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if there was any series that shows the importance of shooting between MVPs it would be this one...
this might be like dirk vs KG in 02... except giannis has more help. I love siakam but playoff middleton has been automatic for years and you gotta take bledsoe over lowry for now. Guess it could come down to the other guys...
This is going to be a great series
Lowry absolutely needs to step his game up if they’re going to win this. They’ve been getting by feeding Kawhi since he’s on a tear but Lowry needs to show up as well, he’s an all star talent
[QUOTE=highwhey]so there should be 0 possessions where siakam guards giannis :oldlol: (with the exception of blown coverage)
Kawhi played great defense according to that graphic.[/QUOTE]
From twitter proving me right
"Something that both @ZachLowe_NBA and @HPbasketball mentioned:
Kawhi was attributed as guarding Giannis in 32 possessions in the regular season.
Going through film earlier in the year, the number was mostly on off-ball switches with the action away from them.
Lots of noise."
Lots of noise, aka the data is being perceived wrong, kawhi wasn't really guarding giannis because they were running actions
I highly doubt Giannis or Kawhi will guard each other for big stretches and any time they do will be a mistake by the coach. Giannis is too damn tall/long to chase Kawhi around screens, and his primary value is as a help defender anyways. Also Kawhi isn't big enough to handle Giannis in the paint, and the Raptors would be better off having him shut down Middleton. He might get a couple good deflections or something but Giannis will wear him down if he has to do it possession after possession.
Also yeah, those defensive stats are pretty misleading. Kawhi mainly guarded him on switches off ball. The like 2 or 3 times he straight up guarded him he looked like a child guarding his dad.
Kawhi guarded lebron whose bigger & stronger than giannis... i dont think the size is an issue.
[QUOTE=tpols]Kawhi guarded lebron whose bigger & stronger than giannis... i dont think the size is an issue.[/QUOTE]
Giannis is way longer than Bron though.
[QUOTE=tpols]Kawhi guarded lebron whose bigger & stronger than giannis... i dont think the size is an issue.[/QUOTE]
ever heard of this thing called length?
[QUOTE=RRR3]Giannis is way longer than Bron though.[/QUOTE]
and yet lebron still was a better finisher than giannis. And tougher to handle overall. im just saying... i dont think kawhi fears giannis for his size when hes guarded bigger.
interestingly enough the raptors have four guys that can sag and cut giannis off ~ siakam, kawhi, marc, and ibaka. even lowry held his own against ben simmons at times hes surprisingly tough. The celtics had al horford and baynes... damn joke. It will be tougher for him here.
everyone on the raps looked shook outside of kawhi and ibaka in game 7 - glad to see that some of that pressure is off their backs.
[QUOTE=red1]everyone on the raps looked shook outside of kawhi and ibaka in game 7 - glad to see that some of that pressure is off their backs.[/QUOTE]
The pressure will still be there in the conference finals though. They looked so scared i can't help but doubt them against the Bucks who are rolling.
[QUOTE=tontoz]The pressure will still be there in the conference finals though. They looked so scared i can't help but doubt them against the Bucks who are rolling.[/QUOTE]
bucks looking strong right now I doubt the pressure will ever get to the level it was at during the 4th quarter of game 7 when everyone looked like they were ready to shit their pants outside of kawhi.
home court is a big advantage for the bucks so I'm hoping we can steal one of the first two.
[QUOTE=red1]bucks looking strong right now I doubt the pressure will ever get to the level it was at during the 4th quarter of game 7 when everyone looked like they were ready to shit their pants outside of kawhi.
home court is a big advantage for the bucks so I'm hoping we can steal one of the first two.[/QUOTE]
Except Kawhi and Ibaka you mean. Ibaka came up huge.
[QUOTE=RRR3]Except Kawhi and Ibaka you mean. Ibaka came up huge.[/QUOTE]
I already said ibaka's name no need to give the old man more credit than he deserves.
he went 0-9 from three the first six games...
[QUOTE=red1]I already said ibaka's name no need to give the old man more credit than he deserves.
he went 0-9 from three the first six games...[/QUOTE]
Damn, not an Ibaka fan?
Bucks in 4