the top 3 has to be curry, lebron and kawhi. winning dpoy and finals mvp and averaging more than 20 points, will do that for you.
We should probably wait for at least half a season to proclaim Kawhi a top 5 player.
None of the guys above earned their reputation by having a great 10 game stretch.
It's ok, I don't even know if he needs a lot of attention.
Sure helps on winning awards, but he probably doesn't need the pressure.
Barkley is always entertaining, that's probably the reason he's on TV.
At least, I'll always like that he gave the Magic to win vs the Cavs in '09, great stuff![]()
the top 3 has to be curry, lebron and kawhi. winning dpoy and finals mvp and averaging more than 20 points, will do that for you.
LOLwut? He shut Durant the down in game one of the season, clearly outplaying him.
Don't you think it's a bit of a reach to call him the best since Jordan? I'd like to hear your thoughts on this -- on Curry's case I mean.
Over a playoff series.
He probably means guard. Lebron is still far and away the best wing since MJ. Furthermore, Curry has yet to really have a historically great dominant playoff run. Total picture, I'd probably put Wade over Curry as best guard since Jordan and maybe Kobe, but regular season Curry just might be the best guard since MJ. Regular season, though.
Oh look, the blind squirrel found an acorn.
Fair enough clarification. If he can do it to LeBron, though, I think he will. In the immortal words of Bruno Mars "Don't believe me? Just watch!"
Kawhi is definitely top 5 with his play on both sides of the ball. I never thought he would get to this level but I was wrong. He's on a mission. For those that say curry is overrated, need to look at what he's doing this year. Flat out ridiculous numbers. Sucks that we don't play the Warriors until later in the season.
Agreed, needs more seasoning but he's climbing fast and the journey is gonna be fun to watch. Seems like ever game his offensive game is a little more refined and the moves are getting silky smooth. I'm just gonna enjoy the ride.
His defense is way better than Harden`s, than Harden`s offense over Kawhi offense. Davis is overrated, Pelicans are . If you consider great player based on merits like team success, defense not pure hype and offense, then you can have case for Kawhi being top 5 behind James, Curry and OKC duo.
I've loved watching the climb Kawhi has made up through the NBA ranks. I've liked this kid since day one. Even if back then all I hoped was he could be another Bruce. Needless to say he's already surpassed that and he still is improving. Not since the early days of LBJ has there been a player that I so intently watch on both ends of the court. The biggest thing I hope this new found hype improves is Kawhi's trips to the foul line. There have been many times over his career where he drives to the hole and doesn't get the call when guys like James, Durant, and Harden would have. I think that's part of the reason he settles for jumpers more than he should. Put it this way Kawhi is averaging 22 ppg on 3 FTA. While Harden is averaging 29 ppg on 12 FTA. If Kawhi can get to the line 3-4 more times a game plus move his 3 point percentage up a tic I think he will solidly be a top 5 player.
Kawhi I think is the biggest testament to the coaching of Pop. Yes he had all the physical tools and he had the work ethic and the drive to be great. But it was Pop who molded him into the player he is today. You look at a player like Ben Mclemore in Sac who has all the tools in the world to be the best 2 guard in the league and he is just wasting away in his situation. Kawhi and the Spurs were made for each other.
So far, Paul's USG% is 31.3 (compared to Kawhi 26.8) and has taken 18.3 fg (to kawhi's 17.1). I don't think Paul's number's are inflated because they are similar to his last full season.
I can see the argument for seeing Kawhi as top 5 (you pretty much have to see defense and offence having equal weight), but I just don't see it that way. I think you have to be a minus defender to outweigh high tier offence. The highest I would(could) put him is 7th behind (in no order) Lebron, Curry, Blake, Chris Paul, Durant, and Westbrook.
Kawhi's development has been great, but top five is a bit of a stretch.
LeBron, Durant and Curry are the untouchables. Griffin vastly outperformed Leonard in the Playoffs last year and is having a better season so far. In a vacuum I'd still take Davis (despite the poor start).
Harden/Westbrook are tough. I'd have to see a full season and Playoff run of this Leonard before I could put him ahead of them. And Chris Paul still hasn't factor in here (he's been a big disappointment to start the season).
Kawhi easily top 5.
No mention of Porker
Still not sold on currys D and he can be bothered by size. GS one of the best teams ever is some dumb to say after one season where they got all the breaks in the world.
You can only beat the teams you play. The Dubs were in historical margins on a lot of the common metrics for great teams.
The Spurs would probably be win-less without Leonard this year, almost every single game has been compe ive so far and he's continuously led us to victory.
Easily top 10, possibly top 5, he's definitely on his way there. The Spurs aren't even clicking yet either, the spacing is ed on a lot of plays but Leonard is still scoring, shows how truly good he is. Even more opportunities will open up for him as the season progresses, I think that is when he reaches top 5 status.
^proof of how he's livin rent free
man, only the dubs can be reigning champs, have incredible stats and advanced stats, and people still say "i'm not sold on them"
I find it amazing that so many non-Spurs fans apparently haven't watched them play since 2013 and still describe Kawhi as the same player he was back then, tbh..
And no, Durant is not clearly better anymore IMO..his defense is atrocious, one of the worst perimeter defender in the league nowadays..he may be better, but it's not clear like it used to be when Durant was a legitimate 2-way player that could stay healthy and consistently dominate(2012-2014)..
I won't put him in the top 5, yet, because he hasn't done it in the playoffs as the #1 like others have..I'm confident he will, though..to be fair, neither has Harden, and he's had multiple opportunities..
I don't know, getting the FMVP kinda negates what you just said.
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