Why is Kawhi getting so much hate?

He played a solid all-around game, and he's still a top 5 player in the league that can look like the best player in the world on some nights, but there is no denying he is offensively limited at the moment. He severely needs a strong dribble drive game to go with his midrange game.

He's not yet a player who can take over a game offensively with 35-45 points in multiple playoff games during a series. He might do it once, and it'll be closer to 30 than 40. See Durant. Had a 41 point game and a 37 point game in two of the most important games of the series.

Kawhi isn't at that level right now. Maybe in time.

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Originally Posted by midnightpulp

He played a solid all-around game, and he's still a top 5 player in the league that can look like the best player in the world on some nights, but there is no denying he is offensively limited at the moment. He severely needs a strong dribble drive game to go with his midrange game.

He's not yet a player who can take over a game offensively with 35-45 points in multiple playoff games during a series. He might do it once, and it'll be closer to 30 than 40. See Durant. Had a 41 point game and a 37 point game in two of the most important games of the series.

Kawhi isn't at that level right now. Maybe in time.

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Not his fault he can't guard all 5 players on the floor at the same time and has to be its best scorer and rebounder and legit 3 point shooter all the time.

Sorry brah, but Leonard is the best player on our team and he is going to be the one to shoulder the blame. Leonard is a beast, he is my favorite player, but imo he got exposed as being a very flat offensive player and all the talk about him being on the Curry/LeBron/Durant/Westbrook tier was premature. I think he'll get there because he works non-stop in the offseason but we lost because our offense was a complete dumpster fire and he is the one leading the way. Goes the territory with being the leader, tbh

I forgot to say playmaker too.

Team can't defend without Kawhi. Team can't rebound without Kawhi. Team can't score without KAwhi. Team can't playmake without Kawhi. Fuck your standards faggot. We got players that whole job is to score, and they couldn't even do that.

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Originally Posted by dabom

Not his fault he can't guard all 5 players on the floor at the same time and has to be its best scorer and rebounder and legit 3 point shooter all the time.

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It's not a matter of energy, it's his offensive style. Even the best midrange shooters and midrange post players only average about 45% from that distance. Dirk is probably the king of the mid range jumper, and even he only averages about .460 from 10-23 feet over his career.

It's why teams give up the midrange shot to better defend the drive and 3. Most inefficient shot in basketball.

I'm tired of all these fucking bitchmade hoes with these fucking Jordan scoring/ Duncan defense standards.

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Originally Posted by midnightpulp

It's not a matter of energy, it's his offensive style.

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maybe if he had a real pg...

Go back to the beautiful game.

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Originally Posted by midnightpulp

It's not a matter of energy, it's his offensive style. Even the best midrange shooters and midrange post players only average about 45% from that distance. Dirk is probably the king of the mid range jumper, and even he only averages about .460 from 10-23 feet over his career.

It's why teams give up the midrange shot to better defend the drive and 3. Most inefficient shot in basketball.

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We lost this series cause Pop kept playing Kyle/West all series over more Green/Duncan combo. Have you ever played any team games? Playing equal or worse players in your team will hurt your team because of cohesion. You have synergy with your old teammates. Pop basically fucking this team raw. Not on Kawhi this series.

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Originally Posted by YGWHI

Neither with LMA as #1.

But the Spurs can get success with Kawhi and LMA working as some interchangeable scoring tandem of 1-a/1-b most games.

They just need a decent supporting cast.

Westbrook didn't outplay Kawhi in the series, either Durant/LMA...but their role players killed ours.

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Most games that don't include elite teams. Until the Spurs get drivers and shooters, this team is second round fodder. The beautiful game that delivered #5 is long gone and I can't help but think that the Kawhi and LMA tandem has a lot to do with that.

22 points 9 rebounds 5 assist 3 steals. WTF you want of our superstar?

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Originally Posted by dabom

We lost this series cause Pop kept playing Kyle/West all series over more Green/Duncan combo. Have you ever played any team games? Playing equal or worse players in your team will hurt your team because of cohesion. You have synergy with your old teammates. Pop basically fucking this team raw. Not on Kawhi this series.

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I don't blame Kawhi for the series loss. Pop is probably 80% to blame. Bench gets the other 20%. I'm just saying what Kawhi needs to add to his game to reach the offensive level of a Durant, Lebron, etc.

Kawhi is a great #2 guy, but sure as fuck isn't a #1 nor will he ever be. And now that your only true #1 guy is a shell of his former self, on the verge of retirement, enjoy years of second round exits with Kawhi. Which is still way better than what the Mavs or Rockets will accomplish in that time.

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Originally Posted by Random5843

Well he isn't top five player. Not yet. He was supposed to only be Bowen's reincarnation. Right now he's way past him.

I'd say he'll become a lot better. Even Curry got better at what? 27?

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He was 2nd in MVP voting DPOY and very possibly 1st team All NBA this year. That would make him a top 5 player in my world.

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Originally Posted by midnightpulp

I don't blame Kawhi for the series loss. Pop is probably 80% to blame. Bench gets the other 20%. I'm just saying what Kawhi needs to add to his game to reach the offensive level of a Durant, Lebron, etc.

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The coach is not 80% of this loss. This was about players performing or not. The bench was awful in this series after being really good throughout the RS.

KAwhi with a .300WS/48. That's superstar.

Kevin Durant has never been close to that.

Playoffs Advanced

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Season	Age	Tm	Lg	Pos	G	MP	PER	TS%	3PAr	FTr	ORB%	DRB%	TRB%	AST%	STL%	BLK%	TOV%	USG%		OWS	DWS	WS	WS/48		OBPM	DBPM	BPM	VORP
2009-10	21	OKC	NBA	SF	6	231	16.6	.499	.285	.504	3.8	18.4	11.0	13.4	0.7	2.8	12.8	34.0		-0.1	0.3	0.3	.054		-0.6	0.3	-0.3	0.1
2010-11	22	OKC	NBA	SF	17	722	24.1	.582	.316	.484	3.0	18.8	11.1	13.3	1.2	2.0	9.1	29.0		2.6	0.6	3.3	.217		4.4	0.4	4.8	1.2
2011-12	23	OKC	NBA	SF	20	837	27.5	.632	.287	.402	1.9	19.0	10.6	16.4	1.8	2.4	12.3	28.8		3.5	0.6	4.0	.231		5.6	1.7	7.3	2.0
2012-13	24	OKC	NBA	SF	11	485	26.0	.574	.285	.455	1.6	21.1	11.5	29.2	1.5	2.1	12.7	31.9		1.5	0.7	2.1	.210		6.0	2.3	8.3	1.3
2013-14	25	OKC	NBA	SF	19	815	22.6	.570	.296	.386	3.7	19.1	11.8	18.3	1.2	2.3	12.7	31.6		1.5	0.9	2.5	.145		2.6	1.7	4.3	1.3
2015-16	27	OKC	NBA	SF	10	394	18.8	.534	.298	.340	2.1	16.4	9.4	17.4	0.8	1.1	13.3	32.3		0.6	0.3	0.9	.115		0.6	-0.2	0.4	0.2
Career			NBA		83	3484	23.7	.577	.296	.422	2.6	18.9	11.0	17.9	1.3	2.1	12.0	30.7		9.6	3.5	13.1	.180		3.7	1.2	4.9	6.1

These numbers are not counting this last game.

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Originally Posted by dabom

22 points 9 rebounds 5 assist 3 steals. WTF you want of our superstar?

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On 23 shots.

His offensive game isn't on the level of his all-around game yet. It's not an insult to say that. He's only 24. He can add the dribble-drive game this Summer, hopefully.

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Originally Posted by dabom

KAwhi with a .300WS/48. That's superstar.

Kevin Durant has never been close to that.

Playoffs Advanced

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Season	Age	Tm	Lg	Pos	G	MP	PER	TS%	3PAr	FTr	ORB%	DRB%	TRB%	AST%	STL%	BLK%	TOV%	USG%		OWS	DWS	WS	WS/48		OBPM	DBPM	BPM	VORP
2009-10	21	OKC	NBA	SF	6	231	16.6	.499	.285	.504	3.8	18.4	11.0	13.4	0.7	2.8	12.8	34.0		-0.1	0.3	0.3	.054		-0.6	0.3	-0.3	0.1
2010-11	22	OKC	NBA	SF	17	722	24.1	.582	.316	.484	3.0	18.8	11.1	13.3	1.2	2.0	9.1	29.0		2.6	0.6	3.3	.217		4.4	0.4	4.8	1.2
2011-12	23	OKC	NBA	SF	20	837	27.5	.632	.287	.402	1.9	19.0	10.6	16.4	1.8	2.4	12.3	28.8		3.5	0.6	4.0	.231		5.6	1.7	7.3	2.0
2012-13	24	OKC	NBA	SF	11	485	26.0	.574	.285	.455	1.6	21.1	11.5	29.2	1.5	2.1	12.7	31.9		1.5	0.7	2.1	.210		6.0	2.3	8.3	1.3
2013-14	25	OKC	NBA	SF	19	815	22.6	.570	.296	.386	3.7	19.1	11.8	18.3	1.2	2.3	12.7	31.6		1.5	0.9	2.5	.145		2.6	1.7	4.3	1.3
2015-16	27	OKC	NBA	SF	10	394	18.8	.534	.298	.340	2.1	16.4	9.4	17.4	0.8	1.1	13.3	32.3		0.6	0.3	0.9	.115		0.6	-0.2	0.4	0.2
Career			NBA		83	3484	23.7	.577	.296	.422	2.6	18.9	11.0	17.9	1.3	2.1	12.0	30.7		9.6	3.5	13.1	.180		3.7	1.2	4.9	6.1

These numbers are not counting this last game.

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No matter his scoring. He fucking went HULK on all other aspects of the game. He probably still had the best TS% out of all the real rotation players.

kawhi could rise from the dead and people here would still complain about his abilities.

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Originally Posted by gambit1990

kawhi could rise from the dead and people here would still complain about his abilities.

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Sounds crazy but I guess that finishing 2nd in MVP voting and back to back DPOY awards isn't enough for some Spurs fans. Spoiled fan base.

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Originally Posted by TXstbobcat

Sounds crazy but I guess that finishing 2nd in MVP voting and back to back DPOY awards isn't enough for some Spurs fans. Spoiled fan base.

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my point exactly. it's unbelievable.

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Originally Posted by Clipper Nation

For the same reason why Kobe fans hated Shaq and Pau. Porker's fanboys just watched him eat shit in the playoffs again and need a scapegoat to blame it on. It used to be Manu, now it's Kawhi.

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Originally Posted by MultiTroll

It's only from people who do not understand basketball.

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Same type people who said he would be Tony Allen, Gerald Wallace, Shane Battier, etc... Now trying to hold him strictly to Tim Duncan/Michael Jordan standards at 24. They bust a nut everytime he has an average game, "he doesn't go 30/10/5/5 on 60% shooting every.single.night... on the Spurs. He sucks. I was right all along." It's a lot of people pathetically trying to cling to their past shitty takes in order to salvage a little bit of their egos, tbh. They've been in recovery mode for years already on this one, and they've got a long way to go.

He just finished 2nd in MVP voting. It wasn't a mistake. Defense is pretty important, and he's head and shoulders above any other player in the league. The offense has grown every year and will continue to do so.

As a SDSU fan, I've watched this entire series and can provide a more unbiased take on Kawhi's performance during this series.

The way I see it was that OKC did a pretty good job defending Kawhi. He didn't get many good looks at the basket as there were always a few OKC players in good defensive distance around him. If he would have tried to play "hero ball" and put the team on his back; he would have done what Kobe has done over his career....jack up a ton of shots with a crappy FG%. We've all seen the big names do it and go 7-30, scoring 25 pts while the rest of the team goes cold watching one player score (not that any of the other players were hot anyways).

Could Kawhi be more assertive? Yes, and I think that's the knock on his game right now. He has yet to learn how to impose his will on a game like the other greats. But, he's still a great piece to be one of the top three players on a team and the teammates like playing with him so that makes the rebuilding of the Spurs that much easier.

The Spurs are 3 acquisitions away from reloading this squad again in the off season. Spurs need to acquire a quality PG (first priority), quality SF (second priority - Kyle Anderson is not going to cut it), and a quality PF/C (3rd priority). Having good players come on board will help scoring, open the game up for everyone, and you'll see Kawhi perform better as well.

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Originally Posted by dabom

No matter his scoring. He fucking went HULK on all other aspects of the game. He probably still had the best TS% out of all the real rotation players.

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Oh man with advanced stats like that on his side he definitely can lead the Spurs past OKC in round 2.......oh wait......