Injury Report: Kawhi Leonard will sit out tonight (knee); diagnosis 1 game.

[SupremeGuy]

So is my boy Kawhi playing tonight?

[DesignatedT]

San Antonio Spurs ‏@spurs
Kawhi Leonard will return to action to tonight against Golden State. #GoSpursGo

[Obstructed_View]

Sure. If you want, you can read the recent part of the thread to see that we all agreed on that. I was talking about something else.

About how overrated he is. Yeah, it sounds stupid to say.

[Obstructed_View]

and they won't do it with out a healthy Ginobili either.

True, but less so than in previous seasons. There are playoff scenarios where Leonard is probably as vital as Manu to the team's chances.

[Chinook]

About how overrated he is. Yeah, it sounds stupid to say.

So you don't read the thread and then try to respond a day later?

I was talking about how silly it was to think Leonard was so important that though the team has gone on winning streaks missing him, Jack and the Big Three at points, that people would think him being out for a game automatically meant a loss. Seeing as the Spurs blew the Clippers out, I think my annoyance at those bad takes was warranted.

I also said that Leonard is getting overrated by people who think he's already a star, or even anymore than a role player right now. I posted a quote for 48MoH to show what I meant.

[Obstructed_View]

So you don't read the thread and then try to respond a day later?

I responded immediately. The Clippers didn't show up and you think that means Leonard's overrated. You responded, I responded. I don't see where time passing between responses makes your take any less dumb.

I was talking about how silly it was to think Leonard was so important that though the team has gone on winning streaks missing him, Jack and the Big Three at points, that people would think him being out for a game automatically meant a loss. Seeing as the Spurs blew the Clippers out, I think my annoyance at those bad takes was warranted.

Don't recall anyone saying his absence automatically means a loss. A big win in his absence doesn't mean he's not a huge cog in this team's le chances.

I also said that Leonard is getting overrated by people who think he's already a star, or even anymore than a role player right now. I posted a quote for 48MoH to show what I meant.

A star, no. Part of the big three, obviously not. Any more than a role player right now? Um, yeah.

[Chinook]

I responded immediately. The Clippers didn't show up and you think that means Leonard's overrated. You responded, I responded. I don't see where time passing between responses makes your take any less dumb.

No, you waited a 20 hours after I suggested you read the thread to see what my argument was (because you obviously hadn't), and then your response showed you STILL hadn't read the thread. It's cool if you didn't want to do it, but you shouldn't have tried to continue to the argument then.

Don't recall anyone saying his absence automatically means a loss. A big win in his absence doesn't mean he's not a huge cog in this team's le chances.

Yeah, that's why it's clear you hadn't read the thread (or even my responses). No one was arguing whether Leonard was needed for the Spurs to win a le. I was specifically addressing the doom-and-gloom at ude in this thread. People were talking about Pop sitting Leonard as a sign he didn't take the game seriously, and many were predicting a loss here and in the game thread. You know that at ude very well, since you were spearheading it.

A star, no. Part of the big three, obviously not. Any more than a role player right now? Um, yeah.

There are stars and then there are role players (and then non-factors). There is no in-between. There are varying degrees of role players, for sure. Bruce Bowen was on another level than Robert Horry, who was on another level than Steve Kerr, Kevin Willis and the like. Role players are necessary to win a le. Jack was a role player in 2003, for example. It's not an insult to call someone that, especially in their second year. Leonard will have to play his role for the Spurs to win, as will Splitter and Green.

The basic issue I have with much of your argument is that it blurs this distinction. Shane Battier was essential for the Heat to win last season, but would have seemed crazy if Heat fans had freaked out when Battier got injured this season. Likewise, it would have made little sense for Mavericks fans to be more upset about JJ Barea leaving than Tyson Chandler leaving. Essential (even critical) role players are still role players.

[Juan]

Leonard arguably the Spurs best player in the NBA Finals.