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MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
One doesn’t need numbers to know Kawhi Leonard is special.
With Leonard, simply seeing is knowing.
Numbers can’t tell you how he effortlessly glides to and fro in sync with his defensive assignment, step for step, tracing his man’s every move. They can’t tell you how he poked the ball away with the shot clock running down, forcing an errant shot and a lost possession.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to play around with stats.
Here’s one that should work Spurs Nation into a frenzy: Not a single player in NBA history has ever combined Leonard’s current scoring prowess, shooting efficiency and defensive dominance in one season.
His concurrent marks of 20.5 points on 51.5 percent shooting and 48.8 percent on 3-pointers is tremendous in its own right, but take into account his 95 defensive rating and you have a truly singular season, one that's never been seen before.
Larry Bird and Michael Jordan came close to matching those marks, but fell short in both 3-point percentage and defensive rating even after dropping the baselines.
That doesn’t mean Leonard is having a better season than Stephen Curry – who might be turning in the greatest regular-season performance anyone has ever seen – or that he’s better than Bird or LeBron James or Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen, but it does demonstrate what a unique talent he has become.
Few players have ever been able to affect a game on both sides of the floor the way Leonard has.
At his peak, James was a monster on both ends. Jordan, Pippen, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest – all were some of the best two-way threats in NBA history at their apex.
But Leonard has the terrifying potential to be better than each of them defensively, and the grueling offseason work he puts in has allowed him to take massive leaps offensively from season to season, something he’s poised to continue doing as he enters his prime.
He won’t turn 25 until after this season, traditionally the age players begin to peak. And that might be the most exciting number of all.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/s...en-6861582.php
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
:tu
Thanks for sharing!!
Nothing we didn't already know, but it's nice to read how it stacks in comparison to other historical seasons and current players.
:claw
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Gotta love to witness this. Sadly, he's being overshadowed by the alien that is Curry.
Wish Spurs would go the distance so Kawhi got into his prime with 2 titles and a couple of FMVPs.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
If he doesnt make first team, its going.to be the biggest travesty.pf the year. Speaks volume of how powerful casual fans are in terms of media voting..ie selling intellectual honesty for views and clicks.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BatManu20
At his peak, James was a monster on both ends. Jordan, Pippen, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest – all were some of the best two-way threats in NBA history at their apex.
LOL.
http://www.clickypix.com/wp-content/...-Things-17.jpg
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
D-Rating is a garbage individual stat but yes he's truly unique
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
His career will go like tim Duncan's at this rate. Elite in his own right but overshadowed. 50/48/88 on 20ppg on 24% usage. No doubt his best season in a Spur uniform. He's doubled his winshares and VOSP since his rookie season. His three point percentage has blown up....from 34% last season. That's unheard of. I truly don't know whats gotten into him but sheesh. He the best overall player in the leagues when you consider that he's a two way player. He uses his athletic capabilities to his advantage unlike various other basketball players in the league. His shooting competence has made an incredible jump.
Lets remind ourselves that hes 24 years of age. Its incredible what he's doing.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
:worthy:
It's been fun watching him grow each season. These numbers are incredible.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
This curry "alien", "historical", "never seen before" is sickening. Leonard is a far better OVERALL player. Leonard would kill curry in the paint.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
He is like a modern day Scottie Pippen, but a better version
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
I am wanting to see Curry and Leonard meet up in the WCF. That should be a good opportunity to compare them.
Kawhi is having an incredible season and he has been known to find an extra gear in the playoffs as well as ending seasons on a strong note.
It is possible his numbers continue to climb this year.
Unbelievable growth for this kid!!!
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Actually it's not even an issue of selective stats: widening the field with 45% FG, 45% 3P and 100 DRtg only yields players who shot fewer than five 3-pointers.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ginobilized
I am wanting to see Curry and Leonard meet up in the WCF. That should be a good opportunity to compare them.
Kawhi is having an incredible season and he has been known to find an extra gear in the playoffs as well as ending seasons on a strong note.
It is possible his numbers continue to climb this year.
Unbelievable growth for this kid!!!
You can't truly compare the two and its not fair. He lacks the size, length, Curry tries to play defense on opponents but does not have the physical natural ability to do so. Curry gets lit up by various point guards in the league. Kerr switches him when he has no choice but Curry chooses the matcup. Its not his role to stop these guys. He's elite because he maximizes what he can actually do with his body.
Thompson, Green, Iguodala play the defensive roll for him. Curry plays the offensive juggernaut which he's fully capable of. As long as those three carry him him on defense, he'll carry them on offense.
Kawhi Leonard is capable of both in Pop's system. Granted, Pop system is based on more efficient shooting and non halfcourt threes like Golden State's. This is why Kawhi is the top percentage shooter since the offense creates open shots.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
spurraider21
D-Rating is a garbage individual stat but yes he's truly unique
That's why I used "Defensive Box Plus/Minus" unlike those incompetent plagiarizing bundle-of-sticks at MySA.:wakeup
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kawhitstorm
Should sue them. A few post have been stolen here before. Some guy on espn even got fired three years ago when he stole a thread post here.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
apalisoc_9
Should sue them. A few post have been stolen here before. Some guy on espn even got fired three years ago when he stole a thread post here.
:lmao............:wow..........:lmao
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kawhitstorm
:lmao............:wow..........:lmao
Yeah some guy from espn stole timvp post word by word. What an idiot. I think its pretty normal for writers to read forums and get ideas
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
apalisoc_9
Yeah some guy from espn stole timvp post word by word. What an idiot. I think its pretty normal for writers to read forums and get ideas
You mean Bill Simmons aka BS (how fitting):lol
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
:claw
Respect to Kawhitstorm
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Should hire an editor and make a newsletter of the best of the best posts with stats, and opinions, etc and be like ESPN insider for Spurs. Charge about a dollar a subscription and divvy up the doe with the contributors. Encouraged better talk and rewards those that are good at something to do more. Imagine...
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Everything Kawhi and the Spurs are doing is overshadowed by the historic season by Curry and the Warriors. It's truly amazing the numbers Kawhi and the team are putting up. Even more amazing is that they can still somewhat be under the radar at 50-9 because of the Warriors. Personally, I hope the Warriors do get the record. There's tremendous pressure in the playoffs already. To go in with 73+ wins, just adds to that pressure.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kawhitstorm
You mean Bill Simmons aka BS (how fitting):lol
Nah nah not bill simmons. Lol..
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SpursforSix
Metta World Peace, fixed it for them. /blue
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
apalisoc_9
If he doesnt make first team, its going.to be the biggest travesty.pf the year. Speaks volume of how powerful casual fans are in terms of media voting..ie selling intellectual honesty for views and clicks.
yeah they'll probably all vote in Ariza and Bradley Beal over him tbh
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Kwahi's stats--and consequent recognition nationwide (by fans only) may be diluted by Pop if he limits his minutes to preserve his longevity. But he's getting plenty of props as it is on awards and so on.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
First team all-NBA
Curry
Leonard
LeBron
Durant
Boogie
I know Leonard is a F but he's more deserving than any 2.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Dunno why the blogger is creaming himself over stuff like 12's defense....
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
"mysanantonio"
yeah, not feeling it.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Good read, impressive numbers. Thanks for posting! :toast
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cry Havoc
First team all-NBA
Curry
Leonard
LeBron
Durant
Boogie
I know Leonard is a F but he's more deserving than any 2.
For the same f... reason Kawhi didn't make the 3rd team last season even when he had more votes than Klay and Irving
Quote:
A player is given five points for a First-Team nomination, three points for the Second-Team and one for the Third-Team. Each team is comprised of two guards, two forwards and a center.
The NBA’s necessity to categorize players to a position contributed to Leonard’s absence from the prestigious list, despite finishing with more points than Third-Team members Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving.
http://thesportsquotient.com/nba/201...thing-is-wrong
Reading the old article...Kawhi finished #16 in PER last season. Now he's #4 in PER :claw
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
spurraider21
D-Rating is a garbage individual stat but yes he's truly unique
Well, he's #1 among non-bigs in DBPM...
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
YGWHI
Good read, impressive numbers. Thanks for posting! :toast
For the same f... reason Kawhi didn't make the 3rd team last season even when he had more votes than Klay and Irving
http://thesportsquotient.com/nba/201...thing-is-wrong
Reading the old article...Kawhi finished #16 in PER last season. Now he's #4 in PER :claw
Kawhi is listed as a SG/SF this year by yahoo, so maybe he's played some minutes at the 2?
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cry Havoc
Kawhi is listed as a SG/SF this year by yahoo, so maybe he's played some minutes at the 2?
No, it's b/c of Kawhi's refusal to play PF.:wakeup
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kawhitstorm
No, it's b/c of Kawhi's refusal to play PF.:wakeup
Parker
Patty
Danny
Manu
Kawhi
DO IT POP.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
this and many other nice Spurs stats will probably change a little when the schedule goes from easiest in the NBA to 3rd toughest
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MoSpur
He is like a modern day Scottie Pippen, but a better version
Kawhi is amazing, but Pippen today would be even better
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
r0drig0lac
Kawhi is amazing, but Pippen today would be even better
Pippen w/o Jordan was avg like 22 ppg those two seasons. Kawhi is imo a better defensive version of Pippen but there offensive are comparable stat wise w/ Kawhi being a better 3 point shooter and Pippen being a better passer.
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
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Re: MySA: Kawhi Leonard is Doing Something We've Never Seen Before
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cowboys_Wear_Spurs
Pippen w/o Jordan was avg like 22 ppg those two seasons. Kawhi is imo a better defensive version of Pippen but there offensive are comparable stat wise w/ Kawhi being a better 3 point shooter and Pippen being a better passer.
I understand, but I talked about Pippen play today (ERA perimeter players), it would be easier for him offensively, and that would be seen in their statistics. Defensively Pippen is more versatile (the ideal prototype player today) which to me is more important
