What's wrong with Kawhi

[razor247]

He looks lethargic on court like he doesn't want to be there. I don't think he has even dunked once so far since he's been back. The Houston game, is where he should have been the man and took over. Instead he slowly runs
around, doesn't play defense and misses about every shot he could. His shot looks off, did they screw it up over the summer with that shooting coach? I thought he was going to be this great kid, with a great attitude and work ethic. You know a SPUR. So far he looks like a punk, that shouldn't be wearing silver and black. Is the eye infection a cover up for something else???

[AFBlue]

He hasn't been on the court enough to establish any kind of trend. I think he's just working his way back into regular minutes and shaking off the rust. Overreacting and dissecting a couple bad games this early in the season is probably not a worthwhile exercise.

If the Spurs don't sound worried I wouldn't be either.

[RD2191]

I'm starting to think Chinook was right, tbh. Kawhi looks mentally checked out. Hope him not getting paid (yet) isn't messing with his head.

[Hoops Czar]

I'm starting to think Chinook was right, tbh. Kawhi looks mentally checked out. Hope him not getting paid (yet) isn't messing with his head.

All the more reason to be motivated. It did wonders for Boris.

[024]

His agent probably not too happy Leonard playing his commission check down the toilet.

[Ditty]

As long as he is mentally check in by April is all I care about it

[Dre_7]

He missed the preseason. It is going to take a few more games for him to find his rhythm. It's a contract year, so do not worry, he is smart enough to know that the better he plays the more he makes. I have a feeling we are gonna see an improved Kawhi once he gets his preseason out of the way.

[Malik Hairston]

He has barely played basketball since preseason:lol..

[wildchild]

doesn't play defense
Leonard had 4 steals and 4 deffensive rebounds against Houston.
Ariza scored in his two previous games, 19 points and 24 points, Kawhi guarded him and Trevor finished the game with 7 points.
Yep...his defense looks so bad.

[SpursFan86]

Guys what's wrong with Kawhi :( It's been 3 games so far and he hasn't done anything crazy. I know he missed almost the entire preseason and it's still early November, but is something wrong? Maybe Kawhi is dealing with a bigger problem such as ebola? Are eye infections a common symptom of ebola?

[wildchild]

I thought he was going to be this great kid, with a great attitude and work ethic
Only three games and people already forget...


"I had our AD call me up a couple weeks ago when I was gone. He said, ‘Coach, we’ve got an issue with Kawhi in the arena. Event management called and the lights are not on, and Kawhi’s in the arena for two straight days at 6:30 in the morning. And he brought two lamps from home, and he put them up in the arena and shot." Steve Fisher about Kawhi during the lockout



In June 2012, San Antonio completed one of the most anticlimactic drafts in franchise history. With its lone pick -- No. 59 overall -- the Spurs selected Marcus Denmon, a Missouri guard who would never play a minute for them. That night, with the pick made and the clock ticking toward midnight, a public relations staffer left the war room and headed for the media room, where a smattering of weary reporters waited to be escorted onto the practice floor to get a full debriefing from general manager R.C Buford. On the way, the staffer was stopped by a basketball operations official.
Can’t bring the media out there, the official said. There’s a player getting up some shots.Now, a Spurs player showing up for a late night workout wasn’t unusual. But this player on this date was. The player was Kawhi Leonard. The date was June 28, the day before Leonard’s 21st birthday. On a night most spend sucking down Mind Erasers, Leonard was working on his midrange game.


It sat in the living room of the San Diego condominium he rents during the offseason while the Spurs staffer who chaperones the trophy around the world lounged at a UTC hotel pool … while Leonard was at his three-a-day workouts.
He’s not missing a mid-August workout for a season that begins in late October to show off a shiny 2-foot, 14.5-pound trophy with a 24-karat gold overlay

[wildchild]

he looks like a punk, that shouldn't be wearing silver and black
Don't worry, may your wishes come true and he'll wear another colours next summer.

You can't wait to see his lockdown defense with another team?
You can't wait to see his defensive plays -which are worth a game or series like his strip/steal on Wes- in other franchise?
You can't wait to see the young guy -who proved to elevate his game under pressure in two consecutive finals- playing for another team?
Don't be impatient, you could have the chance to see that.

[Mikeanaro]

Something is wrong, dude is not doing the mid-court dunk.

[xmas1997]

I'm starting to think Chinook was right, tbh. Kawhi looks mentally checked out. Hope him not getting paid (yet) isn't messing with his head.

If I am not mistaken he is still getting paid, but I agree with chinook about him.

[monkeypunk]

Looked to me like he and Parker were half assing it last night, assuming a loss was predetermined. Why expend the energy when you know you're going to lose? Neither looked aggressive or motivated.

[wildcardX]

It could be he is shaking off preseason rust and nothing is wrong. It also could be the pressure on his shoulders to take that next step, maybe throwing off his game. Instead of letting the game come to him, he wants to do more which affects his rhythm. Not getting the extension probably didn't help. He could be thinking too much about trying to impress this year, making his shots, not getting injured.....who knows. I don't think he's salty and not trying. In fact it could be the opposite.

[timtonymanu]

He's never going to go all out in the regular season even if he didn't end up missing the preseason. The playoffs is all that matters.

[MI21]

Only three games and people already forget...

:tu

[Captivus]

He missed the preseason. It is going to take a few more games for him to find his rhythm.

Exactly what I think...hope we are right.

[hitmanyr2k]

Looked to me like he and Parker were half assing it last night, assuming a loss was predetermined. Why expend the energy when you know you're going to lose? Neither looked aggressive or motivated.

Eh, usually that's a time for a player (especially a young player) to go off and show his talents win or lose. I remember back in '04 where Parker and Duncan both sat out against the stacked Lakers and Ginobili went fuckin nuts in that game showing all of his talent, skill and hustle. The Spurs lost that game but they put up a great fight. I was hoping Kawhi was going to use the game against Houston to make a statement and show an improved game but he was kind of lethargic out there.

[tim_duncan_fan]

Eh, usually that's a time for a player (especially a young player) to go off and show his talents win or lose. I remember back in '04 where Parker and Duncan both sat out against the stacked Lakers and Ginobili went fuckin nuts in that game showing all of his talent, skill and hustle. The Spurs lost that game but they put up a great fight. I was hoping Kawhi was going to use the game against Houston to make a statement and show an improved game but he was kind of lethargic out there.

I remember the game you're talking about. Ginobili had around 47 points.

[Malik Hairston]

Eh, usually that's a time for a player (especially a young player) to go off and show his talents win or lose. I remember back in '04 where Parker and Duncan both sat out against the stacked Lakers and Ginobili went fuckin nuts in that game showing all of his talent, skill and hustle. The Spurs lost that game but they put up a great fight. I was hoping Kawhi was going to use the game against Houston to make a statement and show an improved game but he was kind of lethargic out there.

Leonard dominated the previous 2 games where the big 3 sat, both games where the Spurs beat a healthy Warriors team and a healthy Bulls team(minus Rose)..

He usually does very well when 1 or more of the big 3 is sitting, so this was more likely a case of rust..he barely played in the preseason and hadn't been too involved in the regular season, so far..

[ElNono]

Eh, usually that's a time for a player (especially a young player) to go off and show his talents win or lose. I remember back in '04 where Parker and Duncan both sat out against the stacked Lakers and Ginobili went fuckin nuts in that game showing all of his talent, skill and hustle. The Spurs lost that game but they put up a great fight. I was hoping Kawhi was going to use the game against Houston to make a statement and show an improved game but he was kind of lethargic out there.


I remember the game you're talking about. Ginobili had around 47 points.

y8zhDrzorXs

GOAT

[rasuo214]

Kawhi always starts off the season slow. Remember last season when people were freaking out that Kawhi couldn't shoot the 3 anymore? Seems like things ended up alright.

[Malik Hairston]

Kawhi always starts off the season slow. Remember last season when people were freaking out that Kawhi couldn't shoot the 3 anymore? Seems like things ended up alright.

It's strange, it's as if people would rather him be the same as those stat-padders that put up nice numbers in meaningless regular season games, but choke in the playoffs:lol(Klay Thompson, Parsons, etc)..

[tim_duncan_fan]

y8zhDrzorXs

GOAT

He was almost as good as Tim lol.

And apparently the game I was thinking of was against the Suns. Gino dropped 48 on'em.

Random, but this clip reminded me that I fucking miss Rasho.

[Phenomanul]

y8zhDrzorXs

GOAT

I had the fortune of attending this 2OT game... one of my favorite moments was Kobe falling on his backside while running backwards and taunting the crowd...

[spursparker9]

y8zhDrzorXs

GOAT

One of the rare game that you feel like we won the game despite losing.

[objective]

The part of his defense that's been bad compared to last year is his closeouts and getting back to his man. He's been much slower than last year, to the point of being so late it looks like he just gives up sometime and shrugs.

[Uriel]

Kawhi has improved significantly this offseason, as we saw in the open scrimmage and the preseason game against Alba Berlin. Right now, he's coming off a month without basketball-related activities because of an eye infection. Give him some time to regain his rhythm, and he'll prove his worth.

[SnakeBoy]

Sean was talking about how Kawhi has made big improvements to his shooting form and will be much improved once he gets his rhythm back. Anybody notice what's different about his form so far?

[r0drig0lac]

Something is wrong, dude is not doing the mid-court dunk.

hahaha

[superbigtime]

I think we are going to see big effort tonight from all, including Big 3, Green, Kawhi. Leonard is not the only Spur playing crappy. Still will be tough game w/o Splitter. Big man rotation is so damn weak.

[Agloco]

:cry What's wrong with Kwahi? He's not going balls to the wall in the 4th regular season game? :cry

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

It does seem to me he may be overthinking a bit. He's struggling, and it seems that he's too aware of that. Maybe he just has too high of expectations of himself and he gets too fristrated when he doesn't meet those expectations. He'll figure it out, and it'll help him to have Timmy in the rotation.

[Hemotivo]

y8zhDrzorXs

GOAT

indeed

[urunobili]

dat vid :cry early/mid 2000's Manu is a top5 all time SG TBH

[AusEM]

y8zhDrzorXs

GOAT

As good as last championship felt, watching that video made me think I prefer the Horry years. Team ball was not as good, but they were fun (and not just the dunk in 5 or the hip check).

[Ice009]

Yep, I loved those teams. The ball movement wasn't as good, but the defense was awesome and Tim and Manu were on another level back then.

I also forgot how much of a fan Kevin Willis was of Manu. He really was one of Manu's biggest fans, same with Steve Kerr. I also apologize to him and Tony Massenburg for even thinking Baynes can play the same enforcer roles they did with the Spurs.

I wanted Baynes back, and so far he's been a huge disappointment. So that one is on me if he doesn't improve.

Daye, Ayres, Bonner and possibly Baynes shouldn't have been bought back. Spurs should have tried to get upgrades. Look for hungrier, younger players that will go all out when getting their chance out there. Spurs end of the bench guys are playing very soft so far this season.

Anderson is also better than them all and he's not getting court time.

[GrandeDavid]

Give Kawhi a max contract! He can put up a donut and not thwart a Houston shoulda been 40 point beatdown. Isn't that what max players do?

[daslicer]

As good as last championship felt, watching that video made me think I prefer the Horry years. Team ball was not as good, but they were fun (and not just the dunk in 5 or the hip check).

The Horry years were more exciting because the big 3 were in their primes. Any one of the big 3 during those years could go off and win a game.

[LarryDavid]

You know a SPUR. So far he looks like a punk, that shouldn't be wearing silver and black.

:lol:lol

[tholdren]

Baynes and Leonard look like poster boys for the new generation of shitty NBA players. Maybe that's what happens when you get a female coach... you play like a soft bitch.

But it's just a couple games. They will turn it around.

[AztecSpur]

I am compleltey befuddled with what's going on with KL. He looks like absolute crap, like his first year in the league. I wasn't worried until someone mentioned he hasn't even attempted a dunk. Really? That can't possibly be true.

He's not even squaring up to the basket when dribbling to the center, almost like he's afraid to even attempt a pull up jumper, he's deffering. Like when Pop told jim last year to stop deferring, then his game started to pick up. But this is his fourth year, he shouldnt have to be told to stop deferring. The only thing that makes sense to me is that Pop has told him to look pass first, the rest will come. I can't stand to watch this much longer.

Post edit; OK it's a burry eye ! Makes sense now that he's deferring and not getting the minutes. Whew........OK so why should that effect his dunk?

[apalisoc_9]

Not enough touches and minutes...

Tony doing his best....

[DJR210]

You would think Kawhi try would and assert himself more considering he is demanding a max contract..He's gonna play himself into a middle of the pack deal at this rate.

[cd021]

Not enough touches and minutes...

Tony doing his best....

He still looks like he's forcing it a bit when he does have the ball. Did much better final few minutes of the games,

[cd021]

You would think Kawhi try would and assert himself more considering he is demanding a max contract..He's gonna play himself into a middle of the pack deal at this rate.

I don't think his value would free fall like that. Some team would offer him the max. He had a slow start last season as well but got hot around the time he came back from his broken finger.

I thinking he is pressing a bit, he will learn to balance getting his shot and playing alongside the big 3. If he can up his FT rate (and FT %) and keep his 3pt % steady, I think he could average around 14 or 15 ppg.

[TheGreatYacht]

VINTAGE KAWHI

bricks ISO's all game... Finally makes a shot in 4th Q when Pop literally has to spoon feed him :lmao

[rasuo214]

After tonight I'm convinced his depth perception is a bit off, he missed a lot of shots he normally would have made. It probably has impacted his confidence on the offensive end but he did pick it up a bit towards the end. Interested to see where he's at a month from now.

[Malik Hairston]

After tonight I'm convinced his depth perception is a bit off, he missed a lot of shots he normally would have made. It probably has impacted his confidence on the offensive end but he did pick it up a bit towards the end. Interested to see where he's at a month from now.

He admitted following tonight's game that his eye is still bothering him..

[wildchild]

Leonard said his right eye still hasn't recovered and may not for weeks or months. He described it as still cloudy around the edges, with clarity coming and going throughout the day


Leonard says his right eye still goes cloudy from time to time. He is still trying to work through the problem.
Doctors have told them there is little else they can do for him, but the issue should correct itself over time.
“It just has to run its course,” Leonard said. The doctor (team eye specialist Dr. Ed Rashid) said there were some military guys who had it for weeks and some for months

Weeks or months...

[boutons_deux]

does anybody know the specific microbe or virus than infected Kawhi?

[hyhy]

At least his defense is back today

[Uriel]

Leonard says right eye still blurry

Posted on November 9, 2014 | BY JEFF MCDONALD (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/author/jmcdonald/)


SAN ANTONIO — It turns out Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard has a pretty good explanation for the slow start to his season. He still can’t see straight.
Leonard said after Saturday’s loss to New Orleans that his right eye remains blurry after a preseason bout with conjunctivitis.

“My right eye, the vision’s not all the way back yet,” Leonard said. “Hopefully I can heal up soon. I’ve just got to keep competing so I can get used to it and get my rhythm going.”
Leonard shot 7 for 26 in his first three games, and started 2-for-8 against the Pelicans. He ended up 5 for 13 with 14 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, but missed two shots on the Spurs’ final possession that could have given them the game.

The MVP of last season’s Finals, Leonard says his right eye still goes cloudy from time to time. He is still trying to work through the problem. Doctors have told them there is little else they can do for him, but the issue should correct itself over time.

“It just has to run its course,” Leonard said. The doctor (team eye specialist Dr. Ed Rashid) said there were some military guys who had it for weeks and some for months.”

Asked if he believed he could play through his eye condition, Leonard said: “I have to. That’s what I’m doing now. I can’t wait and sit on the sidelines anymore just wasting games. It might not ever clear up until summer, so I’m playing now.”
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2014/11/09/leonard-says-right-eye-still-blurry/

[tholdren]

Excuses. I would rather him suck and not complain than make excuses. His actions off the court are more troubling than on the court.

[loveforthegame]

Excuses. I would rather him suck and not complain than make excuses. His actions off the court are more troubling than on the court.

His actions off the court? What did I miss?

[DJR210]

Pop needs to summon Finals games 3,4, and 5 Kawhi and turn him loose

[apalisoc_9]

^

I thought he was pretty loose in the second half last night...

[weeks]

Might not clear up until summer? Are we fucking serious right now? Goddammit

[Mr Bones]

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2014/11/09/leonard-says-right-eye-still-blurry/


He's still having vision problems after having a bad case of conjunctivitis, plain and simple. My guess would be it has nothing whatsoever to do with motivation, contracts, money, attitude, or loyalty... but if you "fans" who loved him 6 months ago want to keep speculating and, in many cases, criticizing him, have fun with that.

[Malik Hairston]

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2014/11/09/leonard-says-right-eye-still-blurry/


He's still having vision problems after having a bad case of conjunctivitis, plain and simple. My guess would be it has nothing whatsoever to do with motivation, contracts, money, attitude, or loyalty... but if you "fans" who loved him 6 months ago want to keep speculating and, in many cases, criticizing him, have fun with that.

It's the nature of sports fans in general, especially Spurs fans..

Last year was full of threads of fans that turned on Ginobili, fans that wanted to bench Danny Green because he was slumping for a few weeks, and there's the constant Tony Parker hate, too..

[Mr Bones]

It's the nature of sports fans in general, especially Spurs fans..

Last year was full of threads of fans that turned on Ginobili, fans that wanted to bench Danny Green because he was slumping for a few weeks, and there's the constant Tony Parker hate, too..

It's true, and it amazes me. The Spurs finished last season with the best record in the NBA, and then annihilated the defending champs to be the new champs, but half the people on spurstalk would rather talk about how much they hate Ayres or Daye. You'd think the Spurs missed the playoffs last year, looking at this website for the first time. Can you imagine Houston Rockets fans in 1995 complaining that despite Hakeem, Drexler, Horry, & Kenny Smith being great teammates and their team going for back to back championships, they're enraged that Tim Breaux is taking up space on the bench!!! And Zan Tabak is on the goddam team! He sucks!!!! Fire Tomjanovich!!!!

It's ridiculous.

[Godbama]

I heard talk of the conjunctivitis issues potentially lasting till summer? We're fucked if that's true.

[siraulo23]

Leonard-Could-Deal-With-Blurry-Eye-Until-Summer

Leonard admitted he could deal with the issue for a while, even late into the season.

“I have to," Leonard said when asked if he believed he could play through his eye condition. "That’s what I’m doing now. I can’t wait and sit on the sidelines anymore just wasting games. It might not ever clear up until summer, so I’m playing now.”

[BatManu20]

If you can’t see straight, how can anyone expect you to shoot straight?

That’s the excuse of the NBA Finals MVP and why he hasn’t ripped apart NBA defenses quite like he did the Heat last June. Kawhi Leonard is dealing with vision issues and while his ailment will eventually pass, he’s clearly frustrated with his eyesight, something we all take for granted until a speck of dust happens to take up residence under our eyelids.

In the preseason, Leonard dealt with conjunctivitis, which is known as “pink eye.” Evidently the issue has stuck around to follow Leonard into the season and, well, the rim appears fuzzy, like a 1940s movie.

Leonard is shooting 31 percent and averaging 9.5 points. He’s still rebounding (8.0) and defending well, but the inability to aim correctly is driving him nuts. He missed two shots on the final possession of a close loss Saturday to the Pelicans (although he did get a double-double anyway). Leonard told the San Antonio Express-News he’ll try to play through it as best as possible:

“My right eye, the vision’s not all the way back yet. Hopefully I can heal up soon. I’ve just got to keep competing so I can get used to it and get my rhythm going. I can’t wait and sit on the sidelines anymore just wasting games. It might not clear up until summer, so I’m playing now.”

Leonard said he was told by team doctor Ed Rashid that some victims suffer blurred vision for weeks and even a few months. What’s tough is that pink eye can’t be controlled by wearing goggles or doubling up the eye drops. It just needs to run its course.

In the meantime, what makes Leonard a valuable player is his multiple skills. Pink eye would seriously reduce the effectiveness of a scorer like Carmelo Anthony, for example. But Leonard brings defense and rebounding and so he can still command and earn solid playing time without causing the Spurs much, if any, grief.

The Spurs are also dealing with Tiago Splitter’s nerve problem, which would be traced to disk inflammation. For the most part, the Spurs were able to dodge injuries last season, especially important for a team with a veteran core, and that helped push them safely through the postseason. They can only hope that pink eye isn’t an omen of what’s to come.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2014/11/09/blurry-is-making-kawhi-leonard-worry/