Lol Kawhi

[YGWHI]

So I don't think Pop is monitoring Kawhi or Danny to "preserve" them or anything. He's really just developing guys. He has played these guys enough in garbage time already, and they just blow out other teams' benches not matter who you put around them, so they have earned their chance to see if they can hang with the real starters in other teams. In order to test them, some guys have to give up some minutes. To me that is all it is.

How do you see the playoff minutes assuming all are healthy? Right now Leonard and Green are being monitored as if they're the 39 year old with knee pain. Manu seems to be at his average. So if Leonard and Green go back up in minutes during post season who's minutes are dialed back for Simmons and Anderson?
Leonard could use some minutes to work out some things. Ball handling, P/R, P/P, etc... His development shouldn't be dismissed either. He doesn't need to play 40 minutes but these 25 minute games are a bit tiresome.

Nah...Why the Spurs should care to develop a player who will play 35-40 mpg in the postseason when they can develop two guys who at least will play 5-8 mpg in the playoffs??

You know that Kawhi's a "finished product", he doesn't need to develop his ball handling, PnR, he excels at those situations...Put the attention on the other guys and not in the future face of the franchise...It makes a ton of sense.

[YGWHI]

Except he hasn't played good defense in a couple of weeks.

Absence of Duncan is exposing him tbqh

That's interesting. Legit question, do you guys think that Tim makes him look better defensively than he actually is? He definitely does help a perimeter defender look better by being in that last line of defense protecting the rim, but how much of a difference do you guys think it makes?

I still keep referring back to something Pippen said back in the day. He said that Bruce was a pretty good defender, but Tim backing him up was the main reason he looked great. When I originally read that years ago, I thought Pippen was being a bit of a hater, but maybe he was right. Pippen said something along the lines of that he'd be the best defender in the world too if he had Tim Duncan behind him backing him up. I'd love to read that article again. Don't remember where I read it though.

Kawhi has still the best numbers on defense. The best DBPM among perimeter players...FG% opponents, PPP...

Since Kawhi plays a lot more of minutes than Tim per game...

He has to cover not only his man but take care of work on Parker/Mills man...

And helping Diaw/West with their rebounding and defensive struggles...I'd say he's doing a great job on that end

[SAGirl]

Nah...Why the Spurs should care to develop a player who will play 35-40 mpg in the postseason when they can develop two guys who at least will play 5-8 mpg in the playoffs??

You think they will not play and you are probably mistaken in that. There is a purpose to Pop's madness and us getting blown out by elite teams is not a good sign. Manu gave an interview saying their time is not mere gifts by Pop. They have have earned their current spots and role and they are still getting better. In fact, he also mentioned we have too many players and so guys have been in and out of the rotation, than in reality have the talent to play on a nightly basis.

This one is also maybe the last season for Manu, if you don't think Kawhi will need other good players to support him, then you are definitely being a blind player fan and thinking selfishly about your guy and in an unspursy fashion.

[loveforthegame]

I'm not sure what's more alarming. That we may be looking to Simmons and Anderson to be different makers in the playoffs or that we're looking at them as being part of the core to carry the Spurs post big 3 era.

[YGWHI]

This one is also maybe the last season for Manu, if you don't think Kawhi will need other good players to support him, then you are definitely being a blind player fan and thinking selfishly about your guy and in an unspursy fashion.

If you don't think that Kawhi needs playing time to develop the areas of his game where he didn't have the opportunity before because this team was too reliant on Parker/Manu in those situations...

And if you don't think that Kawhi's improvement will more important for the Spurs than any Kyle/Simms improvements they can make...

You're definitely a blind Kyle player fan and thinking selfishly about your guy in an unspursy fashion.

[YGWHI]

I'm not sure what's more alarming. That we may be looking to Simmons and Anderson to be different makers in the playoffs or that we're looking at them as being part of the core to carry the Spurs post big 3 era.

The two things are alarming, tbh.

[SAGirl]

If you don't think that Kawhi needs playing tim to develop the areas of his game where he didn't have the opportunity before because this team was too reliant on Parker/Manu in those situations...

And if you don't think that Kawhi's improvement will more important for the Spurs than any Kyle/Simms improvements they can make...

You're definitely a blind Kyle player fan and thinking selfishly about your guy in a unspursy fashion.

He is already a 5 year veteran with playoff experience, and he plays 40 minutes in close contests, plus as he should he plays every game he's healthy a good amount. First, his minutes have suffered because there has been a lot of garbage time.

Second, we are at a stage of the season where garbage time is now not sufficient to develop young players that you expect to help you in the postseason. You are being naive and blind thinking these two guys are not important and will not help in the postseason. Everyone has a different agenda here. But Pop has flat out said, he's putting them in these situations to get them ready. Danny has given up a lot of his minutes on the sake of their development, and Kawhi much much less. He still gets his minutes against elite teams and at least 30. I think he didn't get the 30 against Magic bc frankly Pop was seeing other units. This is to be expected at this stage of the season. I think you will see a much tigther rotation in March and April, but perhaps the guys that you see getting minutes and the combinations have already been archived for different scenarios in the postseason.

[YGWHI]

He is already a 5 year veteran with playoff experience, and he plays 40 minutes in close contests, plus as he should he plays every game he's healthy a good amount. First, his minutes have suffered because there has been a lot of garbage time.

But you won't put him to develop his ball-handling/driving/PnR in big games situations. If it's a close game Pop won't call new things for Kawhi, and with +20 lead or -20 loss, Pop will put Simms/Kyle there.

So when Kawhi can have the opportunity? He should have it in the first half and 3rd quarter of games against non-playoffs teams. Sadly, that let the other guys in garbage time. You say it isn't enough, but if I have to choose between to develop Kawhi or develop Simms/Kyle, I should choose the player who is one of the best players in the league and will give more benefits to the team.

[YGWHI]

It's funny. After Warriors/Cavs losses people said that Kawhi has to be more aggressive, but after one win people said that Kawhi has to be on the bench to allow other players' development.

So he has to have the minutes to make an impact on the game or should be benched for the young guys?

When Kawhi will have the opportunity to try new things, to stay aggresive on the offensive end? Parking in the corner three and staying on the bench? That makes sense.

[SAGirl]

But you won't put him to develop his ball-handling/driving/PnR in big games situations. If it's a close game Pop won't call new things for Kawhi, and with +20 lead or -20 loss, Pop will put Simms/Kyle there.

So when Kawhi can have the opportunity? He should have it in the first half and 3rd quarter of games against non-playoffs teams. Sadly, that let the other guys in garbage time. You say it isn't enough, but if I have to choose between to develop Kawhi or develop Simms/Kyle, I should choose the player who is one of the best players in the league and will give more benefits to the team.

Listen I get your point, and I like Kawhi, but he has chances to develop every game, every conceivable situation. He's been on the spot against elite teams, close games, the whole gamut.
The other two guys are limited in opportunities by the depth of the team. I don't think they will chip at Kawhi's minutes at all... but I really see the combination of Tony/Patty and Manu as a vulnerability in the playoffs.

Here I may come off one some hate crew wagon, but I am not. Patty is a real liablity if he's not hitting shots. He's very inadequate defensively. Tony has been better, but he's not stopper, and he has gotten dinged up and not come through in the playoffs recently and he's aging. Ray for example was in the rotation last game and he showed some real defensive toughness. Manu is really old for a guard. I personally don't think he can give you quality above 20 minutes in a high up tempo game that requires a lot of energy on both ends. Either his legs will give way to him bricking, or his decision making will be compromised bc he's old. We have a very questionable backcourt. So Pop wanted to see Ray and Simmons handle defending guards, and Ray has really not played much. You can never say with certainty that these guys will not play bc Tony has already had to leave games in the playoffs due to injury and behind him there is only Patty (really scary) and then Ray who has barely played.

So yes, Simmons and Anderson are your likely guys to step up and give some minutes, and maybe even Ray... I mean before that game we had hardly seen him.

[YGWHI]

Listen I get your point, and I like Kawhi, but he has chances to develop every game, every conceivable situation.

No. Most of times, he won't run a pick and roll with LMA if Parker's on the court. Neither with Manu on the court. In the last games Pop called a lot more plays for LMA, so it reduces Kawhi's opportunities too.

Now, he should play less minutes and wait to develop his game because we're developing other guys...

I'd like to give Kyle/Simms more minutes, but not at the expense of Kawhi's development.

[SAGirl]

No. Most of times, he won't run a pick and roll with LMA if Parker's on the court. Neither with Manu on the court. In the last games Pop called a lot more plays for LMA, so it reduces Kawhi's opportunities too.

Now, he should play less minutes and wait to develop his game because we're developing other guys...

I'd like to give Kyle/Simms more minutes, but not at the expense of Kawhi's development.

That is on Pop... he has minutes. If he's not doing the PNR with LMA its not bc of lack of opportunities.

[dabom]

Patty Mills last 3 playoffs WS/48

.119
.146
.262



Patty is cash during the playoffs. Ya can shut the up about him being a liability you stupid s. Go watch basketball next time.

[dabom]

This regular season. .143.

[dabom]

I just can't stand low IQ posters sometimes.

[YGWHI]

That is on Pop... he has minutes. If he's not doing the PNR with LMA its not bc of lack of opportunities

He plays most of his minutes with the ST players-Parker on the floor. With a ball dominant PG/proven great PnR player I wouldn't say Kawhi has a lot of opportunities in those minutes.

[SAGirl]

He plays most of his minutes with the ST players-Parker on the floor. With a ball dominant PG/proven great PnR player I wouldn't say Kawhi will have a lot of opportunities in those minutes.

That is the real issue then, not Ray/Anderson/Simmons getting minutes playing. The issue is that he gets minutes but you don't get to see the plays you want to see.

Personally, I think Tony doesn't fit a system around Kawhi very well. I think Tony needs to pass more and shoot more 3s, when post players get doubled teamed, he has to be ready to fire that 3 but he doesn't. Having Tony off the ball is really a detriment.

I have rarely watched the player others call D'Bust this season (only our two games against him) but he's 6'5'', a passer, and was a shooter with range in college. He's only 19, in a terrible situation in LA, with a lot of disfunction and probably not even being developed well. A guy like that is probably a PG that would be ideal to develop for us. I just envision us needing a better passing and shooting PG than we have.

Heck I like Schroder a lot but I don't think he's the best fit either. He's like Tony in that he's a slasher and needs the ball, and also not the best passer.

If Pop is not putting Kawhi in the situations you want to see, it has to do with other guys beside Ray/Anderson/Simmons getting minutes

[YGWHI]

That is the real issue then, not Ray/Anderson/Simmons getting minutes playing. The issue is that he gets minutes but you don't get to see the plays you want to see.

No. If he plays 25 minutes like last game he doesn't getting minutes.

Personally, I think Tony doesn't fit a system around Kawhi very well. I think Tony needs to pass more and shoot more 3s, when post players get doubled teamed, he has to be ready to fire that 3 but he doesn't. Having Tony off the ball is really a detriment.

I have rarely watched the player others call D'Bust this season (only our two games against him) but he's 6'5'', a passer, and was a shooter with range in college. He's only 19, in a terrible situation in LA, with a lot of disfunction and probably not even being developed well. A guy like that is probably a PG that would be ideal to develop for us. I just envision us needing a better passing and shooting PG than we have.

Heck I like Schroder a lot but I don't think he's the best fit either. He's like Tony in that he's a slasher and needs the ball, and also not the best passer.

If Pop is not putting Kawhi in the situations you want to see, it has to do with other guys beside Ray/Anderson/Simmons getting minutes

I want to see? Most Spurs fans should want to see those plays because those situations can help his development. But agree with your take on Parker-Kawhi. I said before, they aren't a duo and won't never play like one. Their games don't seem very compatible on the court.

[SAGirl]

No. If he plays 25 minutes like last game he doesn't getting minutes.



I want to see? Most Spurs fans should want to see those plays because those situations can help his development. But agree with your take on Parker-Kawhi. I said before, they aren't a duo and won't never play like one. Their games don't seem very compatible on the court.

We'll just have to disagree. I think this past game he was meant to play his 30 minutes, but didn't bc a second unit featuring Anderson/Patty/Ray/Danny made a run and got us a lead in the game and Pop was riding the hot hand. Even if he got the 4-5 additional minutes you were not going to see the plays you wanted to see, as you admitted that they don't run those plays for him with Tony there.