The pre-draft assessement of Aldrdige was spot-on

[Kawhitstorm]

I think you've forgotten your entire proposition. Your proposition was that Kawhi was the best player in the series against OKC.

I didn't know the series ended after Gm 2. (Maybe that's why LMA left his game in SA)

Gm 1:
-LMA: 38/6 (18-23; TS: 80%)
-Kawhi: 25/5/5 (10-13; TS: 84%)
-WestBrick: 5-19 (26%)
-Chewbaka: 8-15 (53%)
-Spurs outrebound OKC 43 to 38
Conclusion: Meh game for Kawhi right b/c he didn't score 38.

Gm 2:
-LMA: 41/8 (15/21; TS: 80%)
-Kawhi: 14/7 (7/18: TS: 37%)
-WestBrick: 11/25 (44%) **Didn't score a bucket against Kawhi**
-Chewbak: 5-10 (50%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 48 to 37

Conclusion: Kawhi was atrocious b/c there is no such thing as defense.

Gm 3:
-LMA: 24/8 (8-21; TS: 47%)
-Kawhi: 31/11/3 (9-17; TS: 67%) *scored 13 in the 4th quarter*
-WestBrick: 10/31 (32%)
-Chewbaka: 5/8 (62%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 42 to 37
Conclusion: Meh, just an average game for Kawhi.

Gm 4:
-LMA: 20/6 (8-18, TS: 49%)
-Kawhi: 21/6/4/2 (7-19, TS: 47%)
-WestBrick: 5/18 (27%)
-ChewBaka: 3/6 (50%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 40 to 34

Conclusion: Kawhi had a bad defensive game b/c he couldn't guard WestBrick & Dominos at the same time.

Gm 5:
-LMA: 20/9 (6-21, TS: 40%)**3-12 in the 2nd half**
-Kawhi: 26/6/4/5 (12/21, TS: 60%) **2/3 in the 4th quarter**
-WestBrick: 12/27 (44%)
-ChewBaka: 2/4 (50%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 54 to 36.

Conclusion: Kawhi crumbled under pressure.

Gm 6:



So,
-Gm 1: Wash
-Gm 2: LMA
-Gm 3: Kawhi
-Gm 4: Wash
-Gm 5: Kawhi

Conclusion: LMA outplayed Kawhi in ONE GAME, the rest was a wash or Kawhi outplayed him. Your ENTIRE argument on the ENTIRE series is based on one game: Gm 2.

[YGWHI]

That's the majority of responses on here. They defer like crazy and never post relevant statements.

Well, your relevant statement was "LMA carried the Spurs through 3 games" when it was just in game 2.

In game 1 Kawhi scored 25 points in only 21 minutes, Danny was making his 3's, the whole team looked great...And in game 3 Kawhi scored 31 points and LMA 24...Still don't get how he carried us in those two games.

[Kawhitstorm]

In game 1 Kawhi scored 25 points in only 21 minutes

Myopic haters are overlooking Kawhi's Gm 1 performance b/c LMA put up 38 when Kawhi actually had a more efficient game & locked up WestBrick while ChewBaka was getting some points back on the other end against LMA.

-LMA: 38/6 (18-23; TS: 80%)
-Kawhi: 25/5/5 (10-13; TS: 84%)
-WestBrick: 5-19 (26%)
-Chewbaka: 8-15 (53%)

[AFMadison]

I didn't know the series ended after Gm 2. (Maybe that's why LMA left his game in SA)

Gm 1:
-LMA: 38/6 (18-23; TS: 80%)
-Kawhi: 25/5/5 (10-13; TS: 84%)
-WestBrick: 5-19 (26%)
-Chewbaka: 8-15 (53%)
-Spurs outrebound OKC 43 to 38
Conclusion: Meh game for Kawhi right b/c he didn't score 38.

Gm 2:
-LMA: 41/8 (15/21; TS: 80%)
-Kawhi: 14/7 (7/18: TS: 37%)
-WestBrick: 11/25 (44%) **Didn't score a bucket against Kawhi**
-Chewbak: 5-10 (50%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 48 to 37

Conclusion: Kawhi was atrocious b/c there is no such thing as defense.

Gm 3:
-LMA: 24/8 (8-21; TS: 47%)
-Kawhi: 31/11/3 (9-17; TS: 67%) *scored 13 in the 4th quarter*
-WestBrick: 10/31 (32%)
-Chewbaka: 5/8 (62%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 42 to 37
Conclusion: Meh, just an average game for Kawhi.

Gm 4:
-LMA: 20/6 (8-18, TS: 49%)
-Kawhi: 21/6/4/2 (7-19, TS: 47%)
-WestBrick: 5/18 (27%)
-ChewBaka: 3/6 (50%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 40 to 34

Conclusion: Kawhi had a bad defensive game b/c he couldn't guard WestBrick & Dominos at the same time.

Gm 5:
-LMA: 20/9 (6-21, TS: 40%)**3-12 in the 2nd half**
-Kawhi: 26/6/4/5 (12/21, TS: 60%) **2/3 in the 4th quarter**
-WestBrick: 12/27 (44%)
-ChewBaka: 2/4 (50%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 54 to 36.

Conclusion: Kawhi crumbled under pressure.

Gm 6:



So,
-Gm 1: Wash
-Gm 2: LMA
-Gm 3: Kawhi
-Gm 4: Wash
-Gm 5: Kawhi

Conclusion: LMA outplayed Kawhi in ONE GAME, the rest was a wash or Kawhi outplayed him. Your ENTIRE argument on the ENTIRE series is based on one game: Gm 2.

Lol this is cute.

Game 1: LMA
Game 1 a wash? You act like LMA was just standing around on defense. Dude was a force in the paint on defense. LMA was unstoppable. Opened up our entire offense. Leonard played great defense, so did LMA.

Game 2: LMA
Clearly. Kawhi was not atrocious, but clearly didn't have the impact LMA had.

Game 3: Kawhi
Clearly his game for taking it over and helping us bounce back after game 2.

Game 4: LMA
Kawhi got wrecked by Durant. Got ripped by Durant, bricked two wide open 3's in a row that would have been clutch. Turnovers were costly. Edge to LMA. Don't make excuses, Kawhi was getting burned by whoever he was guarding in the 4th.

Game 5: Kawhi
LMA choked it up in the 4th.

Game 6: LMA
LMA did what he had to do on the boards, led everybody on both teams, shot 50%. Kawhi started chucking. Kawhi got stuffed by Roberson, ripped by Roberson. Icing on the cake.

And that's how the cookie crumbles.
Feel free to post irrelevant Pop YouTube videos.

[AFMadison]

Myopic haters are overlooking Kawhi's Gm 1 performance b/c LMA put up 38 when Kawhi actually had a more efficient game & locked up WestBrick while ChewBaka was getting some points back on the other end against LMA.

-LMA: 38/6 (18-23; TS: 80%)
-Kawhi: 25/5/5 (10-13; TS: 84%)
-WestBrick: 5-19 (26%)
-Chewbaka: 8-15 (53%)

So you would choose 10-13 on 84% shooting over 18-23 on 80% shooting. 4% difference on 10 more shots. Player fans stretching the shtick to the max. Your problem is you think everyone hates Kawhi because you so gracefully have his nuts resting on your chin. Everyone here loves the Spurs bro, sometime you gotta just be able to handle the truth. Nobody is overlooking his performance bro, he's in a Spurs jersey.

[Kawhitstorm]

Feel free to post irrelevant Pop YouTube videos.

I'm pretty sure you will also find this objective data to be irrelevant: (Check who the LVP is for 50% of the games in the series including Gm 4 where Kawhi got "burned", hint: it's the guy Kawhi was guarding the entire series)

Stats in the OKC series

Oklahoma City Thunder	92		Excitement	1.4 [1307]		MVP	Kawhi Leonard (SAS): +9.7%
San Antonio Spurs	124		Comeback	1.0 [1096]		LVP	Russell Westbrook (OKC): -7.9%

Oklahoma City Thunder	98		Excitement	7.2 [411]		MVP	LaMarcus Aldridge (SAS): +55.2%
San Antonio Spurs	97		Comeback	1.5 [376]		LVP	Patty Mills (SAS): -28.8%

San Antonio Spurs	100		Excitement	7.4 [374]		MVP	Kawhi Leonard (SAS): +33.1%
Oklahoma City Thunder	96		Comeback	2.4 [323]		LVP	Russell Westbrook (OKC): -16.8%

San Antonio Spurs	97		Excitement	7.0 [445]		MVP	Kevin Durant (OKC): +26.0%
Oklahoma City Thunder	111		Comeback	3.0 [566]		LVP	Russell Westbrook (OKC): -22.1%

Oklahoma City Thunder	95		Excitement	9.0 [143]		MVP	Danny Green (SAS): +32.7%
San Antonio Spurs	91		Comeback	6.4 [90]		LVP	Tony Parker (SAS): -26.0%

San Antonio Spurs	99		Excitement	2.4 [1259]		MVP	Steven Adams (OKC): +9.3%
Oklahoma City Thunder	113		Comeback	1.6 [856]		LVP	Manu Ginobili (SAS): -6.0%

[Kawhitstorm]

So you would choose 10-13 on 84% shooting over 18-23 on 80% shooting. 4% difference on 10 more shots. Player fans stretching the shtick to the max. Your problem is you think everyone hates Kawhi because you so gracefully have his nuts resting on your chin. Everyone here loves the Spurs bro, sometime you gotta just be able to handle the truth. Nobody is overlooking his performance bro, he's in a Spurs jersey.

Oklahoma City Thunder	92		Excitement	1.4 [1307]		MVP	Kawhi Leonard (SAS): +9.7%
San Antonio Spurs	124		Comeback	1.0 [1096]		LVP	Russell Westbrook (OKC): -7.9%

[AFMadison]

I'm pretty sure you will also find this objective data to be irrelevant: (Check who the LVP is for 50% of the games in the series including Gm 4 where Kawhi got "burned", hint: it's the guy Kawhi was guarding the entire series)

So let's see, you are basing your MVP on WPA. Because that is how those MVPs and LVPs were determined.
Kawhi was getting burned by Durant at the end of game 4, and Durant was the MVP, lol.

If you wanna talk WPA for the entire series, LMA ranked 6, Kawhi 9.
Westbrook also led ALL players in that series in assists WPA and ranked 7 in kWPA. (Kitchen sink)

Damn

I'll repeat it to make it clear. You wanna use WPA for one game, I'll use YOUR stat for the whole damn series:

6. LMA


9. Kawhi

Basing MVPs off WPA would mean LMA was the MVP for the Spurs against the Thunder. Thus proving the entire point of my argument against yours. Thanks for proving my point for me.

[Kawhitstorm]

So let's see, you are basing your MVP on WPA. Because that is how those MVPs and LVPs were determined.
Kawhi was getting burned by Durant at the end of game 4, and Durant was the MVP, lol.

You mean after he had already caught fire in the 3rd quarter & had gotten Danny in foul trouble? Durant is impossible to guard once he gets rolling b/c dude in 6'11" & can shoot over any defender even if they are in his jersey. Dude has flambeed Iggy when he tries to put out the fire than Barnes started NUMEROUS times that Kerr decided to start him in the 2nd half of Gm 6 after what he saw in the 4th quarter of Gm 5.

What's more relevant is LMA offering little resistance in the paint when OKC was pounding the glass considering that supposed to be his domain b/c he sure wasn't guarding Ibaka on the perimeter.

If you wanna talk WPA for the entire series, LMA ranked 6, Kawhi 9.

Again, that is HEAVILY skewed b/c of Gm 2 where LMA had the highest WPA of the postseason where he has hitting 3s as if he was Dirk.

Westbrook also led ALL players in that series in assists WPA and ranked 7 in kWPA. (Kitchen sink)

WestBrick should be ranked #1 considering the fact he plays w/ Durant, Ibaka who's shooting 100% in the postseason along w/ Adams/Kanter finishing everything in the paint like prime Shaq. Even Roberson is knocking down 3s.

I'll repeat it to make it clear. You wanna use WPA for one game, I'll use YOUR stat for the whole damn series

You do understand WPA DOESN'T factor is the DEFENSIVE side of the ball, RIGHT? (Although, you can measure the defensive impact a player has by looking at the WPA of the player they were guarding)

Let me break it down for you game-by-game:

Gm 1:
-LMA: 0.09 (Net: 0.09)
-Kawhi: 0.10 **Best in the Game** (Net: 0.18)
-WestBrick: -0.08**Worst in the game**
-ChewBaka: 0.0

Gm 2:
-LMA: 0.55**Best in the postseason** (Net: 0.46)
-Kawhi: -0.2 (Net: -0.25)
-WestBrick: 0.05
-ChewBaka: 0.9

Gm 3:
-LMA: 0.03 (Net: -0.19)
-Kawhi: 0.33 (Net: 0.50)
-WestBrick: -0.17**Worst in the game**
-ChewBaka: 0.22 **Best on the team**

Gm 4:
-LMA: -0.08 **Worst on the team** (Net: -0.13)
-Kawhi: 0.00 (Net: 0.22)
-WestBrick: -0.22**Worst in the game**
-ChewBaka: 0.05

Gm 5:
-LMA: -0.14 (Net: -0.09)
-Kawhi: 0.18 (Net: 0.38)
-WestBrick: -0.20**Worst on the team**
-ChewBaka: -0.05

Gm 6: Negative mainia
-LMA: -0.02 (Net: -0.01)
-Kawhi: -0.02 (Net: 0.0)
-WestBrick: -0.01
-ChewBaka: -0.02

Basing MVPs off WPA would mean LMA was the MVP for the Spurs against the Thunder. Thus proving the entire point of my argument against yours. Thanks for proving my point for me.

So based on the NET rating, LMA was a negative in 3 games while Kawhi was a negative in one game which proves my point that you aren't factoring in defense & that you're STILL making a case for LMA based on Gm 2 when he had the highest WPA of the postseason. You're essentially using an outlier as the crux of your argument.

Even if you just want to use the WPA without factoring in defense then Kawhi has had a higher WPA w/ a significant margin (>0.05 difference) in 3 games (Gm 3-5) to LMA's one (Gm 2). There wasn't a significant margin seperating them in Gm 1/Gm 6 so let's just call it a wash.
Holla at me when your argument has any legs to stand on if Gm 2 is seen for what it is, an EXTEME outlier.

[Neurosis]

LMA went ing supernova in game 2 while everyone else left their testicles in the locker room. This series wasn't lost because of LMA.

It rests on the heads of Pop and his ty rotations/total lack of adjustments and a few key rotation players who gave us nothing.

[AFMadison]

You mean after he had already caught fire in the 3rd quarter & had gotten Danny in foul trouble? Durant is impossible to guard once he gets rolling b/c dude in 6'11" & can shoot over any defender even if they are in his jersey. Dude has flambeed Iggy when he tries to put out the fire than Barnes started NUMEROUS times that Kerr decided to start him in the 2nd half of Gm 6 after what he saw in the 4th quarter of Gm 5.

What's more relevant is LMA offering little resistance in the paint when OKC was pounding the glass considering that supposed to be his domain b/c he sure wasn't guarding Ibaka on the perimeter.



Again, that is HEAVILY skewed b/c of Gm 2 where LMA had the highest WPA of the postseason where he has hitting 3s as if he was Dirk.



WestBrick should be ranked #1 considering the fact he plays w/ Durant, Ibaka who's shooting 100% in the postseason along w/ Adams/Kanter finishing everything in the paint like prime Shaq. Even Roberson is knocking down 3s.



You do understand WPA DOESN'T factor is the DEFENSIVE side of the ball, RIGHT? (Although, you can measure the defensive impact a player has by looking at the WPA of the player they were guarding)

Let me break it down for you game-by-game:

Gm 1:
-LMA: 0.09 (Net: 0.09)
-Kawhi: 0.10 **Best in the Game** (Net: 0.18)
-WestBrick: -0.08**Worst in the game**
-ChewBaka: 0.0

Gm 2:
-LMA: 0.55**Best in the postseason** (Net: 0.46)
-Kawhi: -0.2 (Net: -0.25)
-WestBrick: 0.05
-ChewBaka: 0.9

Gm 3:
-LMA: 0.03 (Net: -0.19)
-Kawhi: 0.33 (Net: 0.50)
-WestBrick: -0.17**Worst in the game**
-ChewBaka: 0.22 **Best on the team**

Gm 4:
-LMA: -0.08 **Worst on the team** (Net: -0.13)
-Kawhi: 0.00 (Net: 0.22)
-WestBrick: -0.22**Worst in the game**
-ChewBaka: 0.05

Gm 5:
-LMA: -0.14 (Net: -0.09)
-Kawhi: 0.18 (Net: 0.38)
-WestBrick: -0.20**Worst on the team**
-ChewBaka: -0.05

Gm 6: Negative mainia
-LMA: -0.02 (Net: -0.01)
-Kawhi: -0.02 (Net: 0.0)
-WestBrick: -0.01
-ChewBaka: -0.02



So based on the NET rating, LMA was a negative in 3 games while Kawhi was a negative in one game which proves my point that you aren't factoring in defense & that you're STILL making a case for LMA based on Gm 2 when he had the highest WPA of the postseason. You're essentially using an outlier as the crux of your argument.

Even if you just want to use the WPA without factoring in defense then Kawhi has had a higher WPA w/ a significant margin (>0.05 difference) in 3 games (Gm 3-5) to LMA's one (Gm 2). There wasn't a significant margin seperating them in Gm 1/Gm 6 so let's just call it a wash.
Holla at me when your argument has any legs to stand on if Gm 2 is seen for what it is, an EXTEME outlier.

Stumped I see.

Ill repeat again:

Overall WPA against OKC:
WPA projects the MVP's of a team.

LMA at 6 ahead of Kawhi at 9 would make LMA the MVP for the Spurs against OKC with every game factored in. I can't help that LMA's game 2 performance was so incredible that it put him above Kawhi. Dude was just that good. You can break it down game by game, but the argument is who was the best overall performer against OKC, and the stats that project "MVP", which is what we were debating, is LMA. You can have your own opinion man, that's cool, but facts > opinions.

Oh oh and edit, if you want to debate on per game WPA, LMA led Kawhi as well.
Kawhi also almost beat out Tony for Turnover WPA. That is expected of Tony because he is PG, but Kawhi

[Kawhitstorm]

I'm Stumped by the insightful data

FIFY

Overall WPA against OKC:
WPA projects the MVP's of a team.

WPA is used on "game-by-game" basis to project the "OFFENSIVE" MVP.

LMA at 6 ahead of Kawhi at 9 would make LMA the MVP for the Spurs against OKC with every game factored in. I can't help that LMA's game 2 performance was so incredible that it put him above Kawhi. Dude was just that good.

LMAO, you just circled back to the FLAW in your argument which is relying on one outlier game to make a blanket statement on the ENTIRE series. It's the equivalent of saying the Spurs outscored OKC for the duration of the series so they outplayed them simply b/c of one outlier game.

You can break it down game by game, but the argument is who was the best overall performer against OKC, and the stats that project "MVP", which is what we were debating, is LMA. You can have your own opinion man, that's cool, but facts > opinions.

Last I checked it was a 6 game series w/ 6 SEPARATE games rather than a series w/ 24 quarters. You can't carryover your point totals to the next game, one game ends & another one starts from zero thus the way you evaluate a player is by looking at each separate game then tallying their score similar to when a fight goes to a decision in boxing. Using the boxing analogy, you're basically claiming that you can't win a fight if you get knocked down & not getting hit doesn't mean shyt. Actually, let's give LMA/Kawhi a scorecard:

Gm 1: 10-10
Gm 2: 10-7 LMA
Gm 3: 10-8 Kawhi
Gm 4: 10-9 Kawhi
Gm 5: 10-9 Kawhi
Gm 6: 10-10

Decision: 57-56 Kawhi

Oh oh and edit, if you want to debate on per game WPA, LMA led Kawhi as well.

Dumbass, whomever has the highest total WPA is also going to have the higher per game WPA as long as they played the same amount of games. It's called elementary math:

Kawhi also almost beat out Tony for Turnover WPA. That is expected of Tony because he is PG, but Kawhi

Assists:

Kawhi: 22
LaMarcus "Blackhole" Softridge: 9

Both had the same USG%:

[AFMadison]

FIFY



WPA is used on "game-by-game" basis to project the "OFFENSIVE" MVP.
WPA also has defensive statistics. Kawhi taking steals, LMA taking blocks.


LMAO, you just circled back to the FLAW in your argument which is relying on one outlier game to make a blanket statement on the ENTIRE series. It's the equivalent of saying the Spurs outscored OKC for the duration of the series so they outplayed them simply b/c of one outlier game.
Stats don't lie. Dumb analogy.




Last I checked it was a 6 game series w/ 6 SEPARATE games rather than a series w/ 24 quarters. You can't carryover your point totals to the next game, one game ends & another one starts from zero thus the way you evaluate a player is by looking at each separate game then tallying their score similar to when a fight goes to a decision in boxing. Using the boxing analogy, you're basically claiming that you can't win a fight if you get knocked down & not getting hit doesn't mean shyt. Actually, let's give LMA/Kawhi a scorecard:

A scorecard card would tally up the totals from the full contest. That's what I did with WPA which YOU USED TO TRY AND PROVE KAWHI WAS THE MVP. When I used the stat in totality to prove LMA as the series MVP, guess what, you deflected......
That's how an MVP is decided, from an overall performance.

Gm 1: 10-10
Gm 2: 10-7 LMA
Gm 3: 10-8 Kawhi
Gm 4: 10-9 Kawhi
Gm 5: 10-9 Kawhi
Gm 6: 10-10

Decision: 57-56 Kawhi It would actually be LMA 0.43, Kawhi 0.39 (I mean if we're talking stats > opinions)
Opinions. We've already covered this. You keep changing them also..



Dumbass, whomever has the highest total WPA is also going to have the higher per game WPA as long as they played the same amount of games. It's called elementary math:
Hey so now you understand that they played the same amount of games, sorry LMA had some very dominant ones. Maybe I should have put it in blue font for you.



Assists:

Kawhi: 22
LaMarcus "Blackhole" Softridge: 9

Both had the same USG%:
Kawhi per game TO WPA: -0.4
Parker: -0.4
I was wrong, they actually tied the team for dead last.

Sorry I keep doin it to ya. Too much fun.

[tholdren]

I didn't know the series ended after Gm 2. (Maybe that's why LMA left his game in SA)

Gm 1:
-LMA: 38/6 (18-23; TS: 80%)
-Kawhi: 25/5/5 (10-13; TS: 84%)
-WestBrick: 5-19 (26%)
-Chewbaka: 8-15 (53%)
-Spurs outrebound OKC 43 to 38
Conclusion: Meh game for Kawhi right b/c he didn't score 38.

Gm 2:
-LMA: 41/8 (15/21; TS: 80%)
-Kawhi: 14/7 (7/18: TS: 37%)
-WestBrick: 11/25 (44%) **Didn't score a bucket against Kawhi**
-Chewbak: 5-10 (50%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 48 to 37

Conclusion: Kawhi was atrocious b/c there is no such thing as defense.

Gm 3:
-LMA: 24/8 (8-21; TS: 47%)
-Kawhi: 31/11/3 (9-17; TS: 67%) *scored 13 in the 4th quarter*
-WestBrick: 10/31 (32%)
-Chewbaka: 5/8 (62%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 42 to 37
Conclusion: Meh, just an average game for Kawhi.

Gm 4:
-LMA: 20/6 (8-18, TS: 49%)
-Kawhi: 21/6/4/2 (7-19, TS: 47%)
-WestBrick: 5/18 (27%)
-ChewBaka: 3/6 (50%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 40 to 34

Conclusion: Kawhi had a bad defensive game b/c he couldn't guard WestBrick & Dominos at the same time.

Gm 5:
-LMA: 20/9 (6-21, TS: 40%)**3-12 in the 2nd half**
-Kawhi: 26/6/4/5 (12/21, TS: 60%) **2/3 in the 4th quarter**
-WestBrick: 12/27 (44%)
-ChewBaka: 2/4 (50%)
-OKC outrebounds the Spurs 54 to 36.

Conclusion: Kawhi crumbled under pressure.

Gm 6:



So,
-Gm 1: Wash
-Gm 2: LMA
-Gm 3: Kawhi
-Gm 4: Wash
-Gm 5: Kawhi

Conclusion: LMA outplayed Kawhi in ONE GAME, the rest was a wash or Kawhi outplayed him. Your ENTIRE argument on the ENTIRE series is based on one game: Gm 2.

dude, you're an idiot.

[K...]

lma and kl, who played better against okc.....a couple points. LMA's monster games were possible bc okc let him carry the offense., That said he played well when he was are only healthy quality big.

Kawhi on the other hand played well but wasn't the clutch closer we are looking for. Either he gassed out, got abused by refs, or just sucks, but if the answer is that god damn roberson is the new mat barnes y'all player fans should just take the "L"


LMA was guarded by a former first league degender in ibaka and a future max contact big in Adams. Kawhi was guarded by okc's weakest players. Kawhi had on paper more to do in the game, but again, that would be gassing or choking. LMA was in a tough situation, dominated when the match up was favorable, produced reliably when he was targeted for shut down.




If duncan was healthy then our bigs were better then everyone's, cept maybe clippers. He wasn't healthy as 40 yr old player often are. Boo hoo. KAwhi was 100% healthy and did not have a bad matchup on offense.

[AFMadison]

dude, you're an idiot.

lma and kl, who played better against okc.....a couple points. LMA's monster games were possible bc okc let him carry the offense., That said he played well when he was are only healthy quality big.

Kawhi on the other hand played well but wasn't the clutch closer we are looking for. Either he gassed out, got abused by refs, or just sucks, but if the answer is that god damn roberson is the new mat barnes y'all player fans should just take the "L"


LMA was guarded by a former first league degender in ibaka and a future max contact big in Adams. Kawhi was guarded by okc's weakest players. Kawhi had on paper more to do in the game, but again, that would be gassing or choking. LMA was in a tough situation, dominated when the match up was favorable, produced reliably when he was targeted for shut down.




If duncan was healthy then our bigs were better then everyone's, cept maybe clippers. He wasn't healthy as 40 yr old player often are. Boo hoo. KAwhi was 100% healthy and did not have a bad matchup on offense.

[YGWHI]

Kawhi was guarded by okc's weakest players...Kawhi was 100% healthy and did not have a bad matchup on offense.

It seems these trolls didn't look Roberson defensive stats in the whole playoffs...I wouldn't call him a "weak" defender.

Kawhi was guarded by the best OKC perimeter defender while had the toughest matchup on defense guarding Westbrook.

[Kawhitstorm]

Sorry I keep doin it to ya. Too much fun.

LaMarcus "I only show up in the first 2 games of a series" Softrigde did the same thing in 2014. Sorry, EVERYONE has seen that horror movie before & it ended w/ Softridge getting owned by Tiago Splitter after getting bailed out by Lillard. The Blazers dumped Softridge, replaced him w/ none other than Mo Harkless & one-upped him.

Aldridge essentially disappeared after the first two games, averaging 20.5 points and shooting 39.7 percent from the floor in the final four games of the series.

[Kawhitstorm]

I'm an idiot.

FIFY

[TD 21]

LaMarcus "I only show up in the first 2 games of a series" Softrigde did the same thing in 2014. Sorry, EVERYONE has seen that horror movie before & it ended w/ Softridge getting owned by Tiago Splitter after getting bailed out by Lillard. The Blazers dumped Softridge, replaced him w/ none other than Mo Harkless & one-upped him.

Great and choked are the two most overused words in sports, especially the latter in basketball.

It's called law of averages and the sport being inherently volatile, particularly the way it's played today.

This notion that certain players/teams are predisposed to being clutch/choking, is generally nonsense. Thompson was supposedly a playoff choker. Is he now all of a sudden "clutch", or did, as Lowe termed it, sports happen?

I stopped buying this cliche "choked" nonsense and started realizing just how random a lot of these close finishes are, in game 6 of the '14 WCF. The Spurs could have easily lost that game, but prevailed because more 50/50 just so happened to break their way. Vice versa was obviously true for game 6 of the '13 Finals. But because the Spurs have five championships and the Thunder have zero, they're branded as the poised, masters of execution and the Thunder as choke artists.

[Kawhitstorm]

It seems these trolls didn't look Roberson defensive stats in the whole playoffs...I wouldn't call him a "weak" defender.

Kawhi was guarded by the best OKC perimeter defender while had the toughest matchup on defense guarding Westbrook.

Ibaka was proven to be a terrible post defender by AARP Dirk. Let's not even talk about how AARP Tim & Diaw ate his lunch in 2014.

[Kawhitstorm]

Great and choked are the two most overused words in sports, especially the latter in basketball.

It's called law of averages and the sport being inherently volatile, particularly the way it's played today.

This notion that certain players/teams are predisposed to being clutch/choking, is generally nonsense. Thompson was supposedly a playoff choker. Is he now all of a sudden "clutch", or did, as Lowe termed it, sports happen?

Nobody is claiming that a player choked b/c they missed shot, that's basically the Kawhi haters narrative.

When players are ALL OF A SUDDEN passing up shots, committing turnover or taking rushed shots during pressure situations then they are playing tight. If they make a habit of it then they are chokers. Basically, you have to earn the label over a large sample size & Karl Malone is the perfect example.

I stopped buying this cliche "choked" nonsense and started realizing just how random a lot of these close finishes are, in game 6 of the '14 WCF. The Spurs could have easily lost that game, but prevailed because more 50/50 just so happened to break their way. Vice versa was obviously true for game 6 of the '13 Finals. But because the Spurs have five championships and the Thunder have zero, they're branded as the poised, masters of execution and the Thunder as choke artists.

Choking & random plays are TWO different things. The Spurs not grabbing the defensive rebound is a random play while OKC/Clippers turning the ball over on seemingly every possession in pressure situations is choking not b/c they were SCARED but b/c they all of a sudden started making DUMB decisions after dumb decision when the game got tight.

Kawhi going 3/4 from the line when he was a 75% FT shooter or Manu splitting FT when he has been doing it ALL SEASON LONG is not what one would call choking, that would be Nick Anderson going to the line & missing 4 straight FTs in the '95 Finals & never wanting to get fouled thereafter.

[TD 21]

Nobody is claiming that a player choked b/c they missed shot, that's basically the Kawhi haters narrative.

When players are ALL OF A SUDDEN passing up shots, committing turnover or taking rushed shots during pressure situations then they are playing tight. If they make a habit of it then they are chokers. Basically, you have to earn the label over a large sample size & Karl Malone is the perfect example.



Choking & random plays are TWO different things. The Spurs not grabbing the defensive rebound is a random play while OKC/Clippers turning the ball over on seemingly every possession in pressure situations is choking not b/c they were SCARED but b/c they all of a sudden started making DUMB decisions after dumb decision when the game got tight.

Kawhi going 3/4 from the line when he was a 75% FT shooter or Manu splitting FT when he has been doing it ALL SEASON LONG is not what one would call choking, that would be Nick Anderson going to the line & missing 4 straight FTs in the '95 Finals & never wanting to get fouled thereafter.

Fair enough, but I still say, in general, the word choking is flippantly thrown around far too often.

Specifically regarding Aldridge, he's really only been on two runs (and I use that term loosely, considering game 5 and 6 of the WCSF is as far as they went) and three total playoffs, in his prime. In '14, he dominated in the WCQF, then lost to the greatest playoff team of all time, with probably the best suited to defend him player in the league defending him. In '15, he played injured. In '16, his playoff metrics were strong.

It's one thing to say underwhelming, but there's not nearly enough evidence to brand him a choker.

The reality is, you're more than likely not winning a championship if he's basically your co go-to player, but you can say that about all but a handful of players in the league at a given time.

[Kawhitstorm]

In '14, he dominated in the WCQF, then lost to the greatest playoff team of all time, with probably the best suited to defend him player in the league defending him. This year, his playoff metrics were strong.

He had two monster games against the Rockets while being guarded by Terrance Freakin' Jones. They put Asik on him for the rest of the series & Asik was a slow footed center who isn't used to playing on the perimeter. He proceeded to shoot **drum rolls** 39% for the final 4 games (same as the final 4 games against OKC).

He also killed the Spurs during the regular season & was a s of himself in the postseason when they game planned for him.

It's one thing to say underwhelming, but there's not nearly enough evidence to brand him a choker.

He was horrific against the Grizz last season, he had a thumb injury but he was playing fine through the injury during the regular season. He was being guarded by Zach Freakin' Randolph which makes it even more laughable.

The reality is, you're more than likely not winning a championship if he's basically your co go-to player, but you can say that about all but a handful of players in the league at a given time.

Basically, his game is feast or famine in the postseason which make him more suited to be the 3rd option ala Love.

[TD 21]

He had two monster games against the Rockets while being guarded by Terrance Freakin' Jones. They put Asik on him for the rest of the series & Asik was a slow footed center who isn't used to playing on the perimeter. He proceeded to shoot **drum rolls** 39% for the final 4 games (same as the final 4 games against OKC).

He also killed the Spurs during the regular season & was a s of himself in the postseason when they game planned for him.



He was horrific against the Grizz last season, he had a thumb injury but he was playing fine through the injury during the regular season. He was being guarded by Zach Freakin' Randolph which makes it even more laughable.



Basically, his game is feast or famine in the postseason which make him more suited to be the 3rd option ala Love.

I know. Again though, law of averages. Aldridge mostly shoots mid-rangers (even his post ups often end in turnarounds from mid range). Inevitably, when he has a scorching hot stretch, it's going to be followed by a cold stretch. But when those stretches occur in the playoffs, then it's supposedly choking.

He was so terrible in '15, that it's difficult to imagine his thumb didn't play a factor. Whether it got worse from the regular season to playoffs, I don't know. But people of and above his caliber almost never play that poorly without a mitigating factor(s).

He's definitely more suited to being a 3rd option on a contender, but that's a luxury the Spurs don't have and aren't likely to anytime soon.