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If he's our #1 option, then yea, we're prob not winning anything.
I'm as big a Kawhi fan there is on this site. You could even call me a player fan, in that regard. He has established himself as the best perimeter defender in the NBA this season (was already among the best, but has really stood out). The Spurs have made a concerted effort to make Kawhi a more central figure in the offense, and it's payed dividends, especially in the last few weeks where he's been dropping 20+ with regularity.
But there's the elephant in the room, which is in the thread le. I know he hit a game winning 3 against the Cavs like 2 years ago, but he has by in large struggled offensively late in games. He still makes clutch defensive plays (strip of Westbrook, stealing from CP3 early this year, etc), but his shots just don't seem to fall. We all remember that he missed a free throw that would have won us the championship. Granted, he played a monstrous game to that point and is one of the main reasons we were even in that position, but this thread isn't about Leonard's overall body of work. It speaks for itself, tbh.
This year he was having another great game against LeBron (this time with the Cavs), and was outplaying him for most of the game. Then in the 4th, he couldn't hit a single shot from the field, and was 1-4 from the free throw line, giving Cleveland the opportunity they needed to force overtime, where we lost.
Today he got a good shot that would have won the game, clean look, and a midrange shot that he's been nailing all year, barely rimmed out. He then missed a FT in overtime, and then dubiously turned the ball over when he was given the ball with a chance to go ahead.
I think Kawhi is the future of the team (not gna say the future will be as good as the past 15 years, but he's growing into an elite player), but are his late game issues something that can be resolved?
If he's our #1 option, then yea, we're prob not winning anything.
His inability to hit freethrows in pressure situations is huge.
Offical spurraider Kawhi thread count incoming.
no.
kawhi is so overrated, it's ridiculous
He's a choker plain and simple
He's 23. This is the first real season he's being tested. Some nights it's pretty and some nights it's really not.
It's a learning process. We should know more in another year or two whether he can handle it or not.
he's a choker unfortunately.
Reminds me of the "should we increase kawhi's offensive role?" threads
OP is a got.
I want to blame this game on Pop and that ugly ass beard... But Kawhi can't even hit free throws in the clutch, there's enough evidence to see it. Game 6 wasn't a fluke.
Parker doesn't miss freethrows.
Kawhi is a FT choker so yea if he'll be shooting them in an important game I am concerned.
Two games make a pattern? Yeah, not the best late-game performances from him but that doesn't overshadow the fact that he's come up big in the biggest stage year after year. That was a performance by the entire team. Both Timmy and Rique missed chippies in the clutch too.
No excuses I judge him not by his age but how many years of experience he has. This is his fourth year in the league its about time he starts stepping up in these situations. We'll see come playoff time what he's made of.
He was definitely traumatized by 6.
^ Salty player fan bringing up other Spurs bc his guy is a chokerParker doesn't miss freethrows.
He's learning. I'm fine with it, even if it costs some games. Manu isn't going to be here to win us games forever, tbh...
He played poorly down the stretch, but Duncan was by far the worst player on either team, tbh..that's the bigger concern, he looks worn out, already..
When I said that I was referring to pressure situations. Will Kawhi be able to his his freethrows when it matters in a close game in the 4 quarter. Will he he clutch shots to propell the Spurs to victory. None of that has been proven in the past. He dominated 3 games in the Finals last year that weren't even close.
Who do you think was the cause of all that got?
It might be his 4th year in the league but it's the first year where they're involving him in the offense a lot more. They're trying him out in different situations. Some times it works and some times it doesn't. It's a learning process. What they're having him do this season is no where near the same as his first or second year.
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