Kawhi has seen his scoring take a dip in this month, averaging 19.1 points compared to his 22.9 PPG in November. The obvious reason for this is that he's taking 3.3 fewer shot attempts per game (just 13.3 FGA vs 16.6 FGA). Along with his FGA and scoring, his FG% has taken a little dip too converting on 49 percent, 3% less than last month.
Is this less KL's usage something by design? Could Danny's Ice Age shooting period has to do with it? Because now the ball isn't that much in Kawhi's hands and he's been relegated to stand on a corner or roaming the 3pt line for that lethal elbow trey?
In comparison, Parker has been shooting the ball pretty poorly over the last few games, shooting just 29% from the field while taking 1.1 more FGA than Kawhi in that span.
Thoughts?
Apol pointed this trend out like 3 weeks ago. Crucified by ty vanilla posters.
But back on topic. I don't like this trend. He needs to get more plays for him. He needs more practice for the playoffs. Don't be surprised when he only scores 19-21ppg in the playoffs and people want him to do more. Well he needs to get involved right now.
Long season: can't shoot lights out every night. One game KL or LMA will have above 15 FGA, next below 10 FGA. Depends how opponent plays, what are Spurs advantages in a particular game, crazy Pop experiment etc. Probably nothing important. Parker needs rest ASAP. We need Tony with legs to win in general and especially in the playoffs. He's been looking great this year and it sucks to see him like this.
They will involve him more, probably after the All-star break and we will see the team on top of the game, hopefully. He doesn't need to prove anything scoring 30 on Minnesota in December and get mentally and physically gassed come playoffs.
I don't want him to score 30. I just want him to be a more focal point of the offense. The system doesn't allow that. We'll see how this trend continues.
Minutes down.
TS% up.
Assists up.
Turnovers down.
He's remained extremely efficient while making more plays for his teammates.
Good. The team needs to try to get more from other players not just give it to Kawhi. Unless you want an ill prepared team come playoff time.
Mostly this he has been doubled aggressively. Even in the past Denver game we saw it. So he's been passing out. It's not reflected in assists bc sometimes it resets or it turn into a hockey assist.
POP had been happy with that and has not made adjustments yet. Apparently to me, he wants to develop this aspect, passing out of double-team's.
POP still developing Boban (he gets shots in a short period, if you share some court time with him, you sill probably not shoot much), Simmons and Anderson get court time quickly if the game is well in hand fir the same reason. Although Pop has still been mindful of at least 30mins even in easy games for both LMA and Kawhi to keep their stats respectable.
Finally, Pop's SL offense has been somewhat predictable. Guys who post up are getting doubled quickly and when catching the ball way out of the paint. Regular season, something Pop will have to address.
Non-issue
If this is about team preparedness then Kawhi needs touches to develop his passing more, right? I understand players will have down games where the ball just doesn't find them, but this is happening more and more this season for Kawhi.
This is just random statistical fluctuation.
For the most part. But also, in several recent games we have seen a lot more of the second and even third unit than early on. Just for example, Bonner has seen some floor time in December. Simmons, Anderson, Boban have all seen their minutes go up this month I believe. There have been a couple of games where it was almond st like Pop was treating our second unit as if it were the first and our third unit as if it were the second. To my eyes, Kawhi's scoring dipping slightly is a function of less playing time. To my eyes his shot has seemed a little off, but did we really expect him to shoot .490 from 3 all season?
There were so many blow outs by the Spurs in December and that makes the statistical results sketchy at best. At least half of the games, Kawhi was sitting on the bench, done for the night. Plus, it would be absurd to expect Kawhi to shoot nearly 50% from 3 all year.
For Apo, this is just part of that same stupid conspiracy theory that Pop & the players are actually trying to hold Kawhi back, like last season when Pop was "screwing Kawhi over," leading to Apo's "source" letting him know that Kawhi was definitely leaving in free agency. The krew always conveniently forgets to mention that brilliant prophecy...
Spurs offensive efficiency by month:
November: 102.5 (10th in the league)
December: 111.6 (1st in the league)
I'd like Kawhi to get more touches too, but the offense in December has been great, statistically speaking.
Player fans would rather have their player have better numbers than the team.
Spurs also lead the league in TS%, eFG%, and Net Rating for December
The offense still looks awkward at times, but they're clearly doing something right.
Spurs also lead the league in TS%, eFG%, and Net Rating for December
The offense still looks awkward at times, but they're clearly doing something right.But my player!
2015-16 Real Plus-Minus
RK NAME TEAM GP MPG ORPM DRPM RPM WINS 1 Russell Westbrook, PG OKC 31 34.4 9.47 1.61 11.08 9.26 2 Stephen Curry, PG GS 30 34.8 9.42 0.87 10.29 9.04 3 Kawhi Leonard, SF SA 31 33.5 5.51 4.76 10.27 8.46 4 LeBron James, SF CLE 28 36.1 5.71 2.27 7.98 6.64
Kawhi balling in december. He's just not getting enough plays for him. We aren't going to play december cupcake teams in the playoffs. Ya some stupid s.
Apo predicted Kawhi would average 23 ppg this year and bet someone money that he'd average 21 ppg, so he's got ulterior motives. If the Spurs win the NBA championship and Kawhi finishes the season with a 20.8 ppg average, he'll be pissed. That's what player fans do.
Yes, I took the $100 bet. To a Pinoy, that's like $1000, so yes he absolutely has a reason to player-fan
Yeah, someone else in the krew bet $100 that Parker would shoot under 45% for the season... just shows what the krew is-- all emotion, little brains...
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Pretty sure it was that re FkLa and spurraider21Parker the best shooting % in the league for a guard
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