Kawhi Leonard Needs to be More Engaged in the Spurs Offense!

[Ice009]

I think it's valuable for the Spurs that they can initiate offense out of someone not named the big 3. It makes it much harder to gameplan against in the playoffs.

yep. The big three can't score at will anymore in the playoffs so having a 4th option that can initiate offense is a must. It would make a huge difference to the Spurs and their chances to have a 4th guy that can carry the load at times.

[swaggerjackson]

I hear you guys, but how many teams have 3 players that rival Tim, Manu, and Tony and then have a 4th scoring option? The offensive boost Kawhi could bring would certainly help the team. But having a nightmare perimeter defender, solid rebounder, and spot up shooter is most likely going to be more beneficially than a good fourth option. I have few complaints about the offense. We need to get the defense into tip top shape if we are going to get another ring. They are improving of course, I am just say Kawhi's impact this year would be greater on the defensive side of the ball. But you do make a valid point about a fourth scoring option. Truthfully I consider Neal to be a fourth scoring option. He is fully capable of generating his own looks when necessary. And yes he can go overboard and play some hero ball.

[EVAY]

I would like to see him have the ball more. He is still recently back from a long injury so I think he will eventually get more looks.

This is what I have been assuming. It is almost as though Tony and Tim don't remember that he is there yet. And they may not...they had to play for so long without him. Now I think Pop is going to have to run specific plays for him to get him well integrated again. I am assuming it will happen because I think his game is ready, they just have to figure how to utilize him in a high-scoring offense, which we have become. (how many of us ever thought we would be writing about the spurs as a high scoring offense in the Pop era?)

[look_at_g_shred]

This is what I have been assuming. It is almost as though Tony and Tim don't remember that he is there yet. And they may not...they had to play for so long without him. Now I think Pop is going to have to run specific plays for him to get him well integrated again. I am assuming it will happen because I think his game is ready, they just have to figure how to utilize him in a high-scoring offense, which we have become. (how many of us ever thought we would be writing about the spurs as a high scoring offense in the Pop era?)

Well I know they've started using a certain play the last couple of games against the Bucks and Hornets where Duncan passes to Leonard on a cut. Each have resulted in monster dunks. Hopefully we run a few more plays during the game!!

[EVAY]

Well I know they've started using a certain play the last couple of games against the Bucks and Hornets where Duncan passes to Leonard on a cut. Each have resulted in monster dunks. Hopefully we run a few more plays during the game!!

I noticed the play last night too, and I believe it was right after a time out. It made me assume that Pop had called the play. I think he have to do it some more.
I thought about the post you quoted above also last night when the spurs couldn't buy a basket. It made me wonder if I had jinxed the team by referring to the Spurs as a high-scoring offense. Last night? Not so much!!

[Brunodf]

Green is more like Bowen. Pesky defender and three point specialist. Except now he is showing signs of improvement in PnR and finishing at the basket. I agree with whoever said Kawhi is overrated on ST. He is a good player and could be a great player, but he is not ready to take touches away from the big three. I think he will continue to work on outside shooting, defense, and transition game because that is what the team needs of him. Hopefully long term he can develop a backdown game. I would love to see him develop a post up and then fadeaway move. But all that will come in time. Right now the spurs are not hurting for him to provide substantial offense. He just needs to play his role consistently. In the coming years that role may grow to being a 1st or 2nd option, but not right now

[look_at_g_shred]

I noticed the play last night too, and I believe it was right after a time out. It made me assume that Pop had called the play. I think he have to do it some more.
I thought about the post you quoted above also last night when the spurs couldn't buy a basket. It made me wonder if I had jinxed the team by referring to the Spurs as a high-scoring offense. Last night? Not so much!!

Yeah come Playoff Time, when it's a grind out kind of game (Memphis, Thunder) we need a fourth and fifth scoring option outside of the Big Three. I know Neal can do it, yet we need someone else. Maybe if green can start going the lane and get some shots. When his threes are falling its cool, but when there not like last night, he needs to drive and put pressure on the Defense.

[skulls138]

I saw some good and some bad with Kawhi offensively against the Lakers. I thought he made a good layup on a breakaway after a steal. The bad part of it was his passivity in crunch time. When he drove to the basket and pulled up for a running jump shot, he passed it to Duncan even though it seemed like the shot was open and the pass got stolen. Another time he was open for the three and passed it.

[TDMVPDPOY]

KL needs more shots then just being a spot up shooter....

danny green gets alot of shots just being a spotup shooter

while neal chucks up alot of out of the system that goes unpenalized for some odd reason

i wish KL took away these 2 clowns shots attempts...

[look_at_g_shred]

Except on most fast breaks

Bump. Been awhile ehh??

[silverblackfan]

Nice bump. The kid is progressing faster than we thought he would. I just pray he stays healthy, because nothing else is going to slow him down.

[Juggity]

Bump. Been awhile ehh??

Good bump, I agree things have changed a lot for Kawhi in a short period of time. He looks solid out there on offense these days and regularly finishes well on the fast break now.

[apalisoc_9]

Good Call OP.

hopefully game 6 and 7 is enough to convince pop.

[look_at_g_shred]

I'm a big fan of Kawhi, but he's overrated on ST, tbh..

While I agree that his role should grow, he is not comfortable as a go-to guy at the moment, his dribble game is erratic, especially in transition..I'd like to see Leonard in the mid-post area working the post game and improved mid-range shot, but we haven't yet reached a point where Kawhi is efficient enough to take away touches from the big 3, tbh..

You were saying...

[look_at_g_shred]

Good Call OP.

hopefully game 6 and 7 is enough to convince pop.

Thanks. I saw he had potential to be so much more. So he gave us 19 pts and 16 boards in game 7 of the NBA Finals. Holy !

[#1spursfanNvegas]

Anybody else see the resemblance between kawhi's game and Scottie Pippen's? Both outstanding defenders, long arm lenth, smarts for the game, rebounding, all-out effort? Now i know offensively he is not near Pippen's ability, yet, but everything else reminds me of Pip.

[look_at_g_shred]

He's come along way, yet he can add so much more to his game. Love the kid tbh. The only reason Spurs have been able to compete at a high level late in this Spurs era.

[hitmanyr2k]

Anybody else see the resemblance between kawhi's game and Scottie Pippen's? Both outstanding defenders, long arm lenth, smarts for the game, rebounding, all-out effort? Now i know offensively he is not near Pippen's ability, yet, but everything else reminds me of Pip.

I can see it for sure defensively. Leonard makes game-breaking defensive plays just like Pippen did. Offensively I think what separates the two is Pippen's ball-handling and playmaking skills which I don't think Kawhi is going to get a chance to improve as long as Parker and Ginobili are around. I would like to see more of Leonard getting the rebound and pushing the ball on the break to create easy buckets for himself or his teammates similar to what he did last night on the break where he got an easy bucket for Danny Green. That's what Pippen used to do all the time for the Bulls. I noticed Kawhi has also developed a nice post game with the jumphook and turnaround shot when he gets mismatches on smaller defenders. He just needs to work on his footwork to have counters to beat the bigger defenders and double-teams. As long as he keeps working it'll all come in due time.

[313]

He's come along way, yet he can add so much more to his game. Love the kid tbh. The only reason Spurs have been able to compete at a high level late in this Spurs era.

He didn't even have an off season to improve. He'll be great next year, barring injury.

[wildchild]

He's come along way, yet he can add so much more to his game. Love the kid tbh. The only reason Spurs have been able to compete at a high level late in this Spurs era.

Well as the le says -still valid in 2014 Playoffs- Leonard needs to be more engaged in the Spurs offense...

He struggled offensively in the 4thq and OT, missed bunnies, took bad shots, but he was great in the first three quarters.
Despite his poor offensive performance in the last minutes he didn't lose focus on D, his rebounding and strip-steal on Westbrook kept the Spurs alive.

He's a true and amazing two-way player, the Spurs really need involve him in offense early in the game, keep giving him the ball and get him aggressive, even if he makes mistakes like last game.

[wildchild]

He has greatly improved his moves every season and also has room to improve more...

Game 1


Game 4

[look_at_g_shred]

Am I the only one who sees this. Don't get me wrong I love that Kawhi can be a spot up 3 point shooter when Tony or Manu drive and kicks, yet I believe he should drive the ball in more often. We all know homeboy can dunk. I think it would help us out against bigs (thunder, lakers, clippers). We could get their bigs into foul trouble early. Also when he gets in the paint, he rarley misses. Thoughts?

Man..seems like a lifetime ago.

[YGWHI]

the Spurs really need involve him in offense early in the game, keep giving him the ball and get him aggressive, even if he makes mistakes like last game

5th season and involving him on offense in the first quarter is still an issue.

Kawhi took less than 2 shots in the last two games.

[dabom]

Honestly, I feel that Pop is grooming him to be a Bowen type of player and save his energies for the defensive side of things.

ing fail reddit user.

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Lakers