SI: Kawhi Leonard and the Limits of Spurs Culture

[SASdynasty!]

Yeah no matter what Kawhi does, the Hill trade was a raging success. Either he or Duncan would have won Finals MVP in 2013 if someone could have grabbed a rebound, plus he led the team to 67 and 61 win seasons. No matter what the Spurs won bigtime in taking Kawhi.

Lol, Parker wins FMVP if that ends in 6, no question. Not only stats, but his G1 shot, G5 performance, and the sequence to close out G6 was insane (before scrubs choked it away). Duncan had a massive G7 and may have won it if they win in 7. But Parker wins it no question if they close it out in 6. And lol to Kawhi winning it. Really?

[dbreiden83080]

The Spurs did not do one single thing wrong in this entire situation from what I have read or seen. People that blame the organization are usually just trolling and looking for excuses that are not there. They are always incredibly careful with injuries. They were careful with him. He was examined by their doctors time and again. He was told that he can play. He won’t. There’s nothing this team or any team could do differently.

[dbreiden83080]

Lol, Parker wins FMVP if that ends in 6, no question. Not only stats, but his G1 shot, G5 performance, and the sequence to close out G6 was insane (before scrubs choked it away). Duncan had a massive G7 and may have won it if they win in 7. But Parker wins it no question if they close it out in 6. And lol to Kawhi winning it. Really?

I believe Duncan was all set to win finals MVP in 2013 had it ended like it was supposed to in six. It was so close to being over I thought I heard the media had already voted and he had won..

Yep

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mys...ls-7966615.php

[spurs1990]

LaMarcus sulking his way through two seasons is hardly "showing up". You can punch the clock or you can play with passion. What LMA did was worse than Kawhi. LaMarcus gave little to no effort...he wasn't hurt, he just chose to not try. Kawhi isn't giving up on the team, he's trying to preserve his playing career. His public relations skills suck, but I believe he's going to come back and be fine.

I've never seen Kawhi on the court where he's not giving maximum effort. I can't say that about LMA. I'm glad Pop stroked his nutsack this year and got him motivated, but where was this guy when the Spurs needed him? Where was he when TD was leaving the last scrap of his knees on the court?

I'm thrilled that LMA is giving his all to a team that will be out in the first round of the playoffs. He'd be perfect on an average team that has one foot in the playoffs and the other in the lottery........oh wait. Yep, no wonder he's doing fine.

I have to defend Lamarcus Aldridge here. Firstly it’s very much a 'what have you done for me lately' league and LA has been sensational over the last month. I mean it’s inarguable he’s the reason they’re sitting at the 4th seed with an absolute mishmash of NBA talent around him.

Secondarily in his first two seasons the Spurs had incredible seasons.

In 2016 Okc was a tough out. They really should’ve beaten GS and eventually probably be the champs that year.
Everyone recalls some rather questionable calls hurt the Spurs in that series to begin with.

And LA himself had 38 and 41 pts in the first two games of that series. Leonard was hardly exceptional stat wise.

Last year Aldridge unquestionably disappeared during the sweep to GS, but we can’t discount the effect from losing Leonard so suddenly combined with LA having to adjust on the fly to be the man again. Not to mention that GS team destroyed everyone they played including Cleveland. And remember that game six 40 pt win vs Houston? It was Aldridge who straight up dominated that game.

One can go to bat for Leonard and whatever issues he’s having, but to put any criticism at LA’s feet knowing what we've seen from Kawhi is hardly fair.

[coachmac87]

Nobody expects this guy to be Duncan 2.0 anymore. (his camp actually leaked that tidbit to Jabary Young)

But the fact that certified diva like Aldridge has proven to be more professional about his vocation despite his deep-seated discontent last season speaks volumes about Leonard..

Lamarcus sulked, his effort probably waned, and he looked disengaged at times last year, but he was NEVER a distraction to the team or alienated his teammates..

The sooner Spurfan realizes that Kawhi is not who they thought he was, the better..

There is no silver lining in all of this, but at least the fanbase is mentally prepared for the endgame. We are not that stupid to not see through the subterfuge..

Kawhi and his camp need to decide what they truly want..It blows my mind that his camp would bring up Duncan relationship/Spurs in a negative perspective...” We’re not Duncan”.

Like who wouldn’t want to be like a 5x champ arguably top 5-10 player ever..Is him and his camp about winning or nah? If he wants his due or respect winning is the best/quickest way to earn it...Duncan understood it was all about winning and he was willing to do whatever it took to win..

Kawhi has in the past preached that’s all he wants or cares about..funny all of a sudden that’s not the case..

[cheguevara]

The MVP would have gone to Lebron as we would have lost.

lol no

Spurs still win without Kawhi

[tmtcsc]

Kawhi is an asshole. End of story. I told you wankers we never should’ve drafted that pos.

Technically, we didn't draft him.

[Play Boban]

Technically, we didn't draft him.

Good point. Shouldn’t have traded him for George Hill, who is better than any other PG on our roster and, unlike Kawhi, actually suits up for games and doesn’t cry.

[DAF86]

Lol, Parker wins FMVP if that ends in 6, no question. Not only stats, but his G1 shot, G5 performance, and the sequence to close out G6 was insane (before scrubs choked it away). Duncan had a massive G7 and may have won it if they win in 7. But Parker wins it no question if they close it out in 6. And lol to Kawhi winning it. Really?

lol son. Duncan had that on lock after starting 11 for 11, or some like that, on game 6. , Danny Green or Kawhi probably would have ended above Tony.

[DAF86]

I believe Duncan was all set to win finals MVP in 2013 had it ended like it was supposed to in six. It was so close to being over I thought I heard the media had already voted and he had won..

Yep

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mys...ls-7966615.php

'14 made me completely forget about '13 but damn, after reading that , it brought back some regrets. Timmy would have been all alone on the second place of finals MVP's. It still hurts

[DAF86]

Lol, Parker wins FMVP if that ends in 6, no question. Not only stats, but his G1 shot, G5 performance, and the sequence to close out G6 was insane (before scrubs choked it away). Duncan had a massive G7 and may have won it if they win in 7. But Parker wins it no question if they close it out in 6. And lol to Kawhi winning it. Really?

I believe Duncan was all set to win finals MVP in 2013 had it ended like it was supposed to in six. It was so close to being over I thought I heard the media had already voted and he had won..

Yep

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mys...ls-7966615.php

"No question"

[dbreiden83080]

'14 made me completely forget about '13 but damn, after reading that , it brought back some regrets. Timmy would have been all alone on the second place of finals MVP's. It still hurts

I had chest pains and did not sleep a wink after game 6. I screamed out the anger for like 1 hour.. And I don't recall anything about game 7. Blocked it out..

[bic50]

Kawhi shows up 2 out of of 6 games and holds Lebron to more points then he average during playoffs run. Finals MVP should have gone to Parker or Manu or Duncan. But with iguadala also winning the MVP was already a joke.

Liar

[bic50]

lol no

Spurs still win without Kawhi

Nah

[bic50]

Good point. Shouldn’t have traded him for George Hill, who is better than any other PG on our roster and, unlike Kawhi, actually suits up for games and doesn’t cry.

Lol

[Play Boban]

Parker - 6/23 in the closeout games in the 2013 Finals tbh...disgusting.