***2021 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD***

Originally posted by sacniner:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Rumor: Kawhi Leonard unhappy with Clippers medical staff

https://sports.yahoo.com/rumor-kawhi-leonard-unhappy-clippers-162307373.html

Lol, San Antonio part two

Clips have been really coy with this injury. What the hell is it? I've seen knee sprain, but probably a lot more serious than that and will require surgery. I think the seriousness of the injury is why he isn't on the bench with his teammates

Leonard to the Warriors confirmed

/s

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Rumor: Kawhi Leonard unhappy with Clippers medical staff

https://sports.yahoo.com/rumor-kawhi-leonard-unhappy-clippers-162307373.html

Source is Skip Bayless - so take it with a train of salt.

Originally posted by MoeJontana84:

Originally posted by sacniner:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Rumor: Kawhi Leonard unhappy with Clippers medical staff

https://sports.yahoo.com/rumor-kawhi-leonard-unhappy-clippers-162307373.html

Lol, San Antonio part two

Clips have been really coy with this injury. What the hell is it? I've seen knee sprain, but probably a lot more serious than that and will require surgery. I think the seriousness of the injury is why he isn't on the bench with his teammates

Leonard to the Warriors confirmed

/s

It's not even possible

Originally posted by sacniner:
Geez dude, what does Lebron have to do with this? Kawhi and Lebron are so vastly different. Kawhi doesn't want the spotlight, and it seems as if he doesn't really care about what fans/media say. Lebron is a one man corporation

Im cheering for Phoenix to take the chip, but it stings to see Kawhi up there. Would be such an epic, nail biter series with him imo.

Clips have surprised me throughout this playoff run. They've show heart and battled. Also, Reggie Jackson resurrected his career

Sitting in the suite is away from the spotlight? Lol ok. They show him several times sitting in there during the game. I think it's pretty common for most players to sit with the team. Kyrie and Harden were sitting on the bench with their team. Don't think they were doing it for spotlight. It's how you can support your team when you're hurt.

Kawhi is one of the best players in the game. I'm pointing out the double standard how different guys are covered and talked about in social and media and here as well.

Originally posted by 4ML:
Sitting in the suite is away from the spotlight? Lol ok. They show him several times sitting in there during the game. I think it's pretty common for most players to sit with the team. Kyrie and Harden were sitting on the bench with their team. Don't think they were doing it for spotlight. It's how you can support your team when you're hurt.

Kawhi is one of the best players in the game. I'm pointing out the double standard how different guys are covered and talked about in social and media and here as well.

I agree that Lebron has had a huge microscope on him since he entered the league. He was an unprecedented phenom coming out of high school, and is on everyone's list as at least a top two or three player of all time. He will be covered differently than every player, including Kawhi. Lebron also wants the coverage and is a corporation. Not ground breaking news. Of course he is covered differently, just like MJ was and Kobe to a lesser degree. Kind of silly to compare him and Kawhi imo on a hypothetical of Lebron sitting in a suite

If I had to guess, I don't think he's sitting in the suite cause he's a bad teammate. I think the seriousness of the injury is why… and unlike Lebron, he will be tight lipped about it because that's who he is

I will be shocked if Kawhi doesn't re-sign a 5 year max deal with Clippers. He's 30 and with his injury history - he'd be taking a huge risk to not take that 59M he'd miss out on.

If Kawhi signs with a new team - max he can get is - 4 years 169M
If Kawhi re-signs with Clippers - max he can get is - 5 years 228M

Unlike younger or healthier players - he could makeup that 5th year money after 4 years when he signs a new deal - but I doubt he will be anywhere close to the player he is today after 4 more seasons and command anything close to that.

Originally posted by sacniner:

Originally posted by 4ML:
Sitting in the suite is away from the spotlight? Lol ok. They show him several times sitting in there during the game. I think it's pretty common for most players to sit with the team. Kyrie and Harden were sitting on the bench with their team. Don't think they were doing it for spotlight. It's how you can support your team when you're hurt.

Kawhi is one of the best players in the game. I'm pointing out the double standard how different guys are covered and talked about in social and media and here as well.

I agree that Lebron has had a huge microscope on him since he entered the league. He was an unprecedented phenom coming out of high school, and is on everyone's list as at least a top two or three player of all time. He will be covered differently than every player, including Kawhi. Lebron also wants the coverage and is a corporation. Not ground breaking news. Of course he is covered differently, just like MJ was and Kobe to a lesser degree. Kind of silly to compare him and Kawhi imo on a hypothetical of Lebron sitting in a suite

If I had to guess, I don't think he's sitting in the suite cause he's a bad teammate. I think the seriousness of the injury is why… and unlike Lebron, he will be tight lipped about it because that's who he is

Hmm...he wasn't tight lipped about his injury when he was in SA and his ppl let the whole World know that he was unhappy with the Spurs medical team and wanted to be traded. There are other ways to get the info out without opening your mouth. Dude was asking for private jet and multi-million dollar condo from the Lakers to sign with them. Reports are already out that he was commuting from San Diego last season and was often late for his team flights for road games. Dude is a big time diva - he got you fooled bc he stays quiet.

Anyway - want GIannis to put his stamp on game 3 tonight. Hawks are gonna be amped up. Do the same thing again - don't let Trae the playmaker beat you. Make him score 40+ again and single him out on defense. Really want Bucks to include him in bunch of screens and wear his ass down.

So far - Trae hasn't played any team that can single him out on defense and attack him. That will not be the case if Hawks advance to the NBA Finals and go up against Clippers or Suns (especially Suns).

Originally posted by 4ML:
Hmm...he wasn't tight lipped about his injury when he was in SA and his ppl let the whole World know that he was unhappy with the Spurs medical team and wanted to be traded. There are other ways to get the info out without opening your mouth. Dude was asking for private jet and multi-million dollar condo from the Lakers to sign with them. Reports are already out that he was commuting from San Diego last season and was often late for his team flights for road games. Dude is a big time diva - he got you fooled bc he stays quiet.

He was pretty tight lipped in the beginning of the SA saga, and he is super tight lipped right now. Not sure what you're knocking him for. Also not sure what he did wrong in negotiations with the Lakers? He's a superstar NBA player, those guys are all pampered as hell

he doesn't have me fooled. I assume every superstar NBA player is a diva. They are pampered, and compensated, like no other professional athlete in America (outside of a select group of MLB players).

Originally posted by sacniner:
He was pretty tight lipped in the beginning of the SA saga, and he is super tight lipped right now. Not sure what you're knocking him for. Also not sure what he did wrong in negotiations with the Lakers? He's a superstar NBA player, those guys are all pampered as hell

he doesn't have me fooled. I assume every superstar NBA player is a diva. They are pampered, and compensated, like no other professional athlete in America (outside of a select group of MLB players).

NBA teams specially complained to NBA about him demanding things - so I disagree with you if you think he did nothing wrong in FA. Lakers weren't the only team to complain about him - Raptors did too. No team complained about KD or Kyrie in the FA demanding things that were illegal. So, you're def. wrong about that.

Originally posted by 4ML:
NBA teams specially complained to NBA about him demanding things - so I disagree with you if you think he did nothing wrong in FA. Lakers weren't the only team to complain about him - Raptors did too. No team complained about KD or Kyrie in the FA demanding things that were illegal. So, you're def. wrong about that.

Also - he decided what games he will play - he decided practice schedule for the teams - he was late for his flights - and there were other instances where he treated his team-mates poorly. Harden and Dwight Howard were criticized for far less in Houston.

What did the Lakers and Raptor complain about? Is it different than what Lebron has asked for? I remember some weird stuff coming out of Cleveland after he left about demands. There have been rumors about other players as well. Bottom line, if you're as good as Kawhi in the NBA you can ask for whatever, behave any way you like and you'll still be in high demand for a max contract at a team of your choosing. That's today's NBA

Kawhi is part of this new age of load management, but this is the new age that you have vehemently supported over the years as far superior than any other generation. This load management BS, and having more power, is part of the player empowerment of this generation you have supported loudly as well. It comes with the territory. You are kind of selectively choosing when to support player empowerment. Shouldn't Kawhi be able to manage his body the way he pleases? Tbh, I haven't heard too much about Kawhi treating his teammates like crap. Maybe he has, but as a star NBA player it doesn't really matter. He'll have many options as a FA. Since you brought up Harden, haven't there been many stories about him being a bad teammate?

Originally posted by 4ML:

Originally posted by MoeJontana84:

Originally posted by sacniner:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Rumor: Kawhi Leonard unhappy with Clippers medical staff

https://sports.yahoo.com/rumor-kawhi-leonard-unhappy-clippers-162307373.html

Lol, San Antonio part two

Clips have been really coy with this injury. What the hell is it? I've seen knee sprain, but probably a lot more serious than that and will require surgery. I think the seriousness of the injury is why he isn't on the bench with his teammates

Leonard to the Warriors confirmed

/s

It's not even possible

I didnt check all the cap ramifications but wouldnt a Leonard for Wiggins, our 7th and 14th picks this year, and a future #1 work?

Originally posted by sacniner:

Originally posted by 4ML:
NBA teams specially complained to NBA about him demanding things - so I disagree with you if you think he did nothing wrong in FA. Lakers weren't the only team to complain about him - Raptors did too. No team complained about KD or Kyrie in the FA demanding things that were illegal. So, you're def. wrong about that.

Also - he decided what games he will play - he decided practice schedule for the teams - he was late for his flights - and there were other instances where he treated his team-mates poorly. Harden and Dwight Howard were criticized for far less in Houston.

What did the Lakers and Raptor complain about? Is it different than what Lebron has asked for? I remember some weird stuff coming out of Cleveland after he left about demands. There have been rumors about other players as well. Bottom line, if you're as good as Kawhi in the NBA you can ask for whatever, behave any way you like and you'll still be in high demand for a max contract at a team of your choosing. That's today's NBA

Kawhi is part of this new age of load management, but this is the new age that you have vehemently supported over the years as far superior than any other generation. This load management BS, and having more power, is part of the player empowerment of this generation you have supported loudly as well. It comes with the territory. You are kind of selectively choosing when to support player empowerment. Shouldn't Kawhi be able to manage his body the way he pleases? Tbh, I haven't heard too much about Kawhi treating his teammates like crap. Maybe he has, but as a star NBA player it doesn't really matter. He'll have many options as a FA. Since you brought up Harden, haven't there been many stories about him being a bad teammate?

Post links...bc Kawhi stuff prompted NBA investigation and led to stronger tampering rules. So, again - you're wrong to say if you're as good as Kawhi - you can ask for whatever. You can't. It's illegal and teams will report you and your agent to the NBA. This is not today's NBA.

Also - I never am against player empowerment. I think it's great for the game. I am just saying - if you're gonna criticize one player for something - same standard should apply to other players. Keep the same energy. Like - Durant can go 0-6 in OT and lose game 7 at home in 2nd round of the Eastern Conf. playoffs and still add to his legacy.

...and exactly - Harden has been criticized more for being a bad teammate for smaller infractions than Kawhi. If Harden was sitting in the suite during games - he'd have been hammered by the national media.

Originally posted by 4ML:
Post links...bc Kawhi stuff prompted NBA investigation and led to stronger tampering rules. So, again - you're wrong to say if you're as good as Kawhi - you can ask for whatever. You can't. It's illegal and teams will report you and your agent to the NBA. This is not today's NBA.

Also - I never am against player empowerment. I think it's great for the game. I am just saying - if you're gonna criticize one player for something - same standard should apply to other players. Keep the same energy. Like - Durant can go 0-6 in OT and lose game 7 at home in 2nd round of the Eastern Conf. playoffs and still add to his legacy.

...and exactly - Harden has been criticized more for being a bad teammate for smaller infractions than Kawhi. If Harden was sitting in the suite during games - he'd have been hammered by the national media.

What has been the tangible change from the "Kawhi stuff"? Doesn't seem like the FA process has changed much. And him acting like a diva doesn't impact the power he has on the market. Even if team's drop a dime on a player and his agent, what are the repercussions? Especially for a superstar player? Not sure if the change in rules serves is an effective disincentive to not do the Kawhi stuff. Therefore, the way he acts is a byproduct of today's NBA and player empowerment (for better or worse)

Regarding the "same energy" on legacies, that is all subjective and needs context. There is no hard and fast rule there. It's all opinion based. Again, I do agree with you that Lebron is under a much larger microscope.

back to the original point - do you think Kawhi is sitting in the booth because he is disengaged and/or a bad teammate? You think the media should make it a bigger story?