like i said
when Tony is back hes reduced to a spot up shooter and hes been horrible from 3 since hes gone from a 9 to 15 ppg scorer
as evidenced by his shot hitting the side of the backboard
I am by no means saying make him a 2 or a 3rd option,but you can't reduce to him to a spot up shooter. Duncan, and ginobili were having bad nights yet he stubbornly goes to Duncan and Ginobili.
In the third quarter, he runs 3 straight post up plays for boris fcking diaw. WTF?
Pop I think trust green on the offensive end even more than Leonard. They usually run more 3pt shots for him, and Leonard having to get most of his shots thru fastbreak and putbacks..
I also noticed tonight, that green did a few screen/ pick-roll picks while leonard was reduced to none. I'm sure pop is saying " Be patient, maybe in a few years" or some ....For this team to win, Spitter and leonard needs to be involved.
EDIT:
I'll also add the fact that he had leonard as an option when no one except for tony parker was making a shot.
Last edited by apalisoc_9; 03-25-2013 at 12:17 AM.
like i said
when Tony is back hes reduced to a spot up shooter and hes been horrible from 3 since hes gone from a 9 to 15 ppg scorer
as evidenced by his shot hitting the side of the backboard
I like how Pop is handling him. When we REALLY need him to shoulder the load, it will be better that he knows how to get 10-15 ppg via nice cuts, transition baskets, and spot up shooting, and won't just be limited to isolation scoring and PnR.
The Spurs need him to help shoulder the load this year, tbh..
In games like tonight, for example, where Manu is playing poorly and Duncan is being defended by an elite post defender, it would help to run some plays for the other option on the team, tbh..
Leonard can play more minutes than anybody else on the team..he should be on the floor with Ginobili when Duncan and Parker sit, tbh..
Pop's always been a big picture guy. Forcing the issue with Duncan or Ginobili might not put us in optimal position in one game against Houston, but I can't blame him for calculating that trying to get Manu and Tim in some sort rhythm is more important overall than suddenly trying to integrate Kawhi as a 3rd option. I dunno if I agree, but it's an understandable position to take w/out the benefit of hindsight.
I don't think Pop's likes to attack matchups on offense. It's usually not the best idea to attack the other team's best defender especially when you have other options.
Parson was on Parker to close the game
that means one of Lin or Harden was on Kawhi
not exactly their best defenders
and hes gone at better defender like Deng with sucess
Leonard's strongest option off the pick and roll right now is his mid range jumper. He's not good enough to drive all the way to the rim and finish (through contact) yet. He's decent on hitting the roll/pop man for an open look, although Tony obviously still does this the best.
He's also shown the ability to back down small 3s in the post and finish with his turn around hook shot. I've seen him practice this shot a lot in shootaround/practice videos with Chip.
I would've liked to see him take an additional 4-5 shots at minimum tonight on some pick and roll action and post action, but I saw neither.
Whoever it was wasn't even playing Kawhi close at all, he was halfway between Kawhi and the paint too. Was probably Lin cause I don't remember any black folk near Kawhi.
I think a TP and KY pick and roll seems like a great idea for playoff plays these year.
I think TP finds him/trust him well enough especially since the Cleveland buzzer beater, it's just on Pop like you say.
I agree 100% that Leonard needs more touches and isos and PNRs run for him. I think he's ready. That said, I'm a pop guy but I have NeVER bought into the statement that a player is not aggressive because of his coach. He made very indecisive moves in the 4th and was very content with just standing there. When he's playing well he always puts his hand up just a tad and will go for it. Now, could pop be saying stand in the corner and do nothing? Eh maybe I just don't see it and don't know of anyone he's ever said that to.
James harden is a fantastic defender I don't know where you get that.
Careful what you say on ST, I mentioned that Pop was behind Leonard's passiveness a week or so ago and got slammed for saying it. If anyone is going to the hoop more that Manu I think it comes between Pop, Manu and the BBQ grill.
Maybe, but he wasn't the most prolific scorer in college either.
Back down game. He is pretty big for an NBA small forward. I would love to see him post up and use that size, especially if he could develop a solid turnaround jump shot. I want to see this play run for him every once in a while. That way when he does get a favorable match up he can exploit it on the block. You are correct to suggest that he is a little green to create on his own, get to the basket, and finish with contact. But I think if we can get him posted up on the block or even a couple feet outside the paint, where he can back down or face up, he could do serious damage given right matchup.
It's possbile pop tell's him not to "force" things. For a 21 year old, that's pass the damn ball to duncan, parker, ginobili and wait on the corner. He doesnt need to tell him to just stand in the corner by pop telling him to pass the ball and just be "patient" he know's what his getting.
I'm not sure what you're trying to get here...Leonard isnt the same player from college .
Saying he's passive on offense is saying he is like he was in college. I'm not sure what anyone is saying here.
I'm fine with more plays being run for him.
[QUOTE=apalisoc_9;6436948]It's possbile pop tell's him not to "force" things. For a 21 year old, that's pass the damn ball to duncan, parker, ginobili and wait on the corner. He doesnt need to tell him to just stand in the corner by pop telling him to pass the ball and just be "patient" he know's what his getting.
He's never told a player not to be aggressive. He covers aggressive players.
[QUOTE=EricB;6437119]How sure are you? I would take pop's comments lightly tbh
Kawhi still has his rookie mistakes when put on the spot. for example, he shoots with people flying at him, when he could easily pump fake and drive to the basket. He also pulls up midrage a bit too much for my liking. midrange is the least efficient shot, why not continue to the basket and get fouled. And that is another thing, he needs to get to the line more. He gets to the line more and Pop will be forced to go to him more.
Unfortunately seems like Kawhi is not ready for primetime just yet.
Pop doesn't make adjustments, he'll reconfigure a line up that will leave people scratching there heads and sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't but getting the ball to certain players is something he hasn't adjusted in years. Its either going to Duncan, Manu or Tony. Not sure what the heck they were thinking with that last play call trying to get it into Manu and then shooting an 18 footer contested shot. Tony would have given them a better option to drive the ball and either find someone cutting, shoot the ball or a spot up 3.
I believe Kawhi is ready for a bigger role in the offense. To be honest. I think Splitter, Green and Kawhi all need a bigger role. Trying to push the offense through the big 3 would be a mistake for Pop and the Spurs. They need to gauge matchups and play to the hot hand because this team has 5 players who can be hot (or cold) on a given night, and 1 in Parker who can consistently shoulder the offensive load.
KL isn't a Melo/Pierce type of SF who will punish you through lighting up the scoreboard. He's simply not a born scorer; but he takes what the defense gives him.
I agree with Mr. Jones, but I don't think it's gonna happen.
[QUOTE=apalisoc_9;6437130]
100% sure. Pay attention for the past 16 years.
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