Kawhi's Playoff Peak/Prime

[StrongLurk]

2016-2023 Playoffs (72 games):
37.9 MPG, 29/8/4/2/1 on 51/39/88 splits, 63 TS%, 29 PER, .262 WS/48, 11 BPM

It's wild how much greatness we missed from Kawhi due to injury. I don't like the guy at all, but there is no denying his game is easily all-time great level. You might not be able to find 20 players with a 72-game playoff stretch with the numbers above.

He is somewhat similar to Dwyane Wade in the sense that there were times you could argue Wade was better than Lebron/Kobe, just like there were times where is seemed like Kawhi was better than Lebron/Durant, but injuries really took away from Wade's and Kawhi's career.

[Carbine]

His peak, which was extremely short lived was a top 5 player impact wise since the 2000's

Duncan, Shaq, Lebron, Jokic, Kawhi in no order.

[SouBeachTalents]

His peak, which was extremely short lived was a top 5 player impact wise since the 2000's

Duncan, Shaq, Lebron, Jokic, Kawhi in no order.
Nah, Curry provides more impact than Kawhi does, I'd say Giannis does too.

[Carbine]

Kawhi is one of the only #1 options who could play true DPOY level defense on the other end.

Giannis could do it but I prefer Kawhi on offense a bit more as he can close games better than Giannis.

[3ba11]

He beat Jimmy Butler/Embiid with 35 ppg I believe.. then he beat Giannis.. or maybe it was the other way around

[tpols]

Yea peak Kawhi was a basketball machine. His 2019 run was something else.

[BurningHammer]

Yea peak Kawhi was a basketball machine. His 2019 run was something else.

He was a glass machine though. Raptor's load management worked very well.

[Axe]

He was a glass machine though. Raptor's load management worked very well.
After his journey in The North, everything went downhill for him. :ohwell:

[iamgine]

Kawhi is always amazing when he plays.

Like, all time level amazing.

[Phoenix]

If the Clippers got 2019 Kawhi, they at bare minimum should have won 2 titles. Then again, even if Kawhi remained relatively healthy and on form PG13 was also in and out of the lineup. Their best chance for a title was the 2020 bubble chip.

[r0drig0lac]

Kawhi is always amazing when he plays.

Like, all time level amazing.

yep

[SATAN]

Yea peak Kawhi was a basketball machine. His 2019 run was something else.

His 2020 choke job was entertaining.

[ArbitraryWater]

Yea peak Kawhi was a basketball machine. His 2019 run was something else.

I never get this. How was it something else?

In 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2023 he had better or series or even runs than in 2019.

[ArbitraryWater]

Kawhi is always amazing when he plays.

Like, all time level amazing.

basically


If the Clippers got 2019 Kawhi, they at bare minimum should have won 2 titles. Then again, even if Kawhi remained relatively healthy and on form PG13 was also in and out of the lineup. Their best chance for a title was the 2020 bubble chip.

bs.

Kawhi hasnt been worse at all when on the Clips.

Its just a matter of health.

[Micku]

If the Clippers got 2019 Kawhi, they at bare minimum should have won 2 titles. Then again, even if Kawhi remained relatively healthy and on form PG13 was also in and out of the lineup. Their best chance for a title was the 2020 bubble chip.

2020 and 2021 imo. I think they had a good shot to win it all in 2021 if Kawhi stayed healthy.

[tpols]

I never get this. How was it something else?

In 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2023 he had better or series or even runs than in 2019.

What? He got hurt and knocked out the playoffs in 2017, 2021, and 2023. And he had an all time choke in 2020 vs Denver. His 2019 run was easily his best run going through those loaded Sixer and Bucks teams and playing in every game.

How you gonna tell me he's better in 2023 while playing 2 games than he was in a 20+ game playoff run in 2019? :oldlol::facepalm

[ArbitraryWater]

What? He got hurt and knocked out the playoffs in 2017, 2021, and 2023. And he had an all time choke in 2020 vs Denver. His 2019 run was easily his best run going through those loaded Sixer and Bucks teams and playing in every game.

How you gonna tell me he's better in 2023 while playing 2 games than he was in a 20+ game playoff run in 2019? :oldlol::facepalm

key point here getting hurt


when heathy, he wasnt "something else" in 2019 at all.

In fact he was worse than in 2017, 2021 and 2023.

[SouBeachTalents]

key point here getting hurt


when heathy, he wasnt "something else" in 2019 at all.

In fact he was worse than in 2017, 2021 and 2023.
I agree, he's maintained his 2019 level of play in every series since 2017 minus the 2020 choke job, he just hasn't been able to stay healthy, which in hindsight it's miraculous he managed to play that entire playoff run. Now he can't even play through 2 playoff series :lol

[kawhileonard2]

2016-2023 Playoffs (72 games):
37.9 MPG, 29/8/4/2/1 on 51/39/88 splits, 63 TS%, 29 PER, .262 WS/48, 11 BPM

It's wild how much greatness we missed from Kawhi due to injury. I don't like the guy at all, but there is no denying his game is easily all-time great level. You might not be able to find 20 players with a 72-game playoff stretch with the numbers above.

He is somewhat similar to Dwyane Wade in the sense that there were times you could argue Wade was better than Lebron/Kobe, just like there were times where is seemed like Kawhi was better than Lebron/Durant, but injuries really took away from Wade's and Kawhi's career.

The True GOAT

[WhiteKyrie]

He is somewhat similar to Dwyane Wade in the sense that there were times you could argue Wade was better than Lebron/Kobe, just like there were times where is seemed like Kawhi was better than Lebron/Durant, but injuries really took away from Wade's and Kawhi's career.
100%. Wade in 2006 playoffs was better than both Bron and Kobe. Wade in 2007 pre injury was better than both Bron and Kobe (28/8/8) and I'd argue he was better than both on a super individual level in 2009. He just played with absolute whack juice of quality help. In 2010, him and Kobe are arguable as second best player in the league IMO. And Wade was a top 3 player in 2011 too. LeBron, Wade, and Dwight. Kobe injured and regressed. Then that season, Derrick Rose, who based on context was still absolutely the correct MVP choice.

[tpols]

key point here getting hurt


when heathy, he wasnt "something else" in 2019 at all.

In fact he was worse than in 2017, 2021 and 2023.

Well of course getting hurt matters. You just said him playing great in 2 games in the 1st round is better than him playing great in 20+ en route to a title. Which makes 0 sense.

And 2019 was absolutely peak Kawhi. His numbers in that sixers series vs Embiid and Butler and then the backdoor sweep takedown of Giannis and Middleton and the Bucks was legendary. His numbers were on GOAT level and contextually he was banging series winning shots in the clutch.

Just a ridiculous position you're taking here.... borderline retarded. Yea... kawhi playing great for 2 games in the 1st round this year is better than the championship run he had icing contender after contender. I don't think I've ever heard a more absurd take.

[ArbitraryWater]

Well of course getting hurt matters. You just said him playing great in 2 games in the 1st round is better than him playing great in 20+ en route to a title. Which makes 0 sense.

And 2019 was absolutely peak Kawhi. His numbers in that sixers series vs Embiid and Butler and then the backdoor sweep takedown of Giannis and Middleton and the Bucks was legendary. His numbers were on GOAT level and contextually he was banging series winning shots in the clutch.

Just a ridiculous position you're taking here.... borderline retarded. Yea... kawhi playing great for 2 games in the 1st round this year is better than the championship run he had icing contender after contender. I don't think I've ever heard a more absurd take.


It absolutely wasnt.

No stat will support that.

He was either as good or better in 2017, 2021, 2022, and was on track for the same this year. He does the same amazing shit every year. You said he was "something else". He was not.

Its purely a matter of health.

So to say 2019 Kawhi was "different" is extremely disingenous.

He was healthy. You can shift goalposts over to the health component and then you got a point.