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I wouldn't say he's that horrible. 5 asts in game where his teammates couldn't hit an ocean...doesn't sound that bad.
It was iso-ball for half the shot clock then either a shot or pass to a stand still player in no position to score.
I wouldn't say he's that horrible. 5 asts in game where his teammates couldn't hit an ocean...doesn't sound that bad.
Kawhi was completely neutralized. His line looks fine but it came in spaced out moments. He was rarely doubled and just couldn’t make a real impact. He’s not awful at playmaking but he’s no DeRozan
Meh. 2 of his assists were Ibaka pick and pops where LMA left Ibaka open and dared Ibaka to shoot. Hardly a facilitating feat. 2 other assists were outlet passes for dunks on a fast break.
When he got ball it was head down pound ball into ground dribble and if he didn’t shoot it, it was a pass to nearest teammate who prior to was just standing around watching nephew.
LOL Toronto was without two starters and Spurs played inspired basketball and Kawhi still had an efficient game 21 points with only 13 FGA. Danny on the other hand was 0-7. So, what am trying to say is that Toronto will be a much better team when we next play them. So, hold of your horses. It was a good win and a satisfying one. For many reasons, but especially because we are on a roll and playing well.
He was double teamed pretty aggressively and trapped. He's could have created more if he was a more skillful passer. I thought the team missed Lowry... This is not the Spurs problem anymore so I don't care about this particular issue.
I honestly only remember 2-3 double teams. When he went back to basket. On the periminter it was pretty much him vs white one on one.
No white had a lot of help tbh. Sometimes Kawhiso even forced shots when doubled. As I said not the Spurs problem.
Ibaka was open a few times bc Aldridge helped in drives too.
The Raptors had quite a few open 3s they just clanked when they were not TO the ball.
They definitely missed Lowry's ball handling and clutch shooting. Without Lowry the Raps are like the 2017 Spurs without Aldridge. Basically Leonard iso-ing and not much else going on.
I think Kawhi emotionally felt this game, he probably never played in such a hostile environment throughout his life, interesting things, he will still do his thing, but far enough away than he could under normal conditions
like i said kawhi will have a hard time to win an mvp if he doesn't learn how to be a good passer
I don't think a team will ever win a championship with Kawhi at the helm playing iso IMO. Even in 2014 when we won it all and Leonard balled out Parker still had "the keys to the team", Duncan was the true leader, and we had the most fluid and team-centric offense in the league.
I didn't see enough ISO for Kawhi, tbh. The Toronto PG (not Lowry) was holding onto the ball way too long; I don't think he compliments Kawhi.
I think it was more Pop outcoaching Nurse. I’ve watched more Raptors games than I care to admit this year, and I think Nurse gets out-coached a lot. Raps are beating teams with superior talent, but not a great game plan. Nurse is rolling the ball out and letting the guys go. Works most nights because the Raps are deeper than most teams. Lowry will help when he’s back, but you can see him and Kawhi haven’t worked great together as Kawhi has taken over more of the ball handling. Games Kawhi sits Lowry looks good because he gets the ball back in his hands. It will be interesting to see how this season plays out for the Raps. Spurs could lose in Toronto because the Raps have enough talent to win most nights in spite of average coaching.
kawhi was very aggressively doubled everytime he touched the ball...that was cearly the game plan...not sure what game u were watching...and derozan is a better passer...being a better passer doesnt not make someone a better player...pippen was a better passer than jordan...so was larry bird...derozan is nowhere in kawhi's league...go in public and say this, you will be laughed out the vicinity...no need to act as if kawhi isnt a top tier player simply because of the bad blood...if last year didnt happen and ppl wanted to trade kawhi for demar, you would consider them dumb s
He is not horrible but it is a weakness in his game. He is extremely isolated and others seemed to have some trouble getting into rhythm. It's something he needs to work on and it was what the Spurs had hoped he would finalize last year. I haven't seen a ton of him playing so I could be wrong but Kawhiso ball has not improved at all in this regard since leaving the Spurs. It needs to happen for him to take that next step. All the other comparable greats did it. He needs to get his while keeping his teammates engaged.
spurs were one of the top teams in assists when he was here...not so much now...the difference is that he barely played with that team...they played a quarter of a season together...that's not nearly enough time to build chemistry...especially with their starting point guard out...when kawhi was with the spurs, and parker was injured, it was different because he played with us for years, so there was chemistry...HE doesnt have to be averaging a lot of assists for the team to be a great ball moving team...his game doesnt bog down ball movement, as i clearly stated we were a top assisting team with him...there were players on teams averaging more assists than kawhi, but thats because they are ball stoppers...kawhi is very efficient and calculated...he gets it and he makes a move...he doesnt dribble dribble dribble, then pass to get an assist...when he builds chemistry with the team, things will be different.
Just wait until they play in Toronto. Give Kawhi Kyle and Jonas and the game will be much more compe ive in their favor. Spurs played great from start to finish, so this isn't a knock on them, but Toronto played without two significant pieces. Kawhi didn't play terrible. Pop knew how to guard him because he knows him well. But by so doing, he teaches Kawhi what he needs to do to improve. There will be a new game plan in Toronto and Kawhi will have a killer game.
That said, I'm glad Spurs beat Toronto to a pulp all night.
We'll just have to agree to disagree on this point. I don't need to look at stats to know he needs to improve the facilitating part of his game. He is a skilled enough passer but he hasn't put it all together quite yet. Whatever reason his defense is a lot worse than before too. He seems to be coasting half the time on defense where he played 100% energy level on that end with the Spurs. His one on one scoring ability has gone up but he eventually needs to tie things together like Jordan and Kobe did so his teammates can keep up. I would argue that in 2016-2017 season a lot of those assists were from simple pick and rolls and the bench's passing. Kawhi himself was Kawhiso ball.
Last edited by SpursDynasty85; 01-04-2019 at 11:37 AM.
Eh, some double teams were aggressive, some were delayed, sometimes there was no double. Kawhis weakness is being a realiabe facilitator for him team. Not random assists here or there. Spurs fans have been saying that since 2015.
You can have low assists and still be a facilitator. It’s not always about the pass that scores. A lot of times it’s about the pass that leads to the pass, or using the double team to your teams advantage by reading the angles it’s coming from, and how hard it’s coming. When Jordan understood this, that’s when he became the greatest of all time.
It depends what you consider "playmaking." Nephew is elite at making plays for himself. He's also unselfish and a willing passer. His court vision is below average compared to other high usage perimeter ballhandlers but Nephew is certainly capable of making plays at an efficient clip.
^^
Kawhi fanboy, tbh
Spot on! The only move I’ve liked from Nurse this year is staggering JV and Ibaka. Everything else has the Raps winning because of superior talent when healthy.
They’re already calling him the white Dwayne Casey up here
Rick Buecher on his podcast said Kwahi becoming another Carmelo with ISO ball. That he gets the feeling that Nick Nurse is walking a fine line between letting Kwahi does his thing and trying to impliment what he wants.
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