Will Pop ever play Leonard like a 24-26 year old.

[YGWHI]

Like someone said earlier Kawhi has ty knees. You can't overplay him or otherwise he will miss games like he has done in the past due to knee pain.

I wonder why you think he has a chronic issue. If a player has patellar tendonitis, he suffers pain every time, every game of the season.

Kawhi suffered knee pain one season, and since 2013 he had had two entire seasons without knees problems.

[YGWHI]

Tim had ty knees in his early mid 20s in 2000 and he's still around in 2015 and playing at a high level, so there is some good evidence that minute managing is a good long-term strategy...

Well...Pop didn't manage Tim's minutes until his 8th season/29 years old, before that he played 38.9 mpg his first seven seasons.

Kawhi is five years younger than Tim when he averaged those minutes per game and I'd like to watch Kawhi play more minutes with the second unit if rebounding becomes a problem.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Kawhi has been injured every year of his career so far and when we're dealing with knee issues like Kawhi has had, there's no reason to be out there 40 MPG if you don't have to be. I don't blame Pop for trying to manage his playing time. The Spurs have managed to win a few games with him playing 31 minutes a night.

[Spurtacular]

Leonard should play around 33 minutes per game this year. Originally I was leaning towards 30-31 due to his injury-prone symptoms. But with the depleted bench, we will need to have him playing a larger role.

Depleted bench?

[apalisoc_9]

Didn't know kawhi was injured during his rookie year...did the team play 82 games?

[K...]

Didn't know kawhi was injured during his rookie year...did the team play 82 games?

Wow can't believe no one has said this before, it's literally the most important fact every to be raised concerning kawhi. I was previously a hater, but now I'm convinced Leonard is the goat because once kawhi played a whole year thanks to a lockout shortened season. My friend apo is a basketball genius who takes are like mana from God himself. I'm trembling in ecstasy right now.

[NameLess Scrub]

Imo, as long as the team is winning it's actually good that his minutes are managed, even if he wasn't injury prone.
A fresh team in the playoffs counts. IIRC, the Spurs ran Durant and WB to the ground in '14, and they are both young.

[littlecoyotecoin]

I wonder why you think he has a chronic issue. If a player has patellar tendonitis, he suffers pain every time, every game of the season.

Kawhi suffered knee pain one season, and since 2013 he had had two entire seasons without knees problems.

Because the team acknowledged it years ago, and that with proper therapy, conditioning, and attention (to include minute management), it was something they/he could overcome. I wonder why you think he doesn't have an issue?

[YGWHI]

I wonder why you think he doesn't have an issue?

I said he doesn't have a chronic issue. Why? Because he had knee pain, one season, but he didn't have the same issue in college or next NBA seasons.

If a player has a chronic knee issue, therapy can alleviate the pain, but the problem persists, his flexibility and mobility will never be the same. That's not the case with Kawhi.

[spurraider21]

well everyone says Anthony Davis' main weakness is his durability, so let's compare....

games played last 3 seasons

2014-2015

Kawhi: 64 on 32 mpg
Davis: 68 on 36 mpg


2013-2014

Kawhi: 66 on 29 mpg
Davis: 67 on 35 mpg


2012-2013

Kawhi: 58 on 31 mpg
Davis: 64 on 29 mpg

[Gladney to see you]

His hand hands are to big to play over 38

[dabom]

Never missed any playoff games. Lmao

[TheGreatYacht]

Never missed any playoff games. Lmao

Missed 2 last year

[dabom]

They should take 50 series off porker if that's the case. Lmao.

[spurraider21]

They should take 50 series off porker if that's the case. Lmao.

parker was one of the worst starters in the NBA last season... why do you keep comparing kawhi to him? you must think really lowly of leonard tbh, shame

[K...]

They should take 50 series off porker if that's the case. Lmao.

What does this mean? Tbh you have a problem with English.

[Mr Bones]

I see the worst poster on spurstalk is still the worst poster on spurstalk. Hadn't checked in a while.

[littlecoyotecoin]

I said he doesn't have a chronic issue. Why? Because he had knee pain, one season, but he didn't have the same issue in college or next NBA seasons.

If a player has a chronic knee issue, therapy can alleviate the pain, but the problem persists, his flexibility and mobility will never be the same. That's not the case with Kawhi.

And, if it is not chronic, it's in part due to the managing of the issue, including his minutes.

[YGWHI]

And, if it is not chronic, it's in part due to the managing of the issue, including his minutes.

Well, if it isn't chronic, he's fully recovered from that injury, and ready to play a few minutes more if it is necessary. I hope Kyle becomes into a good back-up but if it isn't the case, 34 mpg, three minutes more than last season, wouldn't kill Kawhi.