Kawhi. What's the story? How long is he out for? How bad is the injury? Any progress?

[Ice009]

Didn't he have an option for surgery, and that the recovery time would of been only two months or so, but he was going to wait until the offseason to have surgery? If so he should of done it, and would of been back in early-late March.

I never read/heard about them contemplating the surgery option during the season. I recall only reading it being mentioned for after the season.

If the recovery time is short, and he can get back during the regular season, they should consider doing it now. If it's a long recovery time (months), then it won't make any difference if they do it now or later, will it?

Did the ligament tear happen in that fall late in the Portland game? If so, Pop resting playing may have really cost us a lot on that. It's likely he wouldn't have been handling the ball in that situation if Pop didn't rest everyone.

[DMX7]

Kawhi being out isn't the issue. The team is playing poorly on both ends. You go that far in the playoffs three consecutive years and it's going to weigh on everyone from the ownership down to the bench.

It's not the ONLY issue, but it is a huge issue. You think the Finals MVP being out is immaterial? Give me a ing break.

[Tycriss]

Last 190 games with Kawhi Leonard : 144W-46L 75.8%
Last 50 games without Kawhi Leonard : 25W-25L 50%

[apalisoc_9]

Last 190 games with Kawhi Leonard : 144W-46L 75.8%
Last 50 games without Kawhi Leonard : 25W-25L 50%

[Johnny RIngo]

Last 190 games with Kawhi Leonard : 144W-46L 75.8%
Last 50 games without Kawhi Leonard : 25W-25L 50%

Not that surprising really. Spurs were first round fodder to the Grizzlies the year before Kawhi was drafted. Ever since, they've made three straight Conference Finals trips, back-to-back Finals, and won a championship. He's the most important player on the team.

[apalisoc_9]

Not that surprising really. Spurs were first round fodder to the Grizzlies the year before Kawhi was drafted. Ever since, they've made three straight Conference Finals trips, back-to-back Finals, and won a championship. He's the most important player on the team.

The Big 3 > Kawhi

Stop disrespecting the Big 3.

They've delivered so many wins for the team..You're not a real spurs fans.

[wildchild]

Leonard had the best win% in the NBA for 2014 year (.750)

Ain't going anywhere without Kawhi

[DMC]

It's not the ONLY issue, but it is a huge issue. You think the Finals MVP being out is immaterial? Give me a ing break.

Don't overhype Kawhi's role by calling him the FMVP as if he's now the scoring leader for the team on a nightly basis.. he's not. We should be able to have a guy out and still not get bent over by middle of the pack teams. In years past our bench would beat most of these other low rent squads.

[wildchild]

Not that surprising really. Spurs were first round fodder to the Grizzlies the year before Kawhi was drafted. Ever since, they've made three straight Conference Finals trips, back-to-back Finals, and won a championship. He's the most important player on the team.

Agree. What's the different about the Spurs being eliminated in first round...? Kawhi is the obvious answer with his momentum-changing plays on both ends in crucial games.
On a team where the Big 3 and coach remained static, Leonard was the biggest addition and the reason we have been able to win a le again.

[moisaenz]

Its just pop wanting to into the playoffs as seed 7.

[wildchild]

Don't overhype Kawhi's role by calling him the FMVP as if he's now the scoring leader for the team on a nightly basis.. he's not.

His role has increased a lot this season, he was the best defender, the second best scorer before his hand injury, and he was the leader scoring in most of his games in december.
After a hard season start with low % in his first games -0%/25% FG- because of blurry vision, his numbers began to increase in december and he was playing at high level: 17.1 ppg 7.7 reb 3.6 ast 2.1 stl

It's undeniable his importance on both ends to the Spurs but sadly Leonard is seriously underrated here.

[apalisoc_9]

His role has increased a lot this season, he was the best defender, the second best scorer before his hand injury, and he was the leader scoring in most of his games in december.
After a hard season start with low % in his first games -0%/25% FG- because of blurry vision, his numbers began to increase in december and he was playing at high level: 17.1 ppg 7.7 reb 3.6 ast 2.1 stl

It's undeniable his importance on both ends to the Spurs but sadly Leonard is seriously underrated here.

Stop disrespecting the big 3..

[BackHome]

With all the drama going over in Clipper land I don't think will be interested in joining that circus.

[Nathan89]

Agree. What's the different about the Spurs being eliminated in first round...? Kawhi is the obvious answer with his momentum-changing plays on both ends in crucial games.
On a team where the Big 3 and coach remained static, Leonard was the biggest addition and the reason we have been able to win a le again.

Splitter, diaw, green, mills, and Ginobili not being hurt also different. You look like an idiot attributing all of that to kawhi.

[apalisoc_9]

Splitter, diaw, green, mills, and Ginobili not being hurt also different. You look like an idiot attributing all of that to kawhi.

Those guys are playing right now...

And they are below .500//

You're the idiot tbh.

[itzsoweezee]

Only on spurstalk. The guy is clearly the best player on this team after Duncan. No one even comes close to having the impact on both ends of the floor like those two guys.

[wildchild]

Splitter, diaw, green, mills, and Ginobili not being hurt also different. You look like an idiot attributing all of that to kawhi.

Well, I rather look like and idiot than underrate Leonard's impact on this team.

However, I'm not alone looking like an idiot and thinking Kawhi is the reason the Spurs have been able to win a le again...

"Leonard is the reason the Spurs are chasing championships again. He changed everything for the Spurs.
He gave them size and strength and athleticism to partner with his calculating, cunning basketball mind. Eventually, he gave them a startling offensive game to go with his stifling defense. Against Oklahoma City and Miami, he gave them a defender for Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
Yes, Kawhi Leonard gave the Spurs a chance again"

Woj

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-kaw...081409439.html

[GrandeDavid]

I've said it all along, at this point still inclined to believe he's done for the season.

[apalisoc_9]

Well, I rather look like and idiot than underrate Leonard's impact on this team.

However, I'm not alone looking like an idiot and thinking Kawhi is the reason the Spurs have been able to win a le again...


Woj

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-kaw...081409439.html

Owned....

[GrandeDavid]

Even if it's bad, what's the point of keeping it a secret. I doubt it's that bad otherwise the Spurs players body language out on the court would probably be bad.

If Kobe were on the Spurs a year and a half ago when he had that injury they probably wouldn't tell anyone for weeks, yet in LA you get that info in a day or so. The Spurs would have probably said something like - oh, we weren't sure what the injury was, we got this doctor and he hasn't seen that type of injury in 50 years.

What kind of freaking doctors do the Spurs have over there? They did a similar thing with Splitter. They got guys that haven't seen the injury and don't know what is wrong with their own players.

I'd say the Spurs' body language has been on par with about 7 losses in their last 9 games and should've lost to NO las night. The body language is pretty bad.

[Nathan89]

Those guys are playing right now...

And they are below .500//

You're the idiot tbh.

Tiago and mills just came back from injury. Tony is injured. Boris diaw is having a ty season.

Schedule had a lot of back2back. Strength of schedule was very difficult. We gave away a couple of games.

[apalisoc_9]

Tiago and mills just came back from injury. Tony is injured. Boris diaw is having a ty season.

Schedule had a lot of back2back. Strength of schedule was very difficult. We gave away a couple of games.

[Nathan89]

Well, I rather look like and idiot than underrate Leonard's impact on this team.

However, I'm not alone looking like an idiot and thinking Kawhi is the reason the Spurs have been able to win a le again...


Woj

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-kaw...081409439.html

The fact of the matter is we weren't winning without the guys I mentioned. So it's still idiotic to attribute the spurs championship to the addition of one player.

[T Park]

Ah more of the Internet tough guys wanting the media to hold the team accountable lmao

[wildchild]

The fact of the matter is we weren't winning without the guys I mentioned. So it's still idiotic to attribute the spurs championship to the addition of one player.

Basketball is a team sport so we need more than a player to win games but when that player is the biggest addition and has the bigger impact on his team it's not idiotic to think his presence has been/is vital to win a le.



I don't like to talk about stats because they're incomplete performance indicators but some guys only matter about numbers.

-Kawhi had the best NBA wing% in 2014, not other guys on the team. Just Kawhi.

-The team without Kawhi are only 0.1 points per 100 possessions


-Maybe Bonner isn't the King of +/-...Leonard is 4th in all NBA