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RIP NBA imo
http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/12/...gregg-popovich
35 ppg incoming."We're trying to loosen up a bit and give him more of a green light," Popovich said. "He's getting more license. When you're a young kid, you're going to defer to Timmy and Manu and [Tony]. Now it's like, ‘To heck with those guys. The Big Three, they're older than dirt. To with them. You're the Big One. You've got to go do your deal.' So, we're trying to get him to be more demonstrative in that regard."
RIP NBA imo
But I thought he was a role player.
translation: making a case for Kawhi in the Allstar
he needs to step it up to get in the mix:
randolph
aldrige
favors
ibaka
griffin
gay
dirk
kawhi
Kawhi is about to create a path of destruction all over the NBA. War Kawhi!
The day that happens, its the end of our team
we shouldn't give green light to anyone, we have to pass the ball
*prays for Parker injury*
Pop better be careful what he wishes for. The last thing we want is for Kawhi to be jacking up more midrange jumpers off the dribble with a hand in his face, rather than kicking it out to a wide open Timmy, Tony, or Manu.
"Pop said he is the Big One"
-Kawhi's agent
Near max deal incoming
not "near"
he's getting a max deal
Those are easy shots for him, low % for others, easy for him, everything this guy shoots is high %.
Yep, this pretty much seals it.
That, or he's getting Hill'ed.
this gonna be good
From the OP:
"We're trying to loosen up a bit and give him more of a green light," Popovich said. "He's getting more license.
From an article a week ago:
"I have license to do down there in the post if I can, if I have the opportunity, and I'm just trying to be more aggressive," Leonard said.
http://www.poundingtherock.com/2014/...s-for-a-change
Spurs sticking to the talking points.
He's never going to put up shots at the volume everybody wants, tbh..his style of play doesn't fit with the Spurs, which has been evident for a minute..
He has excelled in his role, because he's very talented and is a rare case of a player that is a dual-threat as a role player and also a creator, which has been made possible due to the amazing work Chip did with his jump shot, of course..
However, the Spurs' system doesn't cater to Leonard's skill-set as an offensive player..this is an extremely unique case, as usually when teams have a talent like Leonard, it's a young team that isn't in a position to contend, and can provide all the opportunity in the world for that player to experiment and run whatever type of offense he wants/needs..
The Spurs' still have the same core, no other team has ever had their core for this long(in NBA history), they can't revamp an entire system to include heavy Leonard sets, especially on the go, while still maintaining their pace in a compe ive conference where you can't go on a losing streak if you are planning on staying in the top 4..they're certainly trying to get him more involved, a lot of post looks, but it has been painful, at times, and it's evident that the rest of the team is going to take a long time to adjust to Leonard creating offense..
It would be different if he was a guard, as the Spurs' system is very friendly to guards and finishing big men, but he's never going to be more than a spot-up shooter and "freestyler" on offense here IMO..
what I like about Kawhi is that he quietly goes out there and puts up a great production... I had no idea how many points he scored or how many rebounds he had last night until I checked the boxscore at home.
and yet Kawhi has delivered everytime the Spurs have asked more of him
no he's not the next Lebron or KD but Kawhi has improved greatly every year and he's only 23
That's the best part about Leonard..
This isn't Richard Jefferson, where we're all wondering how he's going to "fit" with the offense..in the NBA, every time there's a major addition to a team(this year, Lance Stephenson, Chandler Parsons, the Cavs, Jeremy Lin, etc) that struggles offensively, the question is always about how his style of play can fit better, and how the team can make him more comfortable in their system..
With Kawhi, even when we complain about his touches and his role, it's still always a given that he's going to rebound and defend at an elite level, at least..he has learned how to play basketball in the best system in NBA history, on a championship team, which is invaluable to his future and growth, especially if he joins a different team..
He is a hard working player, not a manufactured piece of .and yet Kawhi has delivered everytime the Spurs have asked more of him
no he's not the next Lebron or KD but Kawhi has improved greatly every year and he's only 23
Outside of Manu, I can't remember the last time a Spurs perimeter player had the green light to improvise as much as we've seen from Leonard. He's the #1 option in transition and it's not even close, and they don't seem to mind if he forces a contested shot in the paint coming off transition, instead of pulling it back and getting into a set. He's allowed to force the issue.
Even in the halfcourt, when the ball gets to him, sometimes he continues to move within the offense, drive and finish/kick, but other times he'll just take a step back and take his guy on, either with the dribble or get himself into a post position where the rest of the team clears up and gives him room to work.
To my eye it looks like he's allowed to do whatever he wants, but he's been responsible with it, not taking too many bad shots.
Of course he can be more with a few extra sets called for him (at the expense of Tim most likely) and in the future with Tim/Manu gone. I highly doubt the Spurs stick to the same thing when Tim/Manu are gone. They could, but they will have to add wrinkles.
They don't really need him doing that much more offensively.. His D is maybe even more important. Need to save some for that end..
Agreed. But he's the most efficent mid-range player on the team and top post player (maybe Tiago). Spurs system is predicated on ball movement (not stagnant post play) and not mid-range (Kawhi's specialty now), but he comes in handy and if he works on passing he could see an expanded role.
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