This doesn't make any sense. What did the team accomplish in the playoffs before Kawhi got there? Two 1st round exits and a second round sweep. Yeah, this team was already good without Kawhi.
While I do agree that Kawhi is the Spurs best overall player right now and saying otherwise is crazy, I don't think the Spurs can repeat only if Kawhi is in the lineup. They need all 7 (8, I guess, to please the Enrique fans) of their guys to have a chance at repeating.
I do think Kawhi is the most important piece of the team, however. Followed by Duncan and Green.
Humans just aren't meant to have hands that freakin big.
Pop is benching him and Parker because he knows in December the Spurs got ed with the scheduling. I don't think either injuries are that terrible. But Pop knows the Spurs have a lot of down time at the beginning of January.
Both should be back this month. I think TP will be back in a few days and Kawhi, in a week or so. Pop is just being cautious. Remember when the Lakers started 11-19 and finished with a 50 game season in 2003. Grant it, they lost to us that year in the playoffs, but Phil knew that giving players rest early was the key for another playoff run. I see the Spurs going on a run like the Lakers to finish the season given the Spurs have an easy schedule going forward.
If Horry hit that 3 in game 5, there is no doubt that the Lakers probably would have won 4 straight championships. Spurs just went on 3 long playoff runs (WCF, Finals, Finals) like those Lakers did. Pop is just be cautious with TP, Kawhi, Splitter, and Mills as all 4 are key for the Spurs to repeat this year.
http://projectspurs.com/2014-article...d-offense.html
Not sure this Pop's quote dated from december 25th has been posted tbh...
But Popovich said he remains out indefinitely.
“It’s a pain thing,” Popovich said. “He can’t move his hand. He can’t catch and dribble and all that kind of stuff with his hand. Hopefully something will happen. Medically they don’t think he can hurt it any more than he’s hurt now.
“So it’s just a matter of when he can get use of the hand because it’s too stiff and doesn’t work the way your hand works. It’s not there yet. Will it be there tomorrow against New Orleans? Will it be there two weeks from now? I honestly don’t know.”
I didn't say they were contenders. Simply stating the reason we're losing in the regular season shouldn't all be attributed to the absence of kawhi.
All these quotes to me point to Pop waiting it out & ruling out surgery. The bolded statement is most troubling to me. Seems there like is Pop hedging his bet and leaving himself wiggle room in case Leonard's out for 2015.
Nah. I agree with your premise otherwise, though.
Last edited by taps; 01-02-2015 at 11:37 AM.
Agree with this but we can still win without him in the regular season.
of course we can but it is more efforts to be asked to in particular Tim and Manu... which sucks
F this and that speculation and guessing for now I will just wait for an official word whenever that comes out.
No one has argued that it's not a factor. It being a factor means it's not the only factor. Having multiple factors that lead to losing games cannot be easily whittled down to KL being out.
hey we've been winning games without him that's for sure..
I was going to say this as well, we have had others out no doubt but he is the main one out so far this year and they are not winning games without him (Here or there but thats IT), they had the worst December since 97 and ironically he was out for that.hey we've been winning games without him that's for sure..
I read somewhere that with Kawhi in the lineup the Spurs give up only 94 points per 100 possesions. With him out it jumps something like 106 points per 100 possesions. He is crucial!
It's ridiculous to think the Spurs can't go back to back if healthy like last year.
That was some of the best basketball on the planet, possibly the best EVER in the later rounds.
HS and college coaches should have some of those games on file to witness the utter beauty.
Basketball orgasmic stuff that was. Both ends. (D and O of course)
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...rd/#29527101=0
Nice comments by Monty Williams.
The article lists some pretty incredible numbers on just how important Leonard is.
Enjoy.
@JMcDonald_SAEN: Sense among Spurs that Parker will return before Leonard does. Parker maybe a game or two more. Timetable on Leonard sounds trickier.
he is the most important player on the team. He guards the oppositions best perimeter player usually, forget steals and blocks, he heavily effects the efficency of the player he guards.
You think he was quiet against dallas? Look at montes numbers in game 1 and 2, then the other games when kawhi guarded him. Go look at lilards numbers with kawhii on him. Westbrick and maybe joe johnson are the only players ive seen with good games against him. and lebron i guess but not as good as usual
Other factors combined with kawhi being out has led to that.hey we've been winning games without him that's for sure..
Pinoy got alerthey we've been winning games without him that's for sure..
Kawhi's absence is the main reason Spurs are losing many games.
Like Pop said he's the best defender, he gives us the versatility defensively we didn't have before, and his position is really important to rebound, to help the bigs...
He is taking on a bigger offensive role because Pop wants it and the team need he play more prominent role.You said yourself that Leonard is a bigger part of the offense this year, but what changed from last year when he wasn't?
What changed...? Tim and Manu took more rest of their offensive responsibilities than other seasons (before his hand injury Duncan was 3rd and Manu 4th scoring leaders) and with Tony eventual loss of speed as he ages -more noticeable this season because injuries limited him- Leonard emerged like a genuine offensive option.
That's why he's the most irreplaceable player on this team. While his offensive burden increasing, he still does all of his invaluable work on defense.
Spurs won with Tony injured last WCF but they probably can't win conference finals without Leonard at full health this season.Did the Spurs go s up last season when Kawhi was out? I'm guessing Tony being replaced by Cory ing Joseph with basically no backup PG really doesn't factor in
Tony/Manu can score many points but they can't defend/rebound like Kawhi, and Tiago can play great defense but he can't carry the team on the offensive end like Leonard in some games this season.
He's an elite all around player and this team miss him more than other players.
Leonard played well only 3 games in the Finals...so game 6 and 7 of 2013 Finals, his games in last conference semifinals against Blazers, game 5 and 6 last WCF, or his great games without the Big 3 last/this regular season, never happened.
Impressive numbers.http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...rd/#29527101=0
Nice comments by Monty Williams.
The article lists some pretty incredible numbers on just how important Leonard is.
Enjoy.
When Davis wonders where his Big 3 it's good to know Leonard is respected by Pels' coach but cap space is still their worst enemy...
Davis and kawhi in the same team...
Like I said, if the Spurs are going to lose to sub .500 teams because one of their players is out, they aren't very strong to begin with. He's not a PG, he doesn't run the offense and the Spurs don't really even call plays for him. He's important, absolutely, but so is Tony and so is Danny's shooting stroke. Take those two out (and Patty's conditioning and shooting) and you suddenly have a .500 or so level team.
Right now they don't since he's not playing. Surely you don't think Pop is calling plays for a guy who's not on the floor.He is taking on a bigger offensive role because Pop wants it and the team need he play more prominent role.
The loss isn't a binary function. What is binary is that players are either in or they aren't in. Tony hasn't been in much, Patty hasn't been in at all until lately. Tiago came around late. Marco has been playing poorly. Manu started off slow. Danny can't throw the ball into the ocean. Tim is Tim, like always, 20/10 guy.What changed...? Tim and Manu took more rest of their offensive responsibilities than other seasons (before his hand injury Duncan was 3rd and Manu 4th scoring leaders) and with Tony eventual loss of speed as he ages -more noticeable this season because injuries limited him- Leonard emerged like a genuine offensive option.
Tim is still the most irreplaceable player on the team. Once he retires you'll understand.That's why he's the most irreplaceable player on this team. While his offensive burden increasing, he still does all of his invaluable work on defense.
Conference Finals? We're talking about beating the Pelicans during the regular season, and losing to the Lakers. We're not talking about high end . Of course your team needs to be firing on all cylinders to be successful at the top tiers.Spurs won with Tony injured last WCF but they probably can't win conference finals without Leonard at full health this season.
Tony/Manu can score many points but they can't defend/rebound like Kawhi, and Tiago can play great defense but he can't carry the team on the offensive end like Leonard in some games this season.
If Duncan was out for a month or two, you'd see how much he's missed. Tiago can do some work but he's not Tim, and there's just no one to guard the paint when Tim is out. Tim, Tony and Manu are still the engine of the Spurs. Kawhi is moving right up in there, but the team can still be RS successful with Kawhi out. They have the ball movement and chemistry to win games they've been losing this year.He's an elite all around player and this team miss him more than other players.
I have no ing idea what you just said, what it means or whatever. Sounds like something passive aggressive.Leonard played well only 3 games in the Finals...so game 6 and 7 of 2013 Finals, his games in last conference semifinals against Blazers, game 5 and 6 last WCF, or his great games without the Big 3 last/this regular season, never happened.
It's not yet even mid season, but until the Spurs get that chip on their shoulders they aren't going to be very good this year. It's hard to get that chip on your shoulder when you're wearing last year's championship ring.
The spurs have a winning record against teams without Parker in the last two years..So NO..Taking him out does not = Kawhi out.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote