Kawhi hate is ridiculous, what about LMA?

[Sean Cagney]

no - them out rebounding and out FTA spurs did it

That is the truth, plus the brick fest the Spurs laid in the 4th Q's of games 4 and 5, not to mention the start of game 6 which was sad to watch. They did themselves NO favors at all in that series.

[kaji157]

Fail? Kawhi scored 23 ppg on better shooting % than Westbrook in less minutes and shots.




Do you want that Kawhi scores +25 ppg in playoffs? Give him more minutes/touches and we'll see.

Really, Westbrook went against Kauai and Green on defense. Robertsonthe is better than bothof on defense?
I don't see the argument you just make mine better. Wb had great defenders on him and still played great, Kawhi played good against no one, we needed extraordinary against Robertson.

[kaji157]

Did you even watch the series? Your comments say no.

Kawhi was absolutely not the reason we lost. As I say, go back and watch the end of game 5 and tell me any of that is Kawhi's fault.

Didnt demand the ball. He let tony and lma decide that game. Manu, Tim and even tony would have demanded to close out the game.

You think pop is a bad coach?

If he gave the last possessions to tony and Lewis because he saw them wanting it. I laugh at those that think pop don't look at their players. There is a reason while Kauai didn't had the ball in his hands.

He'll grow. But for me, he had the easiest matchup and he didn't deliver great, he delivered good, not enough. The big 3 succeeded because when any of them had a good matchup they torched it.

[Kawhitstorm]

If he gave the last possessions to tony and Lewis because he saw them wanting it.

I stopped reading at Lewis

[SD126]

Didnt demand the ball. He let tony and lma decide that game. Manu, Tim and even tony would have demanded to close out the game.

You think pop is a bad coach?

If he gave the last possessions to tony and Lewis because he saw them wanting it. I laugh at those that think pop don't look at their players. There is a reason while Kauai didn't had the ball in his hands.

He'll grow. But for me, he had the easiest matchup and he didn't deliver great, he delivered good, not enough. The big 3 succeeded because when any of them had a good matchup they torched it.

Who's Lewis???

[therealtruth]

He's got to work on a goto move.

[Slippy]

Yup. Adams, Kanter, Ibaka, Roberson, even Waiters all stepped up and out-played our role players.

This quote answers your Q really. Adams , Kanter aand Ibaka stepped up . That's 3 key bigs/ role players stepping up. Who out of the Spurs Bigs stepped up?. None!

The main role playing BIGs (Tim and DWest) couldn't finish an open or close basket when trying to respond to OKC doubling LA.

On D Tim was a traffic cone and Dwest played to his height. not exactly complimentary to LA whos main strength is team D and rebounding.

the same logic that applies to Kawai about having to work too hard on both ends really should be LA's excuse as well

[kaji157]

Who's Lewis???

LaMarcus, sorry, auto text.

[kaji157]

I stopped reading at Lewis

Yeah, i mean LA, it´s the autotext, anyways, i dont get the overreaction by kawhi player fans suh as yourself.

I am going to be clear on this matter.

I dont think he was bad, i just think that for the second year in a row, he underperformed based on expectations.

Like last year he couldnt exploit a very favorable matchup with barnes, this year he couldnt with robertson.

You may like to blame Duncan who is 40, or ginobili who is 38, both of them make marginal money. Or Mills, or Parker, or even LA on his first year here.

But i put the blame on the player that i had the highest expectation, and whom had the easiest matchup of the series, and that is Kawhi Leonard.

He played good, but not great, he underperformed based on expectation, and flaws of his games were evident. He doesnt recognize when to attack and when to pass, doesnt demand the ball on crucial situations, doesnt know how to impose his will on a game the way tim and manu used.

It´s fine, he is young and he will grow, but this year, and considering last year too, he deserves the blame.

He IS one of two max players.

And the thing about pop is this, if Pop didnt give him the ball at the end, is because he saw Kawhi wasnt confident enough.

[Brazil]

Kawhi hate is as ridiculous as LMA hate... good grief OP

[Spurs_619]

Yeah, i mean LA, it´s the autotext, anyways, i dont get the overreaction by kawhi player fans suh as yourself.

I am going to be clear on this matter.

I dont think he was bad, i just think that for the second year in a row, he underperformed based on expectations.



Like last year he couldnt exploit a very favorable matchup with barnes, this year he couldnt with robertson.

You may like to blame Duncan who is 40, or ginobili who is 38, both of them make marginal money. Or Mills, or Parker, or even LA on his first year here.

But i put the blame on the player that i had the highest expectation, and whom had the easiest matchup of the series, and that is Kawhi Leonard.

He played good, but not great, he underperformed based on expectation, and flaws of his games were evident. He doesnt recognize when to attack and when to pass, doesnt demand the ball on crucial situations, doesnt know how to impose his will on a game the way tim and manu used.

It´s fine, he is young and he will grow, but this year, and considering last year too, he deserves the blame.

He IS one of two max players.

And the thing about pop is this, if Pop didnt give him the ball at the end, is because he saw Kawhi wasnt confident enough.

Kawhi had the easiest matchup having to carry the offense, and guard KD and Westbrook? Im sorry that makes absolutely no sense.

[Horse]

Stop the Kawhi hate, seriously. The guy is a phenomonal talent and not the reason we're out of the playoffs. Age, lack of athleticism, some bad breaks and facing a talented team that wanted it more is why we've gone fishing.

How about some analysis of LMA around here? He was great in games 1 and 2, then disappeared for much of the rest of the series. In crucial game 5 he went 6-21 missing at least 5 wide-open, uncontested jumpers (supposedly his bread and butter), including a 12ft bunny in the final 1:30 that would have put us up 4 and could have steadied the ship. Choke much?

Do you like relying on a streaky mid range jump shooter to win big playoff game? I don't. He holds the ball, clogs up the offence, and when he's off keeps shooting rather than getting down and dirty and grinding out some post buckets like he should.

We had to grab him when he was available, and we probably have to give him another season, but I'm unconvinced he's the medium term future for this team. What do you think?

Kahwi will just continue to improve. He had a few games his shot wasn't falling but these s discount what he's doing on D. He was even attacking more but the guy couldn't get a call to save his life. My only issue with LMA is if he would just roll he'd get even easier shots and free up 3-pt shooters. Seems pretty simple if Tiago was getting dunks and layups rolling when there is no need to respect his jumper imagine how open Aldridge would be.

[elemento]

Both are ridiculous tbh

Pop deserves more blame than both, at least in the series against OKC.

[still.focused]

Before anybody tries to bash LMAs series you might wanna look at the actual numbers...then STFU (Reverse order would also be acceptable)
27 & 9 on 52% shooting for the series is nothing to scoff at

[YGWHI]

I don't see the argument you just make mine better. Wb had great defenders on him and still played great, Kawhi played good against no one, we needed extraordinary against Robertson.

Kawhi had the easiest matchup and he didn't deliver great

I wonder if you even read what you post.

You say that Westbrook played great and Kawhi not, when the number says otherwise.

And the fact that Kawhi was on Westbrook -and Durant for stretches- means he had the easiest matchup?

Kawhi was better on offense than Westbrook and had to defend him the whole series, while Westbrook was guarding Parker...

If he gave the last possessions to tony and Lewis because he saw them wanting it. I laugh at those that think pop don't look at their players. There is a reason while Kauai didn't had the ball in his hands.

It's likely that guys like Waiters or even a rookie like Payne want and dream with closing a playoffs game, but I'm sure that Donovan doesn't give them the ball in those situations.

And you can't say Kawhi didn't want the ball. In the 4th quarter, he asked for the ball in the post two times, it was very clear, but Parker decided to run other plays during those minutes.

You may like to blame Duncan who is 40, or ginobili who is 38, both of them make marginal money. Or Mills, or Parker, or even LA on his first year here.

But i put the blame on the player that i had the highest expectation, and whom had the easiest matchup of the series, and that is Kawhi Leonard.

The Spurs led by 6 with Kawhi on the floor, then -when Pop sat him- they were -12. Should we blame Kawhi on the bench for OKC run, right?

[Kawhitstorm]

Like last year he couldnt exploit a very favorable matchup with barnes, this year he couldnt with robertson.

He torched Barnes last season for the first 4 games BEFORE Doc started doubling him w/ Blake. He started forcing low percentage shots (not his game) when Diaw (Blake's assignment) couldn't make an outside shot to save his life. Muphuckas acting like he was being dared to shoot like Porker.

But i put the blame on the player that i had the highest expectation, and whom had the easiest matchup of the series, and that is Kawhi Leonard

Roberson is OKC's best perimeter defender & that's the "easiest matchup"? OKC ignored Tim when they realized he couldn't make a point blank layup & had whomever was guarding Tim clog the paint. They essentially neutralized LMA's postups after Gm 2 by sending help when he was turning to his right shoulder making him give up the ball. They also crowded Kawhi & dared him to drive into a help defender (he posterized Adams) or shoot over their length.

Pop is to blame for calling isolation plays after isolation plays instead of running PnR w/ his two best players. They essentially dared Tony to beat them after Gm 2 when he run the PnR w/ LMA & he bricked to WIDE OPEN jumpers at the end of Gm 5 which cost them the game. (LMA also bricked a bunch of uncontested jumpers in the second half of Gm 5). Tony's scoring output picked up but he wasn't necessarily punishing 'em. Billy Donovan adjusted his defense/rotation after Gm 1 but Pop kept going to the same well until it went dry, CHECKMATE!

He played good, but not great, he underperformed based on expectation, and flaws of his games were evident. He doesnt recognize when to attack and when to pass, doesnt demand the ball on crucial situations, doesnt know how to impose his will on a game the way tim and manu used.

He's the best TWO-WAY player not the best scorer in the league like Durant. Again, name me a player who could hold WestBrick to 37% shooting & put up 23 on 48% shooting on ISOLATION plays. You have to look at what he did on BOTH ENDS b/c he isn't coasting on defense like James Harden then claiming he should have been the MVP. Even LeBron doesn't play lockdown defense until the 4th quarter to save his legs.

It´s fine, he is young and he will grow, but this year, and considering last year too, he deserves the blame.

Curry got outplayed by WestBrick while hiding on defense & primarily being guarded by WestBrick rather than Roberson. He would foul out in the 3rd quarter or get torched while his offensive output suffers if he had to guard WestBrick for 40 minutes. Kawhi meanwhile has to guard the best perimeter player on the floor for 40 minutes & is EXPECTED to score an efficient 22+ b/c he's a robot that never gets tired. Sometimes I wonder if any of y'all ever got off the couch.

He IS one of two max players.

He happens to be the only one that is All-NBA 1st Team & All-NBA 1st Team defense

And the thing about pop is this, if Pop didnt give him the ball at the end, is because he saw Kawhi wasnt confident enough.

You mean Porky could find him when he was WIDE OPEN on one play & then couldn't hit a wide open jumper when WestBrick abandoned him to deny Kawhi a catch. If only Kawhi had a competent PG like Durant/LeBron.

[Hoops Czar]

Stop the Kawhi hate, seriously. The guy is a phenomonal talent and not the reason we're out of the playoffs. Age, lack of athleticism, some bad breaks and facing a talented team that wanted it more is why we've gone fishing.

How about some analysis of LMA around here? He was great in games 1 and 2, then disappeared for much of the rest of the series. In crucial game 5 he went 6-21 missing at least 5 wide-open, uncontested jumpers (supposedly his bread and butter), including a 12ft bunny in the final 1:30 that would have put us up 4 and could have steadied the ship. Choke much?

Do you like relying on a streaky mid range jump shooter to win big playoff game? I don't. He holds the ball, clogs up the offence, and when he's off keeps shooting rather than getting down and dirty and grinding out some post buckets like he should.

We had to grab him when he was available, and we probably have to give him another season, but I'm unconvinced he's the medium term future for this team. What do you think?

He's one of the main reasons the Spurs are out of the playoffs. Maybe if the number 1 star would have shown up in the 4th quarter of game 5, we'd still be playing. Funny, it was certainly OK throwing Parker under the bus in 2012 but it's not OK to criticize Leonard for not showing up in the biggest game of the year. He's a tremendous talent but we need to stop with the Lebron James comparisons now.

[YGWHI]

Maybe if the number 1 star would have shown up in the 4th quarter of game 5, we'd still be playing. Funny, it was certainly OK throwing Parker under the bus in 2012 but it's not OK to criticize Leonard for not showing up in the biggest game of the year

Kawhi was GREAT in game 5, on both ends.

He was the best Spur on the court, sadly we can't say the same about Parker and LMA in that game.

Not sure how you forget that Kawhi scored consecutive points to put the Spurs +7 remaining 4 minutes in the 4th quarter.

But we should question why he didn't get the ball for 4 minutes in that quarter.

Why we saw Parker calling a play for his own shot and other for LMA when both couldn't hit an ocean, or why Kawhi didn't receive the ball when asked for it in the post two times during those 4 minutes?

Kawhi deferred in one play in the last minute but that was a good excuse for Parker not giving him the ball for the previous 3 minutes in the last and most important quarter of the season, with Kawhi having an amazing game and being the only one shooting over .50?

Other guys here say Kawhi/the Spurs need a competent PG, I disagree with them.
They just need a PG who doesn't want to be the hero winning the game, a PG who knows his role, and to be willing to pass Kawhi the ball.

[Hoops Czar]

Other guys here say Kawhi/the Spurs need a competent PG, I disagree with them.
They just need a PG who doesn't want to be the hero winning the game, a PG who knows his role, and to be willing to pass Kawhi the ball.

Ya know, a lot of people here think Kawhi is a better player than Lebron. In Lebron's entire career, have you ever heard of any fan, media member or analyst alike ever say that such and such team needs a PG that knows his role and would be willing to pass Lebron the ball? The ball is in Lebron's hands at the end of games. Why isn't the ball in Leonard's hands at the end of games?

[DMC]

Tu quoque fallacy doesn't work here. Neither are to blame. No one could hit a shot. You have to hit shots in the playoffs. It is what it is, but what it isn't is anyone's fault (Maybe OKCs).

[SD126]

Ya know, a lot of people here think Kawhi is a better player than Lebron. In Lebron's entire career, have you ever heard of any fan, media member or analyst alike ever say that such and such team needs a PG that knows his role and would be willing to pass Lebron the ball? The ball is in Lebron's hands at the end of games. Why isn't the ball in Leonard's hands at the end of games?

Exactly

[DarrinS]

Ya know, a lot of people here think Kawhi is a better player than Lebron. In Lebron's entire career, have you ever heard of any fan, media member or analyst alike ever say that such and such team needs a PG that knows his role and would be willing to pass Lebron the ball? The ball is in Lebron's hands at the end of games. Why isn't the ball in Leonard's hands at the end of games?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

He's one of the main reasons the Spurs are out of the playoffs. Maybe if the number 1 star would have shown up in the 4th quarter of game 5, we'd still be playing. Funny, it was certainly OK throwing Parker under the bus in 2012 but it's not OK to criticize Leonard for not showing up in the biggest game of the year. He's a tremendous talent but we need to stop with the Lebron James comparisons now.

WTF are you talking about??? Go back and watch game 5 again, or at least watch the last 8 minutes. He keeps us in the ing game! LMA's 2 missed bunnies, then TP's 2 misses, and that weird Westbrook play when everyone stopped, are the reason we lost that game. Why the wasn't Parker giving the ball to Kawhi? He was wide open on Parker's second missed pull-up.

Seriously, go back and watch. I did yesterday just to confirm that I wasn't remembering it incorrectly. That one is on TP and LMA.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Kawhi was GREAT in game 5, on both ends.

He was the best Spur on the court, sadly we can't say the same about Parker and LMA in that game.

Not sure how you forget that Kawhi scored consecutive points to put the Spurs +7 remaining 4 minutes in the 4th quarter.

But we should question why he didn't get the ball for 4 minutes in that quarter.

Why we saw Parker calling a play for his own shot and other for LMA when both couldn't hit an ocean, or why Kawhi didn't receive the ball when asked for it in the post two times during those 4 minutes?

Kawhi deferred in one play in the last minute but that was a good excuse for Parker not giving him the ball for the previous 3 minutes in the last and most important quarter of the season, with Kawhi having an amazing game and being the only one shooting over .50?

Other guys here say Kawhi/the Spurs need a competent PG, I disagree with them.
They just need a PG who doesn't want to be the hero winning the game, a PG who knows his role, and to be willing to pass Kawhi the ball.

Yuuuuuuup.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Ya know, a lot of people here think Kawhi is a better player than Lebron. In Lebron's entire career, have you ever heard of any fan, media member or analyst alike ever say that such and such team needs a PG that knows his role and would be willing to pass Lebron the ball? The ball is in Lebron's hands at the end of games. Why isn't the ball in Leonard's hands at the end of games?

Because they are completely different kinds of players. Kawhi is Scottie Pippen reincarnated, but a better shooter and not as good a playmaker. LeBron is a running back with a lineman's size and basketballer's skills.

I've never compared the two and won't. They are completely different basketball talents, although both transcendent. Kawhi may be the best perimeter defender the game has ever seen by the time he's finished, and LBJ the best offensive SF.