minutes

Game 3
Leonard ?
Batum 26 points 9 reb 49 minutes
You really think Pop'll play Leonard 50 minutes in game 3? Nahhh....He should do it but he won't..

Jimmy Butler (24 years old) 44/53/41 minutes last 3 games
Nick Batum (25 years old) 45/40/49 minutes last 3 games
Kawhi Leonard (22 years old) 31/22 minutes last 2 games
Rest the youngest player all regular season and not increase his minutes in playoffs...it doesn't seem a good plan.

Leonard just needs to play more and get him involved in the Spurs offensive system.

[DPG21920]

Leonard has no where near the handles/passing ability of Batum.

[wildchild]

Leonard has no where near the handles/passing ability of Batum.

Leonard has improved in that area this season, he has become a really good passer.

[wildchild]

However, if Leonard plays like Leonard it would be better than Batum.

http://i.imgur.com/UTkHHtO.jpg

[DPG21920]

Leonard has improved in that area this season, he has become a really good passer.

Improved does not equal better. It would be difficult for Kawhi to play like Batum because they have different skill sets.

[TheGoldStandard]

Like Batum?
They have similar numbers but Leonard played significantly less in game 1 (game 2 foul trouble has kept him out of most of game).

Game 1
Leonard 11 points 10 reb 31 minutes
Batum 14 points 9 reb 45 minutes

Game 2
Leonard 6 points 5 reb 22 minutes
Batum 6 points 4 reb 40 minutes

Game 3
Leonard ?
Batum 26 points 9 reb 49 minutes
You really think Pop'll play Leonard 50 minutes in game 3? Nahhh....He should do it but he won't..

Jimmy Butler (24 years old) 44/53/41 minutes last 3 games
Nick Batum (25 years old) 45/40/49 minutes last 3 games
Kawhi Leonard (22 years old) 31/22 minutes last 2 games
Rest the youngest player all regular season and not increase his minutes in playoffs...it doesn't seem a good plan.

Leonard just needs to play more and get him involved in the Spurs offensive system.


Gotta keep him fresh for next season

[dallasmaverickslose]

Kawhi needs to play like... Kawhi.

[td4mvp2k]

What he needs is better teammates and a coach, Parker's dribble dribble dribble bull shit destroys the offense, the team doesn't know wtf to do out there with him.

[dallasmaverickslose]

What he needs is better teammates and a coach, Parker's dribble dribble dribble bull shit destroys the offense, while his bigs don't allow proper spacing, the team doesn't know wtf to do out there with him.

Yeah, we need a real coach. :rolleyes

[superjames1992]

He will surrender at the sight of German forces
Yep, Batum playing Dirk is just LOL. :lol

[KL2]

Yeah, we need a real coach. :rolleyes


Pop is too stubborn, good coach but his stick to the book BS has cost this team many times since '07, ever since then he's seemed like a different coach. Popovich plays to not lose, guys like PJax play to win, that's the difference between great and ATG.

Perfect example was last night, Leonard scores 7 straight points, is finally catching fire after quiet first quarter, I think most of those points came off of steals as well so he was getting it going both ways.

Next 2 possessions Manu/Parker do the dribble dribble, 2 man team BS and they both settle for bad shots which they miss, of course Leonard who's had Ellis/Calderon on his gets completely ignored.

What happens next? Leonard gets pulled, why? Because it's around 8 mins into the quarter, and Pop wants him to play a strict amount of minutes. Spurs give up the lead, Leonard rots on the bench, comes back in and has lost his hot streak. One of the many times Pop has done this regardless of who it is.

[therealtruth]

Pop is too stubborn, good coach but his stick to the book BS has cost this team many times since '07, ever since then he's seemed like a different coach. Popovich plays to not lose, guys like PJax play to win, that's the difference between great and ATG.

Perfect example was last night, Leonard scores 7 straight points, is finally catching fire after quiet first quarter, I think most of those points came off of steals as well so he was getting it going both ways.

Next 2 possessions Manu/Parker do the dribble dribble, 2 man team BS and they both settle for bad shots which they miss, of course Leonard who's had Ellis/Calderon on his gets completely ignored.

What happens next? Leonard gets pulled, why? Because it's around 8 mins into the quarter, and Pop wants him to play a strict amount of minutes. Spurs give up the lead, Leonard rots on the bench, comes back in and has lost his hot streak. One of the many times Pop has done this regardless of who it is.

Playing to not lose is a losing strategy. It allows you to get beat by the most improbable stuff (see game 6). Playing to win allows you to get lucky at times. PJax has said you have to create your own luck. Pop, however, feels he's at the mercy of luck.

[hater]

unfortunately Kawhi doesn't have the ballhandling or playmaking abilities that Batum has.

Batum's help D is also far superior to Kawhi's.

[wtgspurs]

[QUOTE=hater;7278243]unfortunately Kawhi doesn't have the ballhandling or playmaking abilities that Batum has.

Man that line sounds so old and flat =.=

[wildchild]

This thread...:lmao

When Leonard gets +20 touches in a game playing more 45' like the Portland's frenchie last two games?

Leonard finished game 3 with 7-8 in 39' ...How the hell do people think he'll get 20 touches or more?? Batum took the same -or more- attempts than Lillard, so you really think Kawhi'll get more touches than Tony or Tim in playoff's series??
If you think that is the Spurs offensive scheme...you're wrong.

[ElNono]

Kawhi needs to play like Kawhi... he's still learning the ropes and finding out what his limits are... Batum has two times as many years in this league, already built a reputation, etc...

[HI-FI]

Kawhi needs to be Kawhi, not some scrotum hitting pussy like Batum.

[superjames1992]

It would be nice if he made free throws in late game situations, tbqh.

[mudyez]

Kawhi needs to play like James...LeBron that is.

[superjames1992]

Kawhi needs to play like James...LeBron that is.
Not Damian James? :lol

[Budkin]

Batum is awesome. Wish he was a Spur.