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

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by Outlier, Mar 30, 2015.

  1. Outlier

    Outlier Member

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    Pop has developed this man extraordinarily.

    <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rcYeGSShmQs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
    1 person likes this.
  2. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Contributing Member

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    The midrange game is not a lost art. It is just an art of limited usefulness.
     
  3. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Contributing Member

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    Never been impressed by Kawhi's game. Still am not.

    Unless talking defensively. Then sign me up.

    With that two way ability he's obviously going to get paid. And he's clearly better than the Parsons and Haywards of the world.

    But offensively in not impressed by a mid range game. He's assisted in over 55% of his shots. He's not a creator. Offensively there's a ton of players I'd rather have on the court.

    Defense plus intangibles... Then becoming a competent offensive player... Then sure, that's good development.
     
  4. Outlier

    Outlier Member

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    21, 25, 20, 24, 24 in the last five games. Playing in a system that shares the ball. Yet still no one is impressed by his offensive game.
     
  5. cheke64

    cheke64 Member

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    Good for him but more credit is towards Pop. You just said it, plays in a system
     
  6. Outlier

    Outlier Member

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    Plays in a system that holds him back, not causes him to play as good as he does.
     
  7. Amiga

    Amiga I get vaunted sacred revelations from social media
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    Always seem to me he was one of the few player on the Spurs that is allowed to go 1-1 and post up frequently as a 1st option.
     
  8. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Contributing Member

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    As with other such system teams... most players who have gone on to leave those teams don't typically perform better. Also many of the players who were on other teams beforehand and join that system, magically improve.

    See the Suns. See the Jazz back in the day.

    Don't get me wrong... Kawhi has seen his offense improve. But it's also come with increased usage (highest of his career... though still not crazy or anything), and the lowest true shooting % of his career - though still not bad, but at 55% not awesome or anything.

    Again, don't get me wrong... he's probably still a top 5 small forward. Or anywhere in that #4-#7 range. And he will and should get paid. He has high bball iq. His intangibles are amazing. And the defense is top notch. But his ranking is more a comment on the state of affairs at the SF position then anything else.

    i do think it you switch him with Harrison Barnes, Tobias Harris, Michael-Kidd Gilchrest... all of those guys look better on the Spurs, and Kawhi looks worse on the other teams (though still might grade out as the best of that group of 4).

    But it is what it is... this isn't to be mean to the guy or anything, just an analysis of his game. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have him on the Rockets.
     
  9. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    Midrange game? So inefficient!

    I'd take him over any of our wing player not named Harden.
     
  10. anonmau5

    anonmau5 Member

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    News flash... Every player plays in a system.
     
  11. IzakDavid13

    IzakDavid13 Contributing Member

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    McHale laughs...
     
  12. FTW Rockets FTW

    FTW Rockets FTW Contributing Member

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    Mook Morris had Carmelo-lite all star potential. Ask Morey
     
  13. YOLO

    YOLO Member

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    at what? houston has their own system in which they play
     
  14. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    Not every player.

    There are generally three kinds of players in this regard.

    1. Franchise players. These guys ARE the system. The "system" is built around the franchise player of a team.

    2. System players. These are most of the so-called role players. Their job is to fit in with the franchise player to maximize the team production. That's why the notion of "fit" is important when discussing a role player. Guys who fit the "system" thrive while those who don't underperform.

    Some of these system players are actually stars by their own rights. But they are not the franchise player and have to fit in. Guys like Love and Bosh fall into this category. With Harden's ascension this season, Dwight Howard is going to be a "system" player or he might impede the team's success.

    3. Utility players. These players are versatile role players or even "star" players who can fit well in any system or with any franchise player. They don't need a "system" to be effective.

    On topic for this thread, Leonard is either #2 or #3.
     
  15. roslolian

    roslolian Member

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    Would you take him at the max? Because the only wing we who will have a salary comparable to what he is asking is Harden.

    Kawhi is a decent player, but IMHO nothing to lose sleep over, he's like a poor man's version of Iggy and some people thought Iggy at 12M is too much. The difference with Kawhi is he plays on the Spurs, and the Spurs agree legendary in making players look better than they really are thanks to their system and coaching. If somebody else got him I don't think he would have developed this much.
     
  16. LosPollosHermanos

    LosPollosHermanos Houston only fan
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    When people pack the paint run shooters off the 3pt line, getting an open midrange shot is gold. So many people have been fooled into thinking you can be a good 3pt shooter but not a good midrange shooter. Its about good looks and plays, these guys are "shooters", not shooters from a certain distance.

    A good midrange game is essential in the post season.
     
  17. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    I was being sarcastic when I said inefficient. Leonard is actually a pretty good 3pt shooter, better than Ariza and Parsons. And neither of Ariza and Parsons has much of a midrange game to speak of.

    Some people dismiss Leonard as "can't create his own shot" which is true. But if a guy could create his own shot and could score prolifically, he'd be a superstar. (Ahem, sorry Parsons, I know you are offended.) If you can hit the spot up 3, can drive and finish, and can make the pull up midrange jumper, you are very useful on offense. And Leonard can do that.

    I think the pull up midrange shot is very underrated, especially with this rim-and-3 culture. Being able to make the pull up opens up both the 3 and the drive. The only guy apart from Harden on the Rockets that has a pull up jumper is Terry. Too bad Terry is too slow now to be an effective driver.
     
  18. SamFisher

    SamFisher Contributing Member

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    midrange specialist Kawhi Leonard took 254 middies (.98 pps) and 249 3's last season (1.2 pps), along with 380 shots inside (1.3 pps)

    HOORAY FOR MIDRANGE!
     
  19. Chinahype

    Chinahype Member

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    He was ours... but we got Mook instead...
     
  20. BigShasta

    BigShasta Contributing Member

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    still overhyping system players. see (anyone who graduated from duke that wasn't pg)
     

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