Kawhi is trending and NBA twitter is ripping him into shreds

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I do not know about the trade request, but I have been speculating for weeks that he has been invited to stay away. I think that seems very likely.

That wouldn't explain the listing of his injury the way they are. I think he's probably going to request a trade. But I think that the Spurs are pissed off about his "group" and his "own doctors."

I think they are making him be the bad guy in this by listing him the way they are. Otherwise they would just list him as out.

[YGWHI]

I respect your position man. No problem with either you or duncan2k5.

Why?

Because unlike the apaunt er, lefty, RD2dumbs of the world, y'all's fandom is evident. Even in your case where Kawhi is probably why you became a superfan to begin with.

These other ers are just trashing the team and PATFO in support of Kawhi. I see no receipts for their fandom. Half of that group have already wished the team off to Seattle, called Pop a horrible coach (bwahahahaha), or otherwise made some sort of statement about only liking Kawhi in this whole mess.

Well, I questioned PATFO summer decisions, too. I'm against overpaying players like Pau/Patty, and I've said that Pop is losing his fire esp in playoffs.
At the same time, I said I love him for what he did for the franchise, he's a top coach and was the best NBA coach for many, many years. I also respect him as free thinking leader.

I just have issues with some crazy fans here that become suckers or haters reading only the boxscores. It's not a big deal after all.

[sasaint]

That's what i said. Then SAGirl said I was a Kawhi apologist.. now shes backing up

I really liked Stu. If you aren't dissing the man, I love your sig! In spite of myself I have to laugh every time I see your posts (which are too infrequent).

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Well, I questioned PATFO summer decisions, too. I'm against overpaying players like Pau/Patty, and I've said that Pop is losing his fire esp in playoffs.
At the same time, I said I love him for what he did for the franchise, he's a top coach and was the best NBA coach for many, many years. I also respect him as free thinking leader.

I just have issues with some crazy fans here that become suckers or haters reading only the boxscores. It's not a big deal after all.

No problem with questioning decisions. That's part of the fun of being a fan. I just want to discuss issues with true fans. I'm fed up with the trolls that just immediately trash the team or wish we would relocate, etc.

Those ain't fans. They're punk asses. Pathetic ones at that.

[CapitalEmm]

All of this will be forgotten when he brings the Lakers back to contention. He will finally get the credit he deserves then while you gots have to endure your coach talk about rhinos and planets 1B light years away.

Not siding with Kawhi on this at all but damn. Truth. Nuke.

[sasaint]

That wouldn't explain the listing of his injury the way they are. I think he's probably going to request a trade. But I think that the Spurs are pissed off about his "group" and his "own doctors."

I think they are making him be the bad guy in this by listing him the way they are. Otherwise they would just list him as out.

I have said from the beginning that I think he is injured. (I refuse to speculate on the severity of the injury.) But I think there are multiple issues at play at this point. I just know that none of the narratives I read dissing Kawhi seems to take into account that the guy has been a gym rat who is driven to play basketball, and none of the narratives I read fluffing the guy can account for his going completely AWOL. Kawhi isn't improving his earning power through all this and PATFO isn't increasing his marketability. The uncle narrative makes some sense. Having dealt with depression my whole life, I suspect he has some mental/emotional issue such as depression or bi-polarism, which makes the uncle narrative seem more plausible to me. SAGirl's idea that he is dealing with a degenerative, career-threatening condition makes some sense to me. I do not have any clue why he wouldn't address his condition in clear, regular statements as any other athlete has in the past and would have in Kawhi's current situation. The thing that is clear is that he does not want to be the team leader and the face of this franchise - or, more than likely, any other. He may not even want to be an Alpha on the court. He has always wanted to play, and he has always wanted to win. He is doing neither now, and that can't make him happy.

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I have said from the beginning that I think he is injured. (I refuse to speculate on the severity of the injury.) But I think there are multiple issues at play at this point. I just know that none of the narratives I read dissing Kawhi seems to take into account that the guy has been a gym rat who is driven to play basketball, and none of the narratives I read fluffing the guy can account for his going completely AWOL. Kawhi isn't improving his earning power through all this and PATFO isn't increasing his marketability. The uncle narrative makes some sense. Having dealt with depression my whole life, I suspect he has some mental/emotional issue such as depression or bi-polarism, which makes the uncle narrative seem more plausible to me. SAGirl's idea that he is dealing with a degenerative, career-threatening condition makes some sense to me. I do not have any clue why he wouldn't address his condition in clear, regular statements as any other athlete has in the past and would have in Kawhi's current situation. The thing that is clear is that he does not want to be the team leader and the face of this franchise - or, more than likely, any other. He may not even want to be an Alpha on the court. He has always wanted to play, and he has always wanted to win. He is doing neither now, and that can't make him happy.

All sounds reasonable to me. And yet none of that justifies not sitting his ass on the bench to support his teammates.

At the end of the day, cutting through all the , **that's** when I finally turned on him. I'm still also willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on his injury being problematic in so far as dealing with the pain. But sitting on his ass behind the teambench doesn't cause additional pain.

[Phenomanul]

You read me. I said they wanted LMA as #1 option, they said the team and the offense looked better without Kawhi...I won't repeat it.

Here just some threads about...with many posts like...




http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=270967

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271497

The fact that you would twist my argument to suit your narrative is highly disingenuous. Per the par.

I was making the case for how Kawhi should play after a long absence. That he should first focus on making an impact on the defensive end... and then work his offense in. That this approach would allow Aldridge to wean off of a higher number of touches...

[sasaint]

All sounds reasonable to me. And yet none of that justifies not sitting his ass on the bench to support his teammates.

At the end of the day, cutting through all the , **that's** when I finally turned on him. I'm still also willing to give him the benefit of the doubt on his injury being problematic in so far as dealing with the pain. But sitting on his ass behind the teambench doesn't cause additional pain.

Totally agree. That is the part that defies rational explanation.

[dbreiden83080]

Anyone who wants to buy him better understand what they are buying. This will not be the end of this bull . If anyone out there thinks it will be smooth sailing in his career from now on they are fooling themselves. He showed his true character this season.

[CGD]

Dude just tying to do the sell KL to Clips. Have no clue what “trade package” he thinks the Clips can offer that makes sense.

Tobias Harris, two middling draft picks in this draft each in the 13-14 range, and DJs effectively expiring deal for Patty/Pau long term relief? i don’t know.

[CGD]

Anyone who wants to buy him better understand what they are buying. This will not be the end of this bull . If anyone out there thinks it will be smooth sailing in his career from now on they are fooling themselves. He showed his true character this season.

That’s their problem.
Presumably he’d be “happy” in LA though, right with his mega shoe deal, exposure, etc.?

[Das Texan]

Scola to Houston

ya but scola wasnt a and refusing to even show up to work.

[Das Texan]

Sam trying to do the Spurs a solid and prop up the beta 's trade value?

Thanks!

[coachmac87]

No problem with questioning decisions. That's part of the fun of being a fan. I just want to discuss issues with true fans. I'm fed up with the trolls that just immediately trash the team or wish we would relocate, etc.

Those ain't fans. They're punk asses. Pathetic ones at that.

It used to be that way....

[spursistan]

Fully expect his camp to lash out through their mouthpieces (Jalen, Cris Carter) after this Sunday afternoon roasting on national TV and twitter..

[daslicer]

Fully expect his camp to lash out through their mouthpieces (Jalen, Cris Carter) after this Sunday afternoon roasting on national TV and twitter..

You have to add Stephen Jackson and Shannon Sharpe to that list.

[cd021]

Dude just tying to do the sell KL to Clips. Have no clue what “trade package” he thinks the Clips can offer that makes sense.

Tobias Harris, two middling draft picks in this draft each in the 13-14 range, and DJs effectively expiring deal for Patty/Pau long term relief? i don’t know.

Either L.A doesn't have much in the way of assets tbh, if Boston really wants him and the Spurs are willing to move him then he's probably theirs to lose tbh.

[testies]

Leonard is without a shadow of doubt an injured player. His injury however is not physical. There was a reason for all the quiet demeanor. His issues are mental. There is no time table for curing mental illness.

I read this situation much earlier.

And to think RC was going to max out an autistic player

[.G.]

I guess this is the Universe where Kawhi quits.

[absoloot66]

Completely reading tea leaves, I imagined that the players just asked point blank, "Kawhi are you gonna play this season or not?" Kawhi gave an equivocal answer, and they said that if he wasn't going to be on the bench supporting the team, and he wasn't coming back, then it would be less of a distraction for him to just stay away - perhaps half-hoping that it might shame him into either staying and being supportive or even playing. To be honest, I can't think of many rational ways to explain his behavior if it is his own volition. I cannot think of anything comparable in professional sports. I also cannot think of anything comparable to Pop's getting a "pass" from the press for his remarkably boorish behavior. To borrow from another poster, Cam Newton was absolutely crucified for far less than Pop - OR Kawhi. Not much to like about or root for with this Spurs team.

That hasn't worked out well

[SPURt]

For all the media attention seems like there has been no new updates. Just a bunch of people bull ting. I never thought I’d want this, but I wish Kawhi had a Brian Windhorst. At least we’d know something.

I’ve never seen anything like this in any sport. Sucks it’s happening to the Spurs.

[cd98]

Express News today says Kawhi is in NY still and has been there since Mid-March.

[sasaint]

That hasn't worked out well

A mixed bag. Immediately after "the meeting", the team seemed to find a little more focus and intensity, then lost it on the LA swing. Really a roller coaster second half of the season. The Jekyll-and-Hyde home-and-away character of this team is completely foreign to Spurs fans.

[picnroll]

Express News today says Kawhi is in NY still and has been there since Mid-March.

What are the chances that soon after Spurs are knocked out Leonard’s healthy enough to head to CA?