Kawhi Leonard: NBA Wingmen and the Lost Art of the Mid-Range game

Tell late 90s Jordan to force the issue inside with his diminished athletic ability rather than create space for fadeaway mid-range shots and watch his effectiveness decrease even more.

 

one of the very few that have consistently locked down the likes of Lebron/KD. people that think this guy has little offense haven't seen him enough. his offense has grown immensely and it'll show soon enough as it already steadily has.

 

The DPOY might be a popularity contest but there's a grain of truth there, maybe Kawhi is the best indidivual 1-on-1 defender but when it comes to team defense a big man has more inpact, because in addition to guarding his man he can also clog d paint and prevent shots at the rim.

Well personally I dont think Parsons and Hayward deserve the max, so just because they get the max why should Kawhi? I mean do you think Ariza deserves the max? He's playing better than Parsons or Hayward as well. You're right though I havent watched a lot of Kawhi, lets see how they do in the playoffs and what the Spurs do regarding his contract, they should know his value the most.

 

He is hands down the best defender in the NBA. Not close. Don't care who gets DPOY award. Leonard is the best defender.

 

People are getting lost in the fact that the midrange jumper's efficiency does not exist in a vacuum. Efficiency and thus "best shot" changes as the situation and shooter changes. While most of the time both a 3pt shot and layup are both vastly more efficient, there will be situations where the midrange is the most efficient out of available shots. The key is knowing where and when. Typically, a midrange jumper is for shot creators and therefore "stars" because it is a shot in a much more crowded area and you have to create space for yourself to shoot it. It can also be a great system play off screens. If the Rockets were truly as averse to the midrange as some of you believe they are, they would go absolutely bonkers anytime Harden takes a shot from there. It is simply unwise for ****ty midrange shooters to shoot midrange, especially when contested IE Josh Smith.

 

Kawhi's great, and to be honest a player of that level of defensive capability, deserves close to the max. Kawhi has an offensive game though and thus DEFINITELY deserves the max. Spurs would be insane not to pay him it especially since Ginobli and Duncan are retiring any time soon and the Spurs will need to retool around a new core.

Ben Wallace back in the middle of the last decade was BY FAR the best defensive player in the NBA, and he got the max. Players who disrupt on the defensive end as well as Leonard are worth every penny. There are a million guys who can score, but to be an elite defender who you can anchor your entire defense around, its extremely difficult to find.

 

Meh, who needs mid-range jumpers. According to statistics that's the worst shot in basketball. :grin:

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Hayward is definitely playing better/better player than Ariza and is it even a question that Kawhi deserves the max?? He's becoming what Paul George was supposed to be.

 

Man Harden has grown up so much this season. Just watch that last shot he would never get in that situation this season.

 

Where were you last playoffs?? Despite Winning the finals mvp the Spurs still refused to pay him the max that said a lot.

 

That's not true. The Spurs have every intention of giving Kawhi the max and always have. The reason they didn't do it last season was to keep maximum flexibility this off-season in case duncan and manu retire. This would allow them to sign another max level player to pair with kawhi. That wouldn't be possible ifmleonards contract was already on the books.