Do you guys think Pop will continue playing Kawhi 29mpg a game?

[apalisoc_9]

Or will he finally play him 33-36 minutes a game this regular season?

I hope so!!

[TheGoldStandard]

Nah, he'll be around 30 minutes a game.

[DAF86]

32.5

[MeloHype]

Might get an extra minute of playing time

[ezau]

I expect Kawhi to be average 20, 8, and 2 by next season.

[apalisoc_9]

I expect Kawhi to be average 20, 8, and 2 by next season.

Not going to happen with 30mpg

I'd say 15 6 and 1.7..Should be good enough for all-star when the spurs top are top 4 again in the west standings before the all-star

[Darius McCrary]

Double edge sword, I think he should play 40 against good teams at least but after last night I can't ever question anything about Pop's decision making ever again

[anakha]

I think I'll trust Pop's ability to manage minutes over OP's.

[Arc]

we're so deep we don't need to tire our guys out or risk players getting hurt in the regular season.

[gee]

I expect everybody to shit on his 'lack of development' all season next season until at the end he wins us the finals and get finals MVP again.

[DAF86]

More than playing time what will be interesting to watch is what kind of plays does Pop come up with to insert Leonard into the offense.

[ontheraise]

lol he'll play 32min

[SupremeGuy]

Double edge sword, I think he should play 40 against good teams at least but after last night I can't ever question anything about Pop's decision making ever againThis, tbh.

Play him more against good teams and keep his minutes down against the rest.

[Nathan89]

33-36 minutes is unnecessary. It's only the regular season. There is no need to ruin the longevity of Kawhi career.

[will_spurs]

More than playing time what will be interesting to watch is what kind of plays does Pop come up with to insert Leonard into the offense.

+1

I don't think Kawhi's development is going to go through more minutes, but simply being more involved on the offensive end, getting plays called for him, etc.

Kawhi's offense wasn't ready when he entered the league, he needed time with Chip among other things, and it played right into Pop's hands who wanted him to be an elite defender first and foremost.

[Prime Time]

Give him 30 solid minutes. Just savor this dude for the playoffs, having him peak at the right team is key for any shot at another championship.

[spursparker9]

Yea being the defending champion will make Spurs the target and teams will be going all out to win against the Champs.

Many times there will be a period where teams lost a few games in a row and they will circle their date on the calendar vs the Spurs and try their best to stop the slump and start over by winning against the Champs.

[T Park]

Nope. All about the playoffs. Shame people can't see that it worked, but not surprising.

[spurspokesman]

33-36 minutes is unnecessary. It's only the regular season. There is no need to ruin the longevity of Kawhi career.

[SupremeGuy]

Yea being the defending champion will make Spurs the target and teams will be going all out to win against the Champs.

Many times there will be a period where teams lost a few games in a row and they will circle their date on the calendar vs the Spurs and try their best to stop the slump and start over by winning against the Champs.That happens to us every year whether we're the champs or not, tbh.

[SouthernFried]

Why change anything?

[Mel_13]

Or will he finally play him 33-36 minutes a game this regular season?

I hope so!!

Nothing succeeds like success. The Spurs were 54-12 (67 win pace) and won a championship with Kawhi playing 29 mpg during the regular season. No need to play Kawhi in the 4th quarters of all those blowouts just to pump up his individual stats. (See Durant, Kevin)

What you're more likely to see is other coaches playing their key players fewer regular season minutes. Pop has provided cover for the rest of the league to rest their stars and to develop their benches during the 82 games that have to be endured before the games that matter begin.

[cd021]

32.5

sounds right, hopefully about 15, 7 and 2 steals a game.

[cd021]

33-36 minutes is unnecessary. It's only the regular season. There is no need to ruin the longevity of Kawhi career.

Duncan was playing 38 a game at the same age, it didn't ruin his longevity. 32 mpg is fine for a player of his age.

[wildchild]

+1

I don't think Kawhi's development is going to go through more minutes, but simply being more involved on the offensive end, getting plays called for him, etc.

Pop had even joked about that (Don't wanna read between the lines...hope he's just kidding)
478985504252112896

[Hemotivo]

reg season mvp if 38mpg

[hitmantb]

Duncan was playing 38 a game at the same age, it didn't ruin his longevity. 32 mpg is fine for a player of his age.

Duncan played too many minutes when he had to solo Shaq/Kobe. 42.5 minutes in the entire 2003 post season, he was never the same again and never put up the same stats. Plantar fasciitis soon cut down his window of dominance.

Unfortunately at the time, Pop wasn't that much better than Erik Spoelstra of the world, got one working system and just ride his players into the ground. I don't think he will make the same mistake with Leonard. 30 minutes a game max!

[apalisoc_9]

Pop had even joked about that (Don't wanna read between the lines...hope he's just kidding)
478985504252112896

Pop also says that they never run plays for kawhi which is clearly a lie since he had 4 Iso plays last night :lol

Don't take anything he says to the media seriously

[wildchild]

Don't take anything he says to the media seriously
:tu

[letmk]

If the Spurs can get top 2 record in the West, no need to have to play anybody over 30 minutes.

[therealtruth]

Pop also says that they never run plays for kawhi which is clearly a lie since he had 4 Iso plays last night :lol

Don't take anything he says to the media seriously

Same for the alley-oop. The Spurs out of timeouts were excellent.

[MI21]

Yeah, Kawhi has had plays run for him. Those couple of clear-outs on the left side of the floor against Battier/LeBron weren't by accident, you could see the play develop. The alley-oop as well, of course.

I hope Kawhi plays around 32MPG. He will never play 36MPG because the Spurs will blow teams out to much. But against good teams he should play 38MPG.

[Mel_13]

Yeah, Kawhi has had plays run for him. Those couple of clear-outs on the left side of the floor against Battier/LeBron weren't by accident, you could see the play develop. The alley-oop as well, of course.

I hope Kawhi plays around 32MPG. He will never play 36MPG because the Spurs will blow teams out to much. But against good teams he should play 38MPG.

In 2013-14, for example, Kawhi played in 66 games. The Spurs won 26 of those 66 games by at least 16 points.

[MI21]

In 2013-14, for example, Kawhi played in 66 games. The Spurs won 26 of those 66 games by at least 16 points.

Exactly. There will also be a handful of games where he gets saddled with early fouls and loses about 8 minutes and then other games where the foul trouble extends and he loses minutes towards the end of game.

I do think, barring any issues, he should lead the team in minutes along with Danny. Whatever amount of minutes that is, I don't really care.