So, is Kawhi done?

[1987_Lakers]

Doesn't look like himself anymore. Maybe we should give him more time? Tore his acl 1.5 years ago, KD tore his achillies and came back 1.5 years later and looked like he didn't miss a step once he came back.

[AirBonner]

Kawhi practicing a new technique called in-game load management

[Axe]

That's what you get for chasing your own career ambitions after being coronated in the east bt.

[Real Men Wear Green]

As an everyday player yes. If I was coaching him I guess I'd play him exclusively in the last five minutes of close games? Giving him the max was awful but it's done and now they just have to deal with it.

[red1]

yeah he's been done for a while


hate to say it. looks like another huge L for the clippers.

[AirBonner]

yeah he's been done for a while


hate to say it. looks like another huge L for the clippers.

Raptors dodged a bullet. Luckily he didn’t want to stay

[D-Wait]

Raptors dodged a bullet. Luckily he didn’t want to stay

What? He might have never torn his ACL with the Raps.
Although he wasn't the most durable before that.

[kawhileonard2]

He wants to destroy Lebron in the playoffs with fans around like usual.

[Spurs m8]

Is ops virginity done? Nope

So Kawhi probably isn't either

[BurningHammer]

Raptors dodged a bullet. Luckily he didn’t want to stay

I think Raptors already knew Kawhi was a damaged good, thus the load management, saving his body for the Playoffs. Raps were very lucky to have a great in-house doctor to deal with that.

[Axe]

I think Raptors already knew Kawhi was a damaged good, thus the load management, saving his body for the Playoffs. Raps were very lucky to have a great in-house doctor to deal with that.
Well, he had a Nurse rt after all. Lmao.

[8Ball]

He's finished as a top tier player. Too many injuries.

Quad took him out a year, knee took him out a year.

Him leaving the Spurs and dumping Pop was his last act of greatness.

[HoopologyPhD]

Absolutely not, anyone with a modicum of basketball talent and an NBA body can easily get 10ppg, athleticism not required if you can shoot well.

[90sgoat]

He'll get much better than now in 12 months if he can stay healthy, which he probably can't.

Zingis also looked like utter shit for a year after his injury, which I think was ACL as well. Derrick Rose as well.

I doubt he will ever really play again, but not because he won't get better, but because of the original degenerative condition he has.

[Axe]

He's finished as a top tier player. Too many injuries.

Quad took him out a year, knee took him out a year.

Him leaving the Spurs and dumping Pop was his last act of greatness.
He may be irrelevant now it seems. But the best thing he's ever done with his team was stopping a new dynasty from three-peating.

[bison]

Is ops virginity done? Nope

So Kawhi probably isn't either

:applause:

[Wally450]

Better question, who would you rather have on your team, Kawhi or AD?

[Real Men Wear Green]

Better question, who would you rather have on your team, Kawhi or AD?

Davis still had stretches of multiple great games. Leonard flashes greatness occasionally for a few minutes.

[Kblaze8855]

He and George played 18 and 14 minutes yesterday, respectively, and they’re both sitting out tonight for load management. At that point just blow up the team.

[ArbitraryWater]

why is PG even sitting?

[Kblaze8855]

It’s a back to back and he played 14 minutes yesterday.

[PeroAntic]

Kawhi doesn't care about the regular season. The man plays scrub minutes and nevers get out of 2nd gear when he plays. Him and the clips are only interested in keeping him fit for the playoffs. Same situation as DRose at Knicks btw. They are just keeping them warm and game fit. its next level load management

[RRR3]

Kawhi doesn't care about the regular season. The man plays scrub minutes and nevers get out of 2nd gear when he plays. Him and the clips are only interested in keeping him fit for the playoffs. Same situation as DRose at Knicks btw. They are just keeping them warm and game fit. its next level load management
Rose is the third string point guard, they aren't load managing him, he's just old and washed up.

[kawhileonard2]

Rose is the third string point guard, they aren't load managing him, he's just old and washed up.

How is he the the third string PG?

[PeroAntic]

Rose is the third string point guard, they aren't load managing him, he's just old and washed up.

That means you havent been watching. In the scarce minutes he plays he looks the same as the guy who light up the Hawks in 2021 playoffs. You don't go from what he was a year and a half ago to washed up like that. Thibs knows what hes got. No wonder the Heat want to trade for him too.

Neither Kawhi nor Rose is washed up, theyre just playoff players and they are being saved for that.

[Real Men Wear Green]

When's the last time a guy that didn't play starters minutes in the regular season led a team to a championship? It's over.

[RRR3]

That means you havent been watching. In the scarce minutes he plays he looks the same as the guy who light up the Hawks in 2021 playoffs. You don't go from what he was a year and a half ago to washed up like that. Thibs knows what hes got. No wonder the Heat want to trade for him too.

Neither Kawhi nor Rose is washed up, theyre just playoff players and they are being saved for that.
Yes, a player at Rose's age with his injury history can quite easily go from key contributor to benchwarmer in the span of a year and a half. I'm not sure why you're surprised a 34 year old who's had tons of injuries is washed.

Your claim is easily refuted by how he's playing too, he's been dreadful (47.4 TS%). He had a good career, and obviously it could have been a great career without injuries, but it's just about over. It happens.

[RRR3]

When's the last time a guy that didn't play starters minutes in the regular season led a team to a championship? It's over.
He always does this. He insisted Rose was still a good player during the period after his ACL tear and before he started taking things more seriously and had a career renaissance. He would continuously insist Rose was still a beast from 2014-18, despite him playing poorly. Credit to Rose for becoming a useful player again starting in the 18-19 season, which he maintained until recently, but I don't think he has much left in the tank at 34.

[Lebron23]

https://scontent.fmnl9-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/323888466_6116672108354416_3931821182200806462_n.j pg?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=PBmc01FqmskAX_B-4X4&tn=5_D-M8D-PQ8dmQVx&_nc_ht=scontent.fmnl9-1.fna&oh=00_AfCy28cS-MEwNR2FTHMmfIzutk9H45wAEAz1JyBJWH6TTQ&oe=63BDA7A1

[PeroAntic]

Yes, a player at Rose's age with his injury history can quite easily go from key contributor to benchwarmer in the span of a year and a half. I'm not sure why you're surprised a 34 year old who's had tons of injuries is washed.

Your claim is easily refuted by how he's playing too, he's been dreadful (47.4 TS%). He had a good career, and obviously it could have been a great career without injuries, but it's just about over. It happens.

You have made claims like these before and you were proven wrong. One would think you would learn a lesson, but no...

Again, you only need to have watched some Knicks games to know that Rose hasn't declined much from 2021/22. Hes getting garbage minutes to keep his physical shape, but he plays the same way as Kawhi out there, just taking a couple of practice shots in game. Of course his efficiency has dropped because hes a rhythm player and he doesn't get much time to get in rhythm, but the sample size is small because he takes very few shots.

Youll see come playoff time - for both Rose and Kawhi, and you will eat crow, AGAIN:cheers:

[Real Men Wear Green]

Knicks didn't bring in Brunson thinking Rose would carry them in the playoffs and Leonard has obvious major injury problems. So you think that the Clippers would be resting him like this if they had confidence in his health? He's missed several seasons and requires too much load management to rely on.

[ArbitraryWater]

It’s a back to back and he played 14 minutes yesterday.

but he doesnt have any injury issues? lol (i know youre being sarcastic)

[ArbitraryWater]

That means you havent been watching. In the scarce minutes he plays he looks the same as the guy who light up the Hawks in 2021 playoffs. You don't go from what he was a year and a half ago to washed up like that. Thibs knows what hes got. No wonder the Heat want to trade for him too.

Neither Kawhi nor Rose is washed up, theyre just playoff players and they are being saved for that.


well he should start to care, at this rate theyre gonna have to be in the play-in

[PeroAntic]

Knicks didn't bring in Brunson thinking Rose would carry them in the playoffs and Leonard has obvious major injury problems. So you think that the Clippers would be resting him like this if they had confidence in his health? He's missed several seasons and requires too much load management to rely on.
They brought Brunson for the regular season so that Rose doesn't break down. Being aware these are extremely injury prone players management need to maximize the probability they are available in the playoffs. They know they can get there without them, but they move the needle in the playoffs, so its a worthy gamble.

[Real Men Wear Green]

They brought Brunson for the regular season so that Rose doesn't break down. Being aware these are extremely injury prone players management need to maximize the probability they are available in the playoffs. They know they can get there without them, but they move the needle in the playoffs, so its a worthy gamble.

Brunson is averaging 21 points and 6 assists. He's one of their best players. He's not going to be taking a back seat to Rose that's fantasizing.

[PeroAntic]

Brunson is averaging 21 points and 6 assists. He's one of their best players. He's not going to be taking a back seat to Rose that's fantasizing.

Exactly what they brought him for, so that they get to the playoffs without Rose's help.

Naturally, I don't think Rose will be the go to guy in the playoffs, but I do expect 25+ minutes and lots of sharing the floor with Brunson.

Watching him closely this season its been clear to me he doesn't care about his stats just like Kawhi. But he is focused on defense. From the eye test Rose has been fantastic defensively. Pairing him up with Brunson could be devastating to opponents on both sides of the floor.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Rose is 5th in pay averaging 6 points in 13 minutes. He is not the franchise player coaches don't double the minutes of old injured players in the postseason. And playing him with Brinson would be problematic he's not a good player off the ball and can't guard big 2s.

[PeroAntic]

He went from 25 minutes in the regular season to 35 minutes in the playoffs in 2021 so its far from inconcievable. Thibs knows what he can do.

[Real Men Wear Green]

He went from 25 minutes in the regular season to 35 minutes in the playoffs in 2021 so its far from inconcievable. Thibs knows what he can do.

Two years ago. He's 34. You can think he's going to explode again but I don't see it. He has a better player at his position that he doesn't fit with on paper and he's old.

[Manny98]

No he just needs time to get his feet back, he's still a top 10 player in the league

[PeroAntic]

He's clearly far from done.