Does this change your opinion of Kawhi?

[tlance]

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

Good arguments as to why a player should never sign with the Lakers.

Thanks!

 

[Shanemansj13]

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

LOL you sound dumb. Yep, a 2xDPOY is LAZY. Explain why he is lazy? He worked his ass off to improve his game, remember at SDSU he didn't have a 3 ball...now he is a pretty damn good shooter.

 

[trojanfan12]

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.

I want to see how he handles this going forward.

This was his first team that didn't already have a chemistry when he joined them and it was the first time where all of the pressure of high expectations were on him.

If he handles this correctly, this will be seen as an anomaly. If he doesn't, it'll be seen as a problem.

Also, Kobe shot 6-24 in a finals elimination game. The difference was, he also grabbed 15 rebounds. He and Pau actually outrebounded the Celtics entire starting lineup 33-31.

I think what is most shocking/disappointing is that he didn't find another way to help his team. Bad shooting games are going to happen. When they do, a superstar has to find another way to positively impact the game. He didn't do that.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Good arguments as to why a player should never sign with the Lakers.

Thanks!

Yet they do for the financial opportunities and the best chance to be on a winning team, although i wouldn't mind leaving Ca

 

[True Lakers Fan]

That is absolutely ridiculous to call Kawhi Leonard lazy.

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

14 points in the last game is inexcusable

 

[Wamu]

Yet they do for the financial opportunities and the best chance to be on a winning team, although i wouldn't mind leaving Ca

Hey you Lakers super-homer. Your little message there. We never had a disagreement. You lost your shit because I'm not a Metta fan. Only in your weird world would you call that disagreement.

 

[tlance]

14 points in the last game is inexcusable

Agreed.

But it wasn’t lack of effort as to why he scored 14 points.

 

[RobBase]

Yes. Overrated.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Agreed.

But it wasn’t lack of effort as to why he scored 14 points.

He didnt score or play defense on the other end.. They have to do both to win. Lou Williams didnt step up to the plate either. The other two big scorers got their shots, but none of them played adequate defense

 

[True Lakers Fan]

LOL you sound dumb. Yep, a 2xDPOY is LAZY. Explain why he is lazy? He worked his ass off to improve his game, remember at SDSU he didn't have a 3 ball...now he is a pretty damn good shooter.

Sure didnt show it the last game with his scoring and defense

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

This was his first team that didn't already have a chemistry when he joined them and it was the first time where all of the pressure of high expectations were on him.

This is what confuses me though - the Clippers did have chemistry when Kawhi joined.

Doc Rivers was the same, the system was the same, Lou Williams, Pat Beverly, Montrez Harrell, Zubac, Jamychal Green were all there.

If chemistry is an issue, that's all on Kawhi. That's all on Paul George.

Look at the Lakers: They got a new head coach and 10 new players - 3 of them being in the starting line-up.

This isn't a chemistry issue, it's a "Willing to do whatever it takes to win" issue.

 

[trojanfan12]

This is what confuses me though - the Clippers did have chemistry when Kawhi joined.

Doc Rivers was the same, the system was the same, Lou Williams, Pat Beverly, Montrez Harrell, Zubac, Jamychal Green were all there.

The difference is that it was a chemistry without a star player. Their chemistry was built on being a bunch of nobodies that were expected to finish at the bottom of the conference. Everybody loves the underdog so it's easy to get everyone to pull together. "Nobody respects us. We'll show them" is it's own form of chemistry.

This year, they added 2 stars, one of whom is considered a superstar. That effects minutes, "touches" and everyone's role on the team. Which changes the dynamic and the chemistry.

If chemistry is an issue, that's all on Kawhi. That's all on Paul George.

I agree. Kawhi tried to do the same thing with the Clippers that he did with the Raptors. I don't think he understood that the reason it worked with the Raptors was because they were a team that was used to getting 2 or even 3 rounds deep in the playoffs (whatever round the played Lebron in lol) and they kind of caught lightning in a bottle.

Without that 30 bounce on the rim jumper vs. Philly or the Warriors being devastated by injuries, there's no title for the Raptors and Kawhi, while still considered a great player, doesn't get elevated to Lebron status like he did.

Look at the Lakers: They got a new head coach and 10 new players - 3 of them being in the starting line-up.

This isn't a chemistry issue, it's a "Willing to do whatever it takes to win" issue.

The Lakers took a completely different approach. While Kawhi was load managing and skipping practice...Lebron was at every practice and played in every game. Remember when folks (myself included) were questioning whether or not he could do that and still be rested for the playoffs?

Kawhi bought into the load management thing and it appeared to work, so he and the Clippers went all in on it. It looks like it may not have been the right approach. At least not as much as they did it.

 

[Wamu]

Yes. Overrated.

Wait a minute. Are you even a fan of NBA?

 

[CitySushi]

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 think it's more of a difference between failure and choking. The Warriors choked the series away and I'm fine with that. But the level of competition of that Cavs team was also incredibly great. They had peak Lebron, Kyrie, Love and a smattering of other really good role players. It wasn't like they were slouches, although once holding a 3-1 lead the Warriors should have finished the job. Add in that Steph had a really terrible game 7 and there's all the components of choking. However, they lost in a game 7 of the NBA finals.

That being said, the Mavs had the best record in the league that year. Dirk was the MVP. And they got bounced in the 1st round by a team who didn't lock up their playoff spot until I think 1 game left in the season if I recall. The Clippers have weird circumstances as well with the bubble and lack of a real home court advantage, but again the talent alone on that team should have made a conference final.

 

[RobBase]

Wait a minute. Are you even a fan of NBA?

In its current state or in general?

 

[CitySushi]

Honestly what happened to the Clippers in terms of chemistry is a real issue. That's a downfall for a lot of teams. It puts a different perspective of just how tough it must have been for the Warriors to integrate KD into their team. Even though they were able to manage it for three years, KD still wanted out afterwards because he wasn't happy with his touches. But the organization was able to contain it to a minimum so we never heard about any of this until after he was gone.

I think a similar path will need to happen for the Clippers. They need someone to stabilize the culture. Spurs had one built in prior to Kawhi and same with the Raptors. Kawhi could just plug and play. But that won't be the case with the Clippers going forward. Someone's gotta step into that role.

 

[Wamu]

In its current state or in general?

If you have to ask that question you're not a fan.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

This is what confuses me though - the Clippers did have chemistry when Kawhi joined.

Doc Rivers was the same, the system was the same, Lou Williams, Pat Beverly, Montrez Harrell, Zubac, Jamychal Green were all there.

If chemistry is an issue, that's all on Kawhi. That's all on Paul George.

Look at the Lakers: They got a new head coach and 10 new players - 3 of them being in the starting line-up.

This isn't a chemistry issue, it's a "Willing to do whatever it takes to win" issue.

That core chemistry had one foot out the door the entire bubble.

 

[CitySushi]

That core chemistry had one foot out the door the entire bubble.

Chemistry was shot once the team found out Lou went to Magic City...and didn't bring any wings back for them. So selfish.

 

[rmilia1]

Aa a player ? No

As a decision maker ? Yes

Guy literally went to the only team ( out of the 3 he considered ) where adding him still didn't make his team a prohibitive favorite to win their conference

If he was looking to win titles the Clips should've been a distant 3rd to the Lakers and Raptors