Does this change your opinion of Kawhi?

[Shaqdaddy11]

I agree he should have been better in the 2nd half. If it was any other player I'd question the emotions. Kawhi's been pretty emotionless his entire career. The only time I've really seen anything out him was that clutch shot he hit last year against the Bucks in the ECF.

There's no way I can say the Clippers choked more any other team. For me that goes to the 2015-16 G.S. Warriors. # 1 seed. Best regular season record in history. With the back to back League MVP.

I agree with you about the '16 Warriors, but at least they made it to the Finals. Yeah they choked big time but there were other factors involved in that. Draymond was suspended for game 5 and Lebron was the best player in the league - he wasn't going to go away easily.

The Clippers were touted to be the best team in the league since the '96 Bulls (I actually heard someone say that). They were guaranteed to win the title and Kawhi was going to cement his place as the best player ever.

Instead they don't even make it out the 2nd round... with a fully healthy team. And as good as Jokic and Murray are, they're not quite on the same level as Kawhi and PG

 

[DJ]

Kobe may have had a bad shooting game 7 of the 2010 Finals, but that wasn't a choke job. He still finished with 23 points and the team won. And on top of that, the Lakers didn't give up a 3-1 lead. In fact, they were down 3-2.

Kawhi had a minimal lead of 2 points going in to the 2nd half of the game and finished with 1-11 with a grand total of TWO points.

And Kobe did other things that didn't show up in the box score.....

 

[Wamu]

I agree with you about the '16 Warriors, but at least they made it to the Finals. Yeah they choked big time but there were other factors involved in that. Draymond was suspended for game 5 and Lebron was the best player in the league - he wasn't going to go away easily.

The Clippers were touted to be the best team in the league since the '96 Bulls (I actually heard someone say that). They were guaranteed to win the title and Kawhi was going to cement his place as the best player ever.

Instead they don't even make it out the 2nd round...

The Draymond suspension was one game. The Warriors were up 3-2 after the suspension. But I get where you're coming from about that happening in the Finals.

How about the # 1 seed Mavs losing to the # 8 seed Warriors? Don't remember what year though.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

The Draymond suspension was one game. The Warriors were up 3-2 after the suspension. But I get where you're coming from about that happening in the Finals.

How about the # 1 seed Mavs losing to the # 8 seed Warriors? Don't remember what year though.

I get what you're saying, but the Mavs (in 2007) weren't any way hyped up as much as this years Clippers were.

The Bucks, with the best record in the league this season, didn't make it out the second round either but it's still nothing in comparison to the Clippers. In my opinion at least, but then again I could be a bit biased.

 

[Wamu]

I get what you're saying, but the Mavs (in 2007) weren't any way hyped up as much as this years Clippers were.

The Bucks, with the best record in the league this season, didn't make it out the second round either but it's still nothing in comparison to the Clippers. In my opinion at least, but then again I could be a bit biased.

I'm not sure a healthy Bucks team would have beaten the Heat. Seeems they were the one team the Bucks really matched up badly with. But Milwaukee's biggest mistake was letting Brogdon walk.

 

[jontaejones]

It does a little yea.

If they were back and forth, tied 3-3 that's one thing.

But being up 3-1 and having that many chances to help your team close ... you gotta close.

But he was also dumb to leave Toronto. Seeing how these playoffs have played out, Toronto would have been the favorites.

I mean, in retrospect, who leaves a championship team to go to the Clippers?

 

[msgkings322]

It does a little yea.

If they were back and forth, tied 3-3 that's one thing.

But being up 3-1 and having that many chances to help your team close ... you gotta close.

But he was also dumb to leave Toronto. Seeing how these playoffs have played out, Toronto would have been the favorites.

I mean, in retrospect, who leaves a championship team to go to the Clippers?

Someone who grew up in SoCal

 

[trojanfan12]

But he was also dumb to leave Toronto. Seeing how these playoffs have played out, Toronto would have been the favorites.

Cowherd was talking about that today. He was saying that this is about Kawhi's choices.

After last season he could have:

1. Stayed in Toronto. He would be going for back to back titles (one of the few things he hasn't accomplished) with a team that has a great FO, a great coach and an already established chemistry. But he didn't choose that.

2. Gone to the Lakers. Lebron would be the star, AD would be the co-star and Kawhi could just be quiet, which he likes and collected rings. He didn't choose that.

3. Go to the Clippers. Where he would have to build chemistry, would have higher expectations than the Clippers have had in their history and he's the one expected to deliver on them. While dealing with the bigger brands in the same building. That's what he chose.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Cowherd was talking about that today. He was saying that this is about Kawhi's choices.

After last season he could have:

1. Stayed in Toronto. He would be going for back to back titles (one of the few things he hasn't accomplished) with a team that has a great FO, a great coach and an already established chemistry. But he didn't choose that.

2. Gone to the Lakers. Lebron would be the star, AD would be the co-star and Kawhi could just quiet, which he likes and collected rings. He didn't choose that.

3. Go to the Clippers. Where he would have to build chemistry, would have higher expectations than the Clippers have had in their history and he's the one expected to deliver on them. While dealing with the bigger brands in the same building. That's what he chose.

Still not sure why he didn’t stay in Toronto. Great city. Young, blooming pieces - Siakam and VanVleet. Championship experience veterans- Ibaka, Lowry and Gasol. Danny Green would have stayed. Great, young coach. Weak east.

Lebron in LA and wanting to beat him probably swayed his vote bc he had it made in Toronto. Then add in Paul George, if PG decides to go somewhere else...Kawhi probably stays in Toronto.
He chose possibly the most talented roster with two choke artists, Playoff P and Rivers.

 

[trojanfan12]

Still not sure why he didn’t stay in Toronto. Great city. Young, blooming pieces - Siakam and VanVleet. Championship experience veterans- Ibaka, Lowry and Gasol. Danny Green would have stayed. Great, young coach. Weak east.

Lebron in LA and wanting to beat him probably swayed his vote bc he had it made in Toronto. Then add in Paul George, if PG decides to go somewhere else...Kawhi probably stays in Toronto.
He chose possibly the most talented roster with two choke artists, Playoff P and Rivers.

From what I understand, he wanted to be back in SoCal.

By the time PG was in the picture, he had already eliminated the Raptors from consideration. The word here was that he didn't want to do the 3 star thing...but if the Clips didn't get PG, he would have gone to the Lakers.

 

[Shanemansj13]

From what I understand, he wanted to be back in SoCal.

By the time PG was in the picture, he had already eliminated the Raptors from consideration. The word here was that he didn't want to do the 3 star thing...but if the Clips didn't get PG, he would have gone to the Lakers.

By the comments after I felt he would have picked Toronto over the Lakers. He didnt want to team up with Lebron, he wanted to beat him...at least those were the rumors

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Yes

I had Kawhi pegged as maybe the best player in the league. Definitely top 3 with Lebron and Giannis.

With all the hype that's been surrounding him and the Clippers, with all the talk of 'perhaps the best playoff player ever', he's been a massive disappointment. Not saying he's a bad player - far from it, but a disappointment.

Let's make something very clear. A superstar doesn't go 1-11 in the 2nd half in an elimination game. A superstar doesn't sit out every back-to-back during the regular season and then some, have 4 months off because of the pandemic, and then complain he's too tired. A superstar doesn't give up three consecutive double digit leads in closeout games.

Again, don't get me wrong, Kawhi is still a superstar and will probably end up a top 20 player of all time. But he's definitely not the player a lot of people had him pegged to be.

When your kids were growing up, I envision you saying to them. "child's name, get off your lazy ass and do your homework and chores before I make you regret it". Kawhi is flat out Lazy

 

[True Lakers Fan]

From what I understand, he wanted to be back in SoCal.

By the time PG was in the picture, he had already eliminated the Raptors from consideration. The word here was that he didn't want to do the 3 star thing...but if the Clips didn't get PG, he would have gone to the Lakers.

So he traded Fresh Air, free health care, riot free city and low crime for high cost health insurance, riots, homeless, and the worst pollution in 50 years

 

[Breed]

No. Like with any other superstar like Curry or Lebron, Kawhi will have a bad game every now and then, but for every bad game, those guys will have like 10 excellent games.

Kawhi had 3 bad games or more precisely 3 bad 2nd halves in a row. He wasn't alone though. The entire Clippers team sucked swollen blue whale nuts in the 2nd half of the last 3 games. In the last 3 games the Clippers averaged 58.3 points on 50.4% shooting in the 1st half. And 39 points on 30.2% shooting in the 2nd half.

 

[msgkings322]

When your kids were growing up, I envision you saying to them. "child's name, get off your lazy ass and do your homework and chores before I make you regret it". Kawhi is flat out Lazy

Go home, you're drunk.

 

[msgkings322]

So he traded Fresh Air, free health care, riot free city and low crime for high cost health insurance, riots, homeless, and the worst pollution in 50 years

Right, Kawhi needs to save on health care. Jesus what's gotten into you today?

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Right, Kawhi needs to save on health care. Jesus what's gotten into you today?

You sound pissy tonight.. You having your monthly?

 

[msgkings322]

You sound pissy tonight.. You having your monthly?

Yes I am on my period.

Now, why are you being so dumb tonight? Notice I'm giving you credit for not being dumb all the time. But you may prove me wrong.

 

[broncosmitty]

No.

My opinion was he's a big step below LeBron. Feel the same today.

He also needs to learn how to do his job, every game, or I'll prolly have him two steps below. His load management is weak.

 

[tlance]

When your kids were growing up, I envision you saying to them. "child's name, get off your lazy ass and do your homework and chores before I make you regret it". Kawhi is flat out Lazy

That is absolutely ridiculous to call Kawhi Leonard lazy.

No basis in fact to do that. Dude does nothing but play hard and compete.