[ClutchFans] Kawhi Leonard and his ever-changing pivot foot

When you model your offensive game after Kobe, you're sure to get the special treatment from the referees.



Let's hope Kawhi doesn't copy the leg kick as well.

Spoiler

 

Nice one Clutch. Where are the postseason edition podcasts?

 

Bingo!

 

Agreed. Fans like to look at the other team's stars and complain about the preferential treatment for the star players while completely forgetting that their own best player receives those same calls.

 

Yikes... watch he do this all game one.

 

Well, strictly speaking for myself, I think they should call it when it matters. In the Indiana, first Rockets, and Denver game he clearly relied on switching his pivot to get a good shot off. If I could see it in real time surely the guys on the floor can. If the NBA expects us to believe that the game is rule based they shouldn't allow that. They even said they missed it after the Indiana game in the 2 min. report. But who knows, we had a few just... egregious no calls last series so I'm not holding my breath.

But the refs won't call an extra step or a slide (like the 2nd Rockets example), especially in the playoffs. Lots of stars in this league get that benefit of the doubt. I'm not giving Leonard a pass, I'm simply focusing my rage logically

 

Wow good find clutch!

 

Some of those are so fast that it's hard to pick up in real time. Others are unbelievably egregious.

 

Yep. We just need consistency. Thats all you can really ask for as a fan.

I will rage if harden gets screwed while leonard gets propped up but I wont have a problem if they give superstar treatment both ways.

Its really biased to rage about other stars preferential treatment while acting as if your own star is a victim when they arent IMO.

I just dont like the victim complex mentality honestly. Lets go out there and try to win this thing.

 

It's hard for the refs to notice because Kwahi has such big hands.

 

Just as bad as Isaiah Thomas's carrying dribbles.

 

WOW. That was rough to watch....the slow mo of his "moves"....ouch.

Dude is a beast on the offensive end (and defensive)....last thing the refs need to do is give him another advantage. but this is going to happen all series.

 

Thank you Clutch for bringing this up!! Sadly it won't change anything.

I noticed this bullshit early on in the season watching Sperms games and have mentioned it a lot...Kawhi travels like a mofo. And I'ma keep saying it... dude is an incredible player but gets routine passes and has the lowest standard for a superstar because everyone wants to suck up the Sperms/Pop so damn much smh

 

Dude is a cheater.

 

This bugs me, but if they allow go of some of Harden's more blatant hook/three/flails then what can you do?

 

As ridiculous as it is...league doesn't care.

 

The thing is though he has mastered that hop step, pickup pivot slide slide move pivot that it looks natural to the untrained eye. The Rockets will just have play through it and hope for the best. Go Rockets!! Get It Done!!

 

I say MAYBE 1 gets called at most whole series, 2 only if media and Rocket players pressure the issue forcing the refs attention to Kawhi's feet. (It'd be something if its such a key element to Kawhi's game that it really does reduce his effectiveness to operate. Can kinda hope you found some kryptonite here lol)

Otherwise just gonna have to fight past it. Cant be focusing on pivot feet cheats and moping over calls and take attention away from the Spurs cast.

 

Man, me too!

 

You nailed him, Clutch. That's outrageous! Apologies to the late Gene Autry for borrowing and butchering a tiny bit of his classic:

I've got Spurs that jingle, jangel, jingle
As I go traveling merrily along!