Kawhi regressed

[Buddy Mignon]

system player. Now that that argument is settled...is he a max player?

Did I not tell you this kid was just a role player?

[TheGreatYacht]

Matrix didn't even try to post up, Barnes got him shook and became the Keith Van Horn to Parker's Iverson

[wildbill2u]

"Most SF dominated teams don't have a PG that is looking to shoot everytime down the court, they have guys that are perimeter threats that space the floor and can pop a 3 or drive to the basket and dish."
What are the SF dominated teams you are talking about? The only one I can think of is Cleveland with LeBron and he is one of a kind that is basically an iso player from out on the perimeter.

You are bringing up an interesting concept with a 1-3 screen. But I'm having a little trouble with it in practice. Making Kwahi a screener on the pnr still allows the opposing bigs to come block the lane since I don't think anyone like Jordan is going to follow Tim as he is "tucked away somewhere out of the way." I'm willing to consider it, but let's discuss the ins and outs.

[TheGreatYacht]

The same short bus that hates how Parker takes shots away for Kawhi, are Westbrook fans. It's their shtick bottom line is Kawhi isn't a first option and never will be

[DarrinS]

The same short bus that hates how Parker takes shots away for Kawhi, are Westbrook fans. It's their shtick bottom line is Kawhi isn't a first option and never will be

So you and hater aren't soulmates anymore?

[TheGoldStandard]

"Most SF dominated teams don't have a PG that is looking to shoot everytime down the court, they have guys that are perimeter threats that space the floor and can pop a 3 or drive to the basket and dish."
What are the SF dominated teams you are talking about? The only one I can think of is Cleveland with LeBron and he is one of a kind that is basically an iso player from out on the perimeter.

You are bringing up an interesting concept with a 1-3 screen. But I'm having a little trouble with it in practice. Making Kwahi a screener on the pnr still allows the opposing bigs to come block the lane since I don't think anyone like Jordan is going to follow Tim as he is "tucked away somewhere out of the way." I'm willing to consider it, but let's discuss the ins and outs.

Paul George, Carmelo, Rudy Gay, Wiggins, Gordon Hayward.. I'm not saying its true for every SF but for ones that are the "1 option for a team" this is true. Parker is not the kind of PG that can create for himself off dribble when it comes to shooting around the perimeter, he needs a screen to create space. Kawhi is also not a terrible passer.. if for some reason the big comes over to block the lane then we get a little hi lo action with the big underneath for a layup or someone cutting to the basket on a backdoor screen set by the big.

[RD2191]

The same short bus that hates how Parker takes shots away for Kawhi, are Westbrook fans. It's their shtick bottom line is Kawhi isn't a first option and never will be

[dbreiden83080]

He didn't play well at all in games 6 and 7, but obviously he has not regressed. He has gotten better each year..

Just look at his playoff numbers the last 3 years as he's become more of the focal point..

13 to 14 to 20 PPG this year on 52%..

[dbreiden83080]

And as long as he is healthy he will play great next year.. He should make his first all star team and an all NBA team. He might make an all NBA team this year..

[Chomag]

Kawhi missed a lot of shots and was not aggressive but the design of the offense is not going to help him when the paint is a million times cluttered with bodies. There were several instances when the ball was dumped off to kawhi on the block but Tim or Splitter were right there on the other side of the block allowing that defender to clog the paint. There were times when he was waiting on the wing to catch and slash but someone would take the ball like Diaw pump fake with his defender 10 feet away from him and then drive again clogging the paint.

He does need to improve his game but the Spurs need to do a better job of evolving their offense to go with his skill set. The guy is not going to be a spot up 3 point shooter if he's your "elite star" he needs to be have the freedom and room to drive and attack.

QFT

[wildbill2u]

Paul George, Carmelo, Rudy Gay, Wiggins, Gordon Hayward.. I'm not saying its true for every SF but for ones that are the "1 option for a team" this is true. Parker is not the kind of PG that can create for himself off dribble when it comes to shooting around the perimeter, he needs a screen to create space. Kawhi is also not a terrible passer.. if for some reason the big comes over to block the lane then we get a little hi lo action with the big underneath for a layup or someone cutting to the basket on a backdoor screen set by the big.

Those guys pretty much create for themselves out on the perimeter while their teammates just clear out. The Spurs might eventually evolve to that type of one man iso offense, but the ball movement of the championship years would suffer and be lost.

On a 1-3 pnr he wouldn't necessarily be the first option, e.g. the player making the decision on who gets to take the shot, but a screener.
If he got the ball from the pg I'm not sure if his decision to lay off to a big would be natural for him. He's never been a ball-handling playmaker.
Similarly, it remains to be seen if he is a good enough passer and ball handler to run a screen with a big.

[RD2191]

Those guys pretty much create for themselves out on the perimeter while their teammates just clear out. The Spurs might eventually evolve to that type of one man iso offense, but the ball movement of the championship years would suffer and be lost.

On a 1-3 pnr he wouldn't necessarily be the first option, e.g. the player making the decision on who gets to take the shot, but a screener.
If he got the ball from the pg I'm not sure if his decision to lay off to a big would be natural for him. He's never been a ball-handling playmaker.
Similarly, it remains to be seen if he is a good enough passer and ball handler to run a screen with a big.

I'm convinced you haven't watched any games this season.

[TheGoldStandard]

Those guys pretty much create for themselves out on the perimeter while their teammates just clear out. The Spurs might eventually evolve to that type of one man iso offense, but the ball movement of the championship years would suffer and be lost.

On a 1-3 pnr he wouldn't necessarily be the first option, e.g. the player making the decision on who gets to take the shot, but a screener.
If he got the ball from the pg I'm not sure if his decision to lay off to a big would be natural for him. He's never been a ball-handling playmaker.
Similarly, it remains to be seen if he is a good enough passer and ball handler to run a screen with a big.

The problem is the ball movement was not there this series at all.. Too many times Tony would dribble dribble, wait for the screen and DeAndre would be right there waiting for him causing him to reset and waste more time. There was not attack and kick and when it did happen it was usually on the weak side to Tim who was in a bad spot forcing himself to take a shot late in the shot clock. This was not always the case but it happened way too often. If Kawhi is the future then the Spurs need to make it there mission to transition there team concept to him getting looks through ball movement. I'm not necessarily saying ISO him because we did see that this season at the top of the key a lot and he was lost, a lot due to the fact that there was a log jam in the middle of our bigs camping out and Parker sitting on the wing and nobody feeling really threatened by this.

To be brutally honest Parker would need to dump the ball off initially because the way he looks and the way he's regressed his speed isn't there enough to beat a SF off dribble and his jump shot is broken. Kawhi getting the ball on the switch with a PG or at least a big allows for 2 things; 1) He can bully the smaller guard into a better shot or 2) he can draw the defender and catch Tim or PF/C in the game under the basket or kick it to the wing player in the corner or whoever is coming off the corner coming baseline..

[therealtruth]

Kawhi missed a lot of shots and was not aggressive but the design of the offense is not going to help him when the paint is a million times cluttered with bodies. There were several instances when the ball was dumped off to kawhi on the block but Tim or Splitter were right there on the other side of the block allowing that defender to clog the paint. There were times when he was waiting on the wing to catch and slash but someone would take the ball like Diaw pump fake with his defender 10 feet away from him and then drive again clogging the paint.

He does need to improve his game but the Spurs need to do a better job of evolving their offense to go with his skill set. The guy is not going to be a spot up 3 point shooter if he's your "elite star" he needs to be have the freedom and room to drive and attack.

All the greats are going to score on single coverage, force you to foul, or get a shot for a teammate. That's the next evolution he needs in his game. Showed flashes of it in game 3. The other team shouldn't be able to get away with single coverage on him.

[TheGoldStandard]

All the greats are going to score on single coverage, force you to foul, or get a shot for a teammate. That's the next evolution he needs in his game. Showed flashes of it in game 3. The other team shouldn't be able to get away with single coverage on him.

Most of the greats were not surrounded by other great players that impeded there progress.. It's not an excuse but it's not as if they're asking kawhi to carry the team, there are other players that contribute equally throughout the season, kinda hard to say, "here you go, make it happen while we continue to play the same way we have all year" His game will evolve with more touches and more adversity. Usually great players have to be in ty situations with a lot of looks to get the confidence and the reps in game situations to be clutch.

[wildchild]

Paul George, Carmelo, Rudy Gay, Wiggins, Gordon Hayward.. I'm not saying its true for every SF but for ones that are the "1 option for a team" this is true.

Sadly, that's the problem with Kawhi playing under the Spurs offensive system.
It isn't designed to have a SF as primary option, and Pop doesn't seem willing to make that type of change to add a significant piece like Leonard when this team is still too reliant on Parker's game.
And not sure if Parker is willing to take that new role, despite his own words we saw another thing on the court.

Parker is not the kind of PG that can create for himself off dribble when it comes to shooting around the perimeter, he needs a screen to create space. Kawhi is also not a terrible passer.. if for some reason the big comes over to block the lane then we get a little hi lo action with the big underneath for a layup or someone cutting to the basket on a backdoor screen set by the big.

I'd like to see these two-man plays involving both, at least just to build some chemistry between them on the offensive end.

They aren't the most compatible offensive duo and maybe they will never be, but it could be nice if Pop tries something before giving up.

[therealtruth]

Now I think about it Kawhi should have probably defended CP3 on that last play. He has enough length to block or bother that shot. I remember he defended Paul on a similar end of game play in '12 and got the block.

[HEBsteaks]

Kawhi can be a superstar. Straight up unstoppable. As some said, Galactus, devourer of worlds!

There are a few issues. The Spurs system is perfect, IF the ball is moved and is shared appropriately. Right now, its not.

Another is his passiveness. Its the same with Cojo. They both can score, but more importantly, move the ball and create for others. They may not be able to set up plays like Manu, but they can create open shots by sucking in defenders. The passiveness comes in when they arent in control of the offense or when they arent getting involved. At this point, they both just turn into role players sitting a corner, which is their weakness, not strength.

The other I think is personality: This team has great TEAM PLAYERS. Both Kawhi and Cojo feel like they dont have the authority to control the offense or be aggressive. They will hustle and make plays, but when it comes down to it, they have to defer to team ball. If they start doing bad, they dont want to bring the team down and start disappearing.

Cojo with starters = Passive / Cojo with 2nd unit = Perfect balance / Cojo with scrubs = Feels like he needs to bring out the hero ball(which may be acceptable, they can stink it up LOL)

I think in the end, this all on POP. Almost NONE of these Spurs players are going to step on the shoes of the big 3/POP or do anything that will hurt the team. Everyone out there should be able to make a play, not just TP and Manu. POP needs to tell them that they have the right to be in control of the system and make something happen. If they mess up then you live with it. Its better to go 100% and have a bad night, than to become passive and not be involved.

Or maybe not LOL. Kawhi has added a LOT this year. He will only get better. We saw some flashes of Manu like passes. All he has to work on is his mentality. Oh and POP needs to give him the keys. Do or Die with Kawhi.