Popovich: Kawhi Was Not a Leader

[TD 21]

I hate to break it to you man but hes right I watched those games..

Kawhi has had a couple bad games but hes been the best scorer and defender on that team by far the last ten games lowry has the bed offensively multiple times especially against boston.

I hate to break it to you man, but I watched those games too and he's wrong.

Relative to expectations, Lowry, Siakam, Green, Valanciunas and Ibaka, have all been better than him.

Not really "serious". I'm just enjoying how some narratives has changed.

On other hand, it's not that hard to know what's more pathetic.

-Always you.

-Then Pop trying to throw shade at a top player who gets success with other franchise while the Spurs are #12 in the West.

What narrative is that? Seems to me Pop answered a question honestly about the s bag you worship and as usual you couldn't take it.

Spurs are 12th in the West because they've gone senile since '15, s bag and sleazebag uncle tanked his value and Murray tore his ACL. Raptors are winning because they've done some good things and had a good run of luck (it's always a combination) since then. They're obviously far better suited for the playoffs now, but let's not pretend they weren't one of the most successful regular season teams of the past half decade.

[SAGirl]

all that Kawhi noise. What's even more obvious now is that Patty's never getting traded. I'll quote this any time Patty's included in a wishful trade scenario.

https://247sports.com/nba/san-antoni...on--125315456/

"He's like our inspiration, he's an ultimate warrior, gives everything he's got all the time," Popovich said of Mills on Saturday, via CBS Sports. "He feels responsible to everybody, he's always pumping everybody else up. He's just a wonderful teammate and a huge part of our program."

OMG. This is Paddy’s team after all. Theres no doubt that he’s a great teammate, one can tell and guys like that are important for team morale and cohesion. Some say Bonner stayed around way past his real usefulness due to his character and team spirit. It’s fair to say so long as Pop is coach Patty is going to be in the team.

[JakeCuenca]

There is no debate that Kawhi's advanced stats are way down. But again, can't that be because his bench replacement (OG) is that good? We never had a great back-up SF until signing Rudy.

Hes also sat down the games against the worst teams.

[south side spur]

Fanboys calling others fansboys. Todays Spurs fans

I support the Spurs. 30 years. Before the championships. I’m not choosing a player’s stance over the welfare of the team. Today’s Spursfan? Try again. Just because you support Kawhi over the Spurs that’s your problem not mine. Nothing TODAY about this Spurs fan. I’m not crying for the team to tank or actively rooting against or denigrating the organization. I simply support the Spurs. Nice try though

[Hoops Czar]

Yeah and that response was to destroy the Raptors flow, play hero ball and briefly invite the Heat back into the game.

Nah, it's only wannabees like the Raptors that celebrate regular season games as if it's the championship.

I don't know if this comment was meant to be facetious but singling out Kawhi in one game is pretty low by anyone's standards. His numbers pretty much speak for themselves. He singlehandedly kept the Spurs relevant. Had Pop cared enough to build a roster around Kawhi, they would have rang already but it was more important to flush out Europe and the G-league of scrap pieces and egregiously overpay old, unathletic types to not go away.

[SAGirl]

There’s definitely saltiness in both sides.

[gospursgojas]

"I guess when you stop playing" lol

“When you quit on your team”

[Spurs_619]

I hate to break it to you man, but I watched those games too and he's wrong.

Relative to expectations, Lowry, Siakam, Green, Valanciunas and Ibaka, have all been better than him.

What narrative is that? Seems to me Pop answered a question honestly about the s bag you worship and as usual you couldn't take it.

Spurs are 12th in the West because they've gone senile since '15, s bag and sleazebag uncle tanked his value and Murray tore his ACL. Raptors are winning because they've done some good things and had a good run of luck (it's always a combination) since then. They're obviously far better suited for the playoffs now, but let's not pretend they weren't one of the most successful regular season teams of the past half decade.

LOL ok I could see an argument for lowry but you are just straight delusional if you think that ing val/green/siakam/serge are having better seasons than kawhi man. Val cant even stay on the floor against some teams because of his defense. I think your just so salty you can't see clearly.

[TD 21]

I don't know if this comment was meant to be facetious but singling out Kawhi in one game is pretty low by anyone's standards. His numbers pretty much speak for themselves. He singlehandedly kept the Spurs relevant. Had Pop cared enough to build a roster around Kawhi, they would have rang already but it was more important to flush out Europe and the G-league of scrap pieces and egregiously overpay old, unathletic types to not go away.

It wasn't and he didn't. He carried the offense for 1 season ('16-'17). Big deal. There's plenty of superstars and stars who did that for 5-10 years.

As poor a job as they did, they only got essentially got 2 superstar seasons before he lost his mind and once Durant signed with the Warriors, it was going to be a wrap no matter what they or anyone else did.

If he was man enough to voice why he wanted out and handled it like a professional, I'd have a modi of respect for him. Instead he broke the cardinal rule of team sports: quitting on your teammates.

LOL ok I could see an argument for lowry but you are just straight delusional if you think that ing val/green/siakam/serge are having better seasons than kawhi man. Val cant even stay on the floor against some teams because of his defense. I think your just so salty you can't see clearly.

I think you lack basic reading comprehension, fan boy. I specifically said, relative to expectations. Look it up.

[YGWHI]

I hate to break it to you man, but I watched those games too and he's wrong.

Again...don't lie. If you really watched those games I mentioned, you already know they needed Kawhi to take over in the 2nd half to win.

Lowry, Valanciunas, Danny...were horrible against good/elite teams this season.

That's why Raptors' media guys are wondering who will be their 2nd scorer in playoffs since this "by committee" isn't working against top teams.

For a reason, they don't trust in Lowry/Ibaka as 2nd option vs GSW, Bucks, Philly.

[BillMc]

Ujiri promised him that as long as he's a Raptor nobody will tell him he can't tend to the rabbits, even if that means he has to miss games to do it

DNP: Tending to Rabbits

[TD 21]

Again...don't lie. If you really watched those games I mentioned, you already know they needed Kawhi to take over in the 2nd half to win.

Lowry, Valanciunas, Danny...were horrible against good/elite teams this season.

That's why Raptors' media guys are wondering who will be their 2nd scorer in playoffs since this "by committee" isn't working against top teams.

For a reason, they don't trust in Lowry/Ibaka as 2nd option vs GSW, Bucks, Philly.

[/FONT][/COLOR]

Please don't criticize Kawhi. He's the greatest person in the history of western civilization.

[BillMc]

I'm rather interested in WHY Pop said what he said, even if true. Uncharacteristic of him.

[gospursgojas]

I'm rather interested in WHY Pop said what he said, even if true. Uncharacteristic of him.

See first post of this thread. He was asked about Patty’s leadership with the leadership of Manu, and Kawhi now gone.

[daslicer]

Please don't criticize Kawhi. He's the greatest person in the history of western civilization.

YG's fantasy is to get ed up the ass Dwight Howard style by Kawhi.

[BillMc]

See first post of this thread. He was asked about Patty’s leadership compared to Tony, Manu, and Kawhi.

I saw the interview. I don't mean literally why he gave an answer, but, why he decided to go there rather than be diplomatic or evasive about it.

[Dhbsr555]

Ok first off he wasn’t a leader.. he abandoned his team . He was the star player hurt or not , He has to be there atleast for the home games but was nowhere to be found. I get it he doesn’t talk he also doesn’t show up for practices film sessions team meetings or playoff games. He’s a trash teammate .

[Realdeal1]

Kahwi quit on his team last year and kahwi fan boys still calling him a leader lol

[BillMc]

Ok first off he wasn’t a leader.. he abandoned his team . He was the star player hurt or not , He has to be there atleast for the home games but was nowhere to be found. I get it he doesn’t talk he also doesn’t show up for practices film sessions team meetings or playoff games. He’s a trash teammate .

Agreed. I think the not showing up to support his team for the playoffs pretty much ended any leadership case. And, yes, you can rehab in NY in the morning and easily make a night game in SA. So, the rehabbing in NY excuse is just that. An excuse.

[gospursgojas]

He still doesn’t sit on bench during his “rest” games. teammate regardless of team tbh

[druggas]

Should have kept Kawhi and traded Popovich's wrinkly ass!

[Hoops Czar]

I'm rather interested in WHY Pop said what he said, even if true. Uncharacteristic of him.

[JeffDuncan]

I'm rather interested in WHY Pop said what he said, even if true. Uncharacteristic of him.

Probably a combination of

A) denial on the subject of Kawhi, and

B) a need to justify Mills' crazy contract.

[YGWHI]

What narrative is that?

Media would have killed Kawhi or any other player after these Pop's comments in previous years. Today? They're questioning Pop's decisions more than Kawhi's leadership.

Seems to me Pop answered a question honestly about the s bag

Suuure

and as usual you couldn't take it.

Nah...People say Kawhi was ungrateful for leaving/not playing/whatever. What's about a coach who talks in public about a player that helped this team to stay relevant?
Like I've said before, both sides could have handled this better. Now, it's a total mess.

Pop taking shots at a former player, the 'mute' player responds...It's like a parallel world.

Spurs are 12th in the West because they've gone senile since '15

Agree. PATFO could have made other decisions.

[YGWHI]

Please don't criticize Kawhi. He's the greatest person in the history of western civilization.

So this is your best when someone tells you how bad some of his teammates play against elite compe ion...

I already criticized Kawhi.
I've said he was unprofessional and let greedy people to take control on a bad situation, that he's not at his MVP level yet...But I don't like when people lie because:

-Toronto already needed him vs good teams.

-They weren't fanboys who compared his leadership to Tim's. Pop started it, not the fans.