It hasn't been stated enough, but Kawhi Leonard Is more Valuable than Manu..

[Godbama]

Manu was definitely my favorite Spur and his contributions to the Spurs over the years are priceless...but these days it's gotten more and more painful to watch his often inconsistent and wild play. That style used to be what made him appealing, the Manu giveth and he taketh away...but these days more and more it feels like he damns more than saves.
Like dwelling on that Manu buzzerbeater against GSW last year, that was such an epic moment for me as a Manu fan...but post-G6 I look back and think "You know, Manu's heroics were only necessary because he took some really dumb shots like that totally unnecessary earlier impulsive three that gave the Warriors an opportunity".
These days we're thankful if Manu's gambling break even. Whereas before his wild unpredictable style was IMO the most beautiful basketball out there, now his "wildness" seems to be "take impulsive bad look at a three". I want Manu, not ing Antoine Walker.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't blame the guy, I'm not going to be that lame fan who calls him "Turnobili"or w/e. Father time is father time (and besides it's not like it's Manu's fault Parker's injury woes forced him into taking on more and more ballhandling duty) Manu doesn't have the lifespan-lengthening benefit of being a seven footer like Timmy. He's lost some steps, some style, and years and years of playing hard and body-sacrificing basketball have caught up to him. It happens to everyone, and he still had a great season this year that put him in the best sixth man award convo (plus he'll forever be King of Nutmegs).
It's just...not as fun to watch him play sometimes these days. It's not his fault but it doesn't change the reality: more often than not watching his basketball decisions is an unpleasant experience. That's hard for me to come to terms with or even grasp, considering he was always my favorite member of the Big Three.
And now on the other hand as I find myself deriving less and less enjoyment from watching him play, watching Kawhi is rapidly exponentially heading in the opposite direction (though obviously sadly there's really no one who can replace the thrills Prime Manu gave me).
Father time, man.

[jag]

He drives me crazy and I wish he had a shorter leash, but he's a special player who has spent his entire career out-competing everyone else on the floor.

Every once in awhile you'll see glimpses of what he used to be and you're reminded of how special he is...and that there will never be another Manu. Then a few possessions later he'll shoot a fadeaway, 25-foot airball and you wish that MFer would retire already.

That's Manu though, and it's Pop's job to know when he can contribute, and when he's a liability. Either way, the Spurs will need he and Boris to be the best players on the 2nd unit if they're going to beat OKC or Miami.

[Kidd K]

I don't know why people blame Manu. Spurs were up by double digit by the time he had 6 of his 8 TOs. To me Neal's atrocious D on Miller and Pops decision to take Tim out the game is what ultimately cost the Spurs the game.

IMO, Miami does not get two offensive Rebounds with Tim in the game on TWO FREAKIN CONSECUTIVE POSSESSIONS. That IMO, will be the decision that cost the Spurs the le, BOTTOM LINE. Pop cost the Spurs the le, not Manu.

Oh believe me, I feel that was a huge mistake too, as well as the unit Pop had on the floor to start the 4th.

[hater]

MVParker
Duncan
Kawhi
Splitter
Diaw

all those guys are more valuable than Manu. no sherlock. way to go out on a limb on that one

[james evans]

NO.

Parker is the most important player on the team and it really isn't even debatable, tbh..... It's no coincidence that the Spurs lost games 6 and 7 in last year's Finals when Parker shot a combined 9-35 (25%), tbqh. As Parker goes, the Spurs go.

hahaah what?

[cd021]

For the sake of the team Kawhi has to be the 3rd best player. If Manu's the 4th then the Spurs are a pain in the ass to beat when he is on. Leonards per 36 minutes: 16 points, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 Steals

Leonard will likely eclipse 36 mpg during the WCF and the Finals (if we make it that far)

SI.com ran an article about how drastic the Spurs shooting percentages are when he is on/off the floor. At the time it was like +8% when he was on the floor (ridiculous).

His play-making ability can open the offense up and make the Spurs almost unguarded at times. Then there are the bouts with turnovers and inconsistent shooting.

His contributution thus far is pretty impressive 14 points, 5 assists and almost 2 steals per game in the playoffs. His 39% and 31% 3pt shooting numbers are poor but they could easily improve.

[cd021]

Oh believe me, I feel that was a huge mistake too, as well as the unit Pop had on the floor to start the 4th.

Great point

I knew that was a train wreck when I first saw that lineup. I think it was Neal-Manu-Green-Diaw-Splitter

it was like he was playing keep away with the lead, Parker or Duncan should have been out there for the first 4 minutes then sub them out when the other returns for a couple of minutes to be ready to close out.

Splitter and Diaw were non threats on offense and Green was off. Manu struggled and Neal couldn't seem to get a clean shot off without having to pump fake and drive (he was clearly bothered by Miami's length and athleticism).

As for the Duncan sub out. Pop has, at least, been consistent with his use of the "switch everything" philosophy. It's not like he played a hunch and got burned the logic is there but it didn't work out.

It actually made some of sense not having Duncan in (A Bosh screen would have had Duncan either scrambling to cover Bosh our guarding Lebron. Duncan would have either had been mismatched or been waaay out of position to grab a board Splitter is would have been a better option, given his mobility and he is a better rebounder than Diaw.

Maybe even having a Green-Ginobili-Leonard-Diaw-Splitter lineup make sense ,in retrospect, makes sense in terms of versatility and rebounding.

[Kidd K]

[/B]

Great point

I knew that was a train wreck when I first saw that lineup. I think it was Neal-Manu-Green-Diaw-Splitter

it was like he was playing keep away with the lead, Parker or Duncan should have been out there for the first 4 minutes then sub them out when the other returns for a couple of minutes to be ready to close out.

Splitter and Diaw were non threats on offense and Green was off. Manu struggled and Neal couldn't seem to get a clean shot off without having to pump fake and drive (he was clearly bothered by Miami's length and athleticism).

As for the Duncan sub out. Pop has, at least, been consistent with his use of the "switch everything" philosophy. It's not like he played a hunch and got burned the logic is there but it didn't work out.

It actually made some of sense not having Duncan in (A Bosh screen would have had Duncan either scrambling to cover Bosh our guarding Lebron. Duncan would have either had been mismatched or been waaay out of position to grab a board Splitter is would have been a better option, given his mobility and he is a better rebounder than Diaw.

Maybe even having a Green-Ginobili-Leonard-Diaw-Splitter lineup make sense ,in retrospect, makes sense in terms of versatility and rebounding.

I think everyone who's watched the Spurs for at least a couple years knew that lineup was going to fold. Imo that was by far Pop's worst mistake, not the Duncan sub. Miami was down by double figs and trying to rally in the early 4th to make it close quick and I am 100% sure they had LeBron out there and I believe also Bosh or Wade but not all 3. And we had NO playmakers out there at all, plus 2 poor defenders, a dude who barely played, and a guy who shat his pants all night.

I was literally yelling at my TV because Pop was treating it like a reg season game with basic rotations by using the 5 worst players of the night to give away all the momentum we had.

Totally agree though, at the very least we needed Parker out there if not Parker and Duncan. No punches should have been pulled, but Pop rolled the dice and crapped out with the quick 6 points getting taken off that big lead in less than 2 minutes.