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You're right. From an offensive standpoint, Kawhi can make plays but, he's not a playmaker in the sense that he doesn't make the players around him better.
Fathead can't even finish a fastbreak without getting blocked by a PG.
You're right. From an offensive standpoint, Kawhi can make plays but, he's not a playmaker in the sense that he doesn't make the players around him better.
Nor is he looking to pass.He's like Tony in that regard. They are both scorers who Pop molded into playmakers. I wouldn't say Kawhi is selfish, just that part of the game really is a talent. Ppl get on Draymonds case for example. If he wasn't a good/elite,passer he wouldn't be nearly as helpful as he is. Passing is as much a talent as shooting. You can teach guys to shoot but only some guys will truly be elite. You also can show guys film and where help is coming from and so forth, but some guys have that and more naturally. Kawhi is a good enough passer and I think he will get better but he's a much better scorer than he will ever be a passer. Therefore if you are Pop, and you are thinking of guys to complement Kawhi and LMA, playmakers is a priority.
Who they are down the road we don't know, but Manu is about to retire and Boris is looking like he has one foot out the door soon. Much as ppl dismiss him Kyle best asset is passing, finding guys in scoring position. The other guys Pop h as brought also had passing skill in JSimms. We obviously need someone with more talent. Maybe the draft, maybe FA. But the third wheel to their cart has to be a playmaker.
Which is why the Spurs should be in search of penetrating guards that can break down a defense and create easy scoring opportunities. One of the biggest drawbacks of Kawhi and the ISO game is when Leonard catches the ball with 15 on the shot clock, he holds the ball for 5 seconds, then puts the ball on the floor, does his customary dance to draw closer to the paint and with 5 on the shot clock, he realizes a shot has to go up. This results in one of three things... 1.) Kawhi forces up a bad shot 2.) Kawhi passes out to a teammate who ends up taking a forced three 3.) Shot clock violation.
The Spurs desperately need to bring back the motion offense. Obviously, you don't pass on a player of Durant's caliber if he's available but, I don't see him as the best fit next to LMA and Leonard. That would leave 4 ISO players in the starting lineup, possibly 5 depending on who the Spurs find to play Center. The Spurs don't need the best players to return to championship form. They just need 10 guys that play as a unit and SHARE the basketball. This year, too much one on one, not enough spacing, very little penetration, and mostly mid-range jump shots doomed the Spurs.
Leonard is a good offensive player and he's still improving but, I don't think he'll ever be a playmaker.
I agree completely. I also agree that Durant isn't the best fit. Our 3 best players being all forwards whose ideal positions all overlap, while we have no backcourt is a recipe for disaster. Too many skills, between liking the midrange, the post up and their ideal shooting spots overlap. It would be a case of diminishing returns. Lamarcus would have to play center most of the time and while he's improved defensively, he's not really a center, nor is he a defensive forward like Draymond, Ibaka etc.
Look at the Cavs, in reality Tristan provides much more value to them than Love bc he fills what they needed better and whether LeBron likes it or not his ideal spot overlaps with Love a lot.
We need a big to proved defense and rebounding and a guard who can attack off the dribble and has court vision. Durant is neither of these things. I don't think we'd even be favorites adding him, while we remain super weak in the backcourt.
With Kevin Durant, I really believe he can improve in 2 areas of his game. Defense and his playmaking. I think he has potential as a very good playmaker for others, but he's never really taken in to the next level. That's something I'd bring up if I was the Spurs. I'd tell him that's an area they believe he can improve on and that the Spurs can give hin that opportunity because they don't have a ball dominant PG. Does he want the challenge? Even if you guys don't agree, I think he's got much more potential that both Kawhi and LeMarcus in regards to playmaking.
Last edited by Ice009; 06-20-2016 at 03:45 AM.
I still say Kawhi's best offensive weapon is his 3 pt shot. Hes good at it, it promotes ball movement and it saves on energy, which he needs to do considering how much of it he expends playing D and rebounding. Have LMA play more down low and Kawhi up high with catch and shoot and less medium range game from both. If LMA could learn to play down low, which I think he can just doesnt want to, and pass out of the double team, or drive from the post and pass it out, that would get the ball moving to the open shooter and that would cut the need for a playmaker. Still need a playmaker but we also just need to gear our game back to passing the ball as a team.
LMA didn't seem comfortable in the low post. So playing him there doesn't maximise his offensive potential. He's a good shooter, and in his comfort zone, he is deadly.
Pau Gasol offers the needed low post scoring and passing, but he may get exposed in pick and rolls.
The Spurs did try to sign Gustavo Ayon, a crafty low post scorer, back in 2014 in order to shore up the big men depth. His contract with Real Madrid expires around September this year if I'm not mistaken, so don't be surprised if PATFO tries that route again.
There is a center in the draft with the necessary tools to be an effective low post and even roll option (especially in today's NBA), but he comes with red flags. Besides, the team doesn't have a 2nd round pick to take a punt on AJ Hammons.
Looking at all the low post options through either the draft or free agency, Pau Gasol is probably the safest bet if PATFO are keen to re-establish that as part of the team's offensive repertoire.
let's just say that without Gino, do not have a player of this kind in the squad, and leave it at that ...
ps: still like to see Kyle as pg for second unit (this will not happen though)
Perhaps there's a method to Pop's madness of playing Kyle off the ball. By getting in the reps to shoot, Kyle will be more effective when he's eventually moved to his natural position at point.
Yeah ... no.
Yes he does look uncomfortable doing it but Ive seen him be good at it. Its a sign of nervousness that he needs to deal with. Lebron is like that, something he overcame. When Lebron gets nervous he holds the ball, holds the ball....and then chucks it from behind the three point line. Not saying LMA should abandon his shot, far from it, Im talking about ratio, he needs to power it inside more. It will open the offense too.
Kawhi is a beast but...Jesus Homer Christ.
Toronto fans talking like they know basketball.
Tbh I only voted for kawhi so that I could tell the kawhi fan boys that I was on their side.
Also at the time of the pole, LeBron was not looking great. You had 2014 and 2015 finals.
Also I am a LeBron hater. Not a irrational one, but in the short run I'll always take the least pro LeBron statement available
Does Lebron outplay Kawhi if he was on the Warriors team for Curry?
One thing this series showed is that the gap between LeBron/Kawhi's defense isn't as big as people make it out to be. Kawhi is the better defender, but when LeBron is locked in and focused (which he is come playoff time, especially in big games), he's not far behind. It's crazy how many huge plays LeBron made defensively over course of that series.
Sorry, but this really isn't a debate. You could maybe argue Kawhi had a more impressive regular season, but if you're talking about who the better player is, it's LeBron by a comfortable margin. Hopefully Kawhi will close that gap next season
Just stop it, tbh. You're known more for your emoticons than your horrid takes...Toronto fans talking like they know basketball.
I love Kawhi but this was an embarrassing homer poll,tbhOne thing this series showed is that the gap between LeBron/Kawhi's defense isn't as big as people make it out to be. Kawhi is the better defender, but when LeBron is locked in and focused (which he is come playoff time, especially in big games), he's not far behind. It's crazy how many huge plays LeBron made defensively over course of that series.
Sorry, but this really isn't a debate. You could maybe argue Kawhi had a more impressive regular season, but if you're talking about who the better player is, it's LeBron by a comfortable margin. Hopefully Kawhi will close that gap next season
True, our team needs reinforcement, but it wasn't like we were trotting out total scrubs alongside him..Kawhi is nowhere near Lebron ability to impact the game by making teammates better especially when it comes to play-making..His ballhandling is middling at best and he is still not mentally geared yet to take over these elimination games (LBJ won 8 of his last 9 submitting otherworldly stat line in all)..
Also another factor that separates them is the apparent gulf in athletic/physical conditioning between the two.. a 32 yo Lebron with gigantic mileage ability to play 43-47 minuets in this type of games is simply mind-boggling....Pop might as well ram up Kawhi reg season minutes in 2017 to get him prepared for the playoff load ..
Someone doesn't think a 25 year old can't play 42 mins a game in the playoffs is a dumbass.
Feels good to be one of the ones that voted in favor of the Kang back when this was first created, tbh...
Since Kawhi was #2 on Iso's in the league until the last two months of the regular season, and over 88 percentile in points per possession on those plays, I'd say there is a four thing... 4.) He makes the bucket.
The Warriors took those crazy 3's that we'd call bad shots during the whole season and played in the Finals for second consecutive season...Kyrie won the ship with his 3 playing Iso...We lost against an Iso team like the Thunder, and other of those teams won the le this season.
I wouldn't say that's the way, or the Spurs' way. I'm just saying if you have a player who is that good on Iso's, you should take advantage of that.
But I'd love to see more creative plays from Pop instead of designing iso plays ran for him the whole game.
Kawhi runs the floor well and has good timing on cuts, why not find Kawhi cutting to the rim?
If Kawhi would play for the Cavs/Dubs/Clips we would see lobs for him in every game...It's that hard to give him easy points?
How many times in a game we watch they setting screens for him to force a switch and then exploit the matchup?
Last edited by YGWHI; 06-23-2016 at 01:32 AM.
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