Kawhi hate is ridiculous, what about LMA?

[skulls138]

KL and LMA are not team leaders. They can't do what it takes to win. Rebound in traffic, fight for a 50/50 ball, and take it to the rim to stop a run or continue a SA run.

If your argument is "they need more help" then you've proved my point.

Both failed during big games at big moments and were out shined by other players. Westbrook was the best player in that series and it wasn't close.

If you dont think Kawhi cant win 50/50 balls and rebound your crazy, he was constantly doing that. If theres a problem with him its that he missed some shots down the stretch, mainly because he was exhausted from doing so much on both sides of the court and he was relying too much on the short jumper. The defender wasnt afraid of him driving to the basket so forced Kawhi into a fadeaway.

Also, why is saying that he and LMA needing help prove your point that they arent good enough? You say Westbrook was the best player in the series but there whole team was better than the Spurs. Adams dominated the boards (understatement), you have Durant, Kanter, etc. As I said OKC found themselves and once they did that they were in their prime, they were bigger, stronger, faster and now they know how to play team ball. Spurs on the other hand, other than Kawhi and LMA, are either way older or way too inexperienced.

[skulls138]

Well, most people here say that LMA is the natural scorer over Kawhi, they said he should carry the load and Kawhi could save some energy to play D...

The same people expected LMA to show it in playoffs putting a lot better numbers than Kawhi. But he didn't.

Or you're right and Kawhi's a better offensive player than him...or LMA didn't quite meet the expectations.

Kawhi is my favorite player but LMA is the more natural scorer. What he needs though is to develop more intangibles, a better inside game and a desire to get more physical. You cant have Kawhi busting his ass all over the court and LMA saying "Im the scorer, I dont get my hands dirty." He had some excellent shooting games but when that dried up he didnt have much else. Live by the sword, die by the sword.

[UZER]

If you dont think Kawhi cant win 50/50 balls and rebound your crazy, he was constantly doing that. If theres a problem with him its that he missed some shots down the stretch, mainly because he was exhausted from doing so much on both sides of the court and he was relying too much on the short jumper. The defender wasnt afraid of him driving to the basket so forced Kawhi into a fadeaway.

Also, why is saying that he and LMA needing help prove your point that they arent good enough? You say Westbrook was the best player in the series but there whole team was better than the Spurs. Adams dominated the boards (understatement), you have Durant, Kanter, etc. As I said OKC found themselves and once they did that they were in their prime, they were bigger, stronger, faster and now they know how to play team ball. Spurs on the other hand, other than Kawhi and LMA, are either way older or way too inexperienced.

Sad thing is, he will never learn to manage that energy to have something left in the tank late in games, playoff games, if Pop continues to only play him 30-33 min a game during the regular season.

It's a skill that even Jordan had to learn. You build up stamina over time, and also learn how to pick your spots.

[tholdren]

If you dont think Kawhi cant win 50/50 balls and rebound your crazy, he was constantly doing that. If theres a problem with him its that he missed some shots down the stretch, mainly because he was exhausted from doing so much on both sides of the court and he was relying too much on the short jumper. The defender wasnt afraid of him driving to the basket so forced Kawhi into a fadeaway.

Also, why is saying that he and LMA needing help prove your point that they arent good enough? You say Westbrook was the best player in the series but there whole team was better than the Spurs. Adams dominated the boards (understatement), you have Durant, Kanter, etc. As I said OKC found themselves and once they did that they were in their prime, they were bigger, stronger, faster and now they know how to play team ball. Spurs on the other hand, other than Kawhi and LMA, are either way older or way too inexperienced.

LMA and KL are so good they are still in the playoffs.... KL is so good he has led a Spurs Team to a Conference Finals or beyond.... They need more help and are no more than pieces, not a centerpiece.

[rasuo214]

Many here are saying that it was the role players who failed, i would say that Duncan and Ginobili were far below their averages this series, specially in play making, and that exposed how poor Kawhi and LA are as play makers, most often than not they made poor decision on offense, and the fact that Parker is also a ty play maker and that Diaw was MIA exposed this even more.

Truth is during our last runs, Tim, Tony and Manu have been the most important players as they allow an offensive flow no other core produced league wide, specially Manu and Tim, who were maybe the best in passing out immediately after creating a team advantage,obviously peaking in 2014. In this regard, Kawhi and LA are years away of developing that team chemistry, and without that chemistry role players rarely succeed.

The team should have focused more on the Kawhi LMA 2 man game. There was a stretch when TD was hurt before the AS game where those 2 looked like they were building chemistry and then the team wen't away from that. I know people miss the beautiful game but that only works when you have the players for it and the Spurs just didn't have shooters for it (or at least they weren't shooting as well as they used to).

[skulls138]

LMA and KL are so good they are still in the playoffs.... KL is so good he has led a Spurs Team to a Conference Finals or beyond.... They need more help and are no more than pieces, not a centerpiece.

And whats a centerpiece? Jordan, Bird, Lebron? Good luck with that! Maybe you would rather have Carmelo, AI or Mcgrady? They have much more talent but not near the heart and I would venture to say KL will have the more winning career than those underachievers.

Time will tell whether KL will continue to shine without the supposed umbrella the big 3 provide. There have been some good to great teams that have won w/out a great centerpiece. 80s Pistons come to mind, as well as 04 Pistons. What needs to happen is players like KA and Boban need to realize their ideal potential, LMA needs to be more like TD and Kawhi needs to keep on progressing. Of course we need more but we're not getting another Duncan is what Im saying. Im happy with who we do have for now.

[rasuo214]

And whats a centerpiece? Jordan, Bird, Lebron? Good luck with that! Maybe you would rather have Carmelo, AI or Mcgrady? They have much more talent but not near the heart and I would venture to say KL will have the more winning career than those underachievers.

Time will tell whether KL will continue to shine without the supposed umbrella the big 3 provide. There have been some good to great teams that have won w/out a great centerpiece. 80s Pistons come to mind, as well as 04 Pistons. What needs to happen is players like KA and Boban need to realize their ideal potential, LMA needs to be more like TD and Kawhi needs to keep on progressing. Of course we need more but we're not getting another Duncan is what Im saying. Im happy with who we do have for now.

The funny thing is all 3 of those centerpieces needed help as well but there's no point in discussing with tholdren unless you're trolling him because he'll just repeat the same idiotic argument over and over again.

[tholdren]

The funny thing is all 3 of those centerpieces needed help as well but there's no point in discussing with tholdren unless you're trolling him because he'll just repeat the same idiotic argument over and over again.

nope KL needs more help. Bring in LMA. LMA needs more help, Spurs need Durant.... RC and Pop are Done.

[SAGirl]

Many here are saying that it was the role players who failed, i would say that Duncan and Ginobili were far below their averages this series, specially in play making, and that exposed how poor Kawhi and LA are as play makers, most often than not they made poor decision on offense, and the fact that Parker is also a ty play maker and that Diaw was MIA exposed this even more.

Truth is during our last runs, Tim, Tony and Manu have been the most important players as they allow an offensive flow no other core produced league wide, specially Manu and Tim, who were maybe the best in passing out immediately after creating a team advantage,obviously peaking in 2014. In this regard, Kawhi and LA are years away of developing that team chemistry, and without that chemistry role players rarely succeed.

+1
Agreed.

[spursistan]

Much respect for Kawhi for keeping high efficiency on offense while chasing the two monsters of OKC (Russ/Durant) for 40 minutes ..

[LakerHater]

Kawhi jus named all defensive 1st team for the 2nd consecuvative yr

[timtonymanu]

Much respect for Kawhi for keeping high efficiency on offense while chasing the two monsters of OKC (Russ/Durant) for 40 minutes ..

Yep. So all the criticism towards Kawhi is ridiculous. Only prime LeBron could do it better than him.

[spursistan]

Yep. So all the criticism towards Kawhi is ridiculous. Only prime LeBron could do it better than him.

it sounds like a cliché, but really Kawhi needs more help (especially on the perimeter)..i hope PATFO can find PG or another wing in the offseason who is elite on at least one end of the floor so they can relieve Kawhi from doing it all..

[Kawhitstorm]

Yep. So all the criticism towards Kawhi is ridiculous. Only prime LeBron could do it better than him.

PEAK Bron had KD dropping 30 on 55% shooting in the 2012 Finals although he outplayed him during crunch time.

[Kawhitstorm]

it sounds like a cliché, but really Kawhi needs more help (especially on the perimeter)..i hope PATFO can find PG or another wing in the offseason who is elite on at least one end of the floor so they can relieve Kawhi from doing it all..

If there's a contender that Chris Paul would be a perfect fit for, it's the Spurs. He would destroy teams running PnP w/ LMA & Danny would be feasting in transition. Come crunch time, give the ball to Kawhi.

[SequSpur]

Chris Paul is a loser. Losers lose! Just like Dusty!

[tholdren]

Yep. So all the criticism towards Kawhi is ridiculous. Only prime LeBron could do it better than him.

Captain Gay here with the Advanced Stats argument, wins and rings don't matter if your plus minus is good.