http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...eonard-is-best-player-in-nba-after-game-6-win
Can't argue with the greatest basketball mind of all time.
Can't argue with the greatest basketball mind of all time.
Gregg Popovich, says that Kawhi Leonard "is the best player in the league right now"
- Thread starter sytadel
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Royce McCutcheon
Junior Member
People continue to disrespect the King
Liliana Eileen
Member
He ain't lying.
Officerrob
Banned
It's not a crazy opinion
True Savior
Member
indubitably he had the best series of the first round.
Hes top 5 and the best player one could pick to go against Lebron.
Hes top 5 and the best player one could pick to go against Lebron.
TheWorthyEdge
Member
Honestly agree...
No lies detected.
His all around game is phenomenal and he's built for the playoffs.
LeBron is the only other player as well balanced at a similar skill level. KD, Curry and Westbrook are phenomenal but have massive gaping holes in their game.
You could argue for any of those 5, and kept LeBron in check 3 years ago in the finals.
His all around game is phenomenal and he's built for the playoffs.
LeBron is the only other player as well balanced at a similar skill level. KD, Curry and Westbrook are phenomenal but have massive gaping holes in their game.
You could argue for any of those 5, and kept LeBron in check 3 years ago in the finals.
CassidyIzABeast
Member
Bron know.
Bubbavelli
Banned
San Diego stand up!
Team Alucard
Banned
Kawaii Leonard.
Askherserenity
Member
Yup
I guess you can point to Curry's defensive as a hole, though not massive IMO, and we all know Westbrook's limitations but what massive hole does KD have?
CountAntonius
Member
From Robinson to Duncan to Leonard. Spurs always know how to get these methodical soft spoken unselfish players to lead their squad. It's uncanny.
Dreams-Visions
Member
Pop is supposed to think so.
Defense is mediocre. Doesn't try to close out high pressure games. I know a lot was on Westbrook in OKC, but KD would regularly pass out of iso situations or go disappear in the corner towards game end.
KD is my favorite player, but he has some frustrating tendencies.
I think of the 5, Bron and Leonard easily have the best defense. And while Leonard is the worst offensively of the 5, he's still the team leader of the 2nd best team in the NBA.
Randolph Freelander
Member
Much respect to Pop, of course, but he does realize that Nick Young is still around, right?
donkey show
Member
Dreams-Visions
Member
Just for the record:
K. Leonard Round 1: 31 - 6 - 4 - 2 - 0 @ 54% and 48% (rounded up)
L. James Round 1: 33 - 10 - 8 - 3 - 2 @ 54% and 45% (rounded up)
Now imma let you finish, of course.
MidnightCowboy
Member
Kawhi isn't on LeBron's level. No disrespect, you can make the case for #2, he's certainly a better defender at this point, but for all the marbles how can you take anyone over LeBron?
I still have to give the #1 title to LeBron but Kawhi has always been my favourite since San Diego days.
I was screaming at my TV when we didn't draft him (or anyone of note in that draft class, I mean Valacuninas is okay but not what I was hoping for at the time after the Bargnani fiasco).
I was screaming at my TV when we didn't draft him (or anyone of note in that draft class, I mean Valacuninas is okay but not what I was hoping for at the time after the Bargnani fiasco).
Maybe he just needed a change and a team who emphasizes playing hard on that end because his defense hasn't been a gaping hole this year. Far from it actually. He's a major reason the Warriors defense is leading the league in so many categories.
He bodied James in the NBA finals. Shut him down, and took the finals MVP.
True Savior
Member
He played against Memphis, not McMillan-fuckery basketball-Indiana. If you watched the series, you know the impact he had to close out games and how dominant he looked down the stretch. If you didn't, I suppose some games might be a bore, but they tend to be better than just going to basketball-reference.
It's not like Tony Allen was playing, he was torching scrubs like James fuckin Ennis. Who cares?
Sarcastic Poster
Member
Held him to a measly 27 a game on 57% shooting.
the_batman
Banned
well he is. he surpassed LeBron and no one else even comes close.
did you even watch the games? the dude was playing good defense.
did you even watch the games? the dude was playing good defense.
Hyperactivity
Banned
1. The first mistake is counting Lebron out. Pop gets to say this as Kawhi's coach, the people in this thread who agree basically fell for the first trick in the book. NEVER count Lebron out.
2. No one tell Hitta
KD is arguably an incredible 2 way player as well, he really developed a rim protection talent and ability to play defense as a big man during this season and last year's playoffs.
Let's be fair for a second.
Since 2012, the FMVP has gone either to Lebron or the guy guarding him. By your logic, Iggy shut him down.
Lebron wasn't shut down, he was merely slowed, and that's the most you can ask for a player like him. Not holding this against Kawhi, I fucking love his game, and he carried the Spurs more than most people realize this year, and his defense was phenomenal that series, but after 2014 people were talking about Lebron doing everything for the Heat.
NBA-GAF has been having this conversation over and over again. Imo:
Lebron -> KD/Curry/Harden/Kawhi -> (right outside, barely) Westbrook -> Chris Paul -> Anthony Davis/Giannis Antetokounpo -> Wall/Lillard/Butler/PG13/
2. No one tell Hitta
Westbrook isn't in this conversation.
KD is arguably an incredible 2 way player as well, he really developed a rim protection talent and ability to play defense as a big man during this season and last year's playoffs.
Let's be fair for a second.
Since 2012, the FMVP has gone either to Lebron or the guy guarding him. By your logic, Iggy shut him down.
Lebron wasn't shut down, he was merely slowed, and that's the most you can ask for a player like him. Not holding this against Kawhi, I fucking love his game, and he carried the Spurs more than most people realize this year, and his defense was phenomenal that series, but after 2014 people were talking about Lebron doing everything for the Heat.
NBA-GAF has been having this conversation over and over again. Imo:
Lebron -> KD/Curry/Harden/Kawhi -> (right outside, barely) Westbrook -> Chris Paul -> Anthony Davis/Giannis Antetokounpo -> Wall/Lillard/Butler/PG13/
the_batman
Banned
lot of people going to be eating their words when Kawaii gets his second Finals MVP this year. he's going to straight up murder the competition, whether it's the Rockets, Warriors or Cavs with his mid-range shots, pull up threes, strong drives, and stifling defense.
TAKE THAT FOR DATA.
TAKE THAT FOR DATA.
Kawhi>LeBron is like the bizarro version of that crazy homeless dude in the NBA thread ranting about LMA>Kawhi. Pop isn't saying this as some reasoned, dispassionate basketball analysis; it's to motivate his guy for the next round and the remainder of the playoffs. If anyone is taking this any other way then yikes.
GoutPatrol
Forgotten in his cell
Yeah, I would take Kawhii first pick over anyone in the playoffs right now.
the_batman
Banned
lol you don't know Kawaii if you think he needs extra motivation. the dude is a cold blooded assassin.
SparkleMotion
Member
And you'd win once LeBron retired.
True Savior
Member
Pop just said right now. He played amazingly recently. Better than the rest. That's kinda it. There's no future extrapolation beyond it. Lebron is Lebron. He's on a league of his own.
KiwiLannister
Member
You didn't watch the finals last year if you don't think Lebron is the best player in the league.
Lebron is a tier above guys like Kawhi/WB/KD/Steph/Harden
the_batman
Banned
oh wow, LeBron sonned a guy half his size? did you watch the 2014 Finals where Kawaii won the Finals MVP against LeCramp?
it's almost like you ignore facts that discredit you
SparkleMotion
Member
It's almost like you're incredibly biased.
You quoted a post comparing LeBron and Kawhi' s first round stats and said Khawi wasn't playing the Pacers implying that his stiffer competition makes his statline more impressive. Not taking into account he's being guarded by a 40 year old Vince Carter most of the game.
Nah, he's a glorified bench rider.
Or so I've been told.
His 5 mins of fame are almost up....
elrechazado
Banned
Found the BBB alt
TheLaughingStock
Member
This is a joke right? LeBron got basically whatever he wanted in 2014 and dropped nearly 30 on Leonard.
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