Kawhi and Lue: IQ IQ IQ.. ESPN Article

[NickP]

Actually a good article on ESPN. Both Kawhi and Lue stress the importance of IQ or "what's between the ears".
I think the Clippers in the playoffs should be solid with the addition of Ibaka, Batum and Rondo, all bringing a lot of BB IQ.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31474098/la-clippers-kawhi-leonard-confident-team-stay-sharp-ears-playoffs

[TrueLAfan]

Nice article but ... mmmm ... leaves me with questions too. Kawhi's final quote

"I feel confident like any other year," Leonard said. "I feel like we got a good team. We got some depth on us."

sounds more like a stock phrase than something he truly believes about this year's team. But I do agree about the depth part. Our guard depth went from mediocre to poor to really good. Overall, we traded some offense for D and playmaking and, yes, IQ.

The other thing is whether the team really is healthy. Like—Ibaka’s back and PatBev’s hand and PG’s toe. The article is, again, kind of a standard sales job. It’s not unexpected to hear from a coach and player(s) at this time of year, but I’m not putting a ton of faith in it, We’ll just have to see.

[NickP]

Nice article but ... mmmm ... leaves me with questions too. Kawhi's final quote

"I feel confident like any other year," Leonard said. "I feel like we got a good team. We got some depth on us."

sounds more like a stock phrase than something he truly believes about this year's team. But I do agree about the depth part. Our guard depth went from mediocre to poor to really good. Overall, we traded some offense for D and playmaking and, yes, IQ.

The other thing is whether the team really is healthy. Like—Ibaka’s back and PatBev’s hand and PG’s toe. The article is, again, kind of a standard sales job. It’s not unexpected to hear from a coach and player(s) at this time of year, but I’m not putting a ton of faith in it, We’ll just have to see.

Yep that's a pretty stock quote but he begins by saying clearly that last year the team lacked between the ears and that that particular need was addressed. I thought that was pretty bold.

[madmaxmedia]

I think if the main problem was IQ, that could be solved relatively easily.

I worry that we don't have a strong enough leader in either Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, the one who is willing to take everyone else on his back if need be in the playoffs. They are both great players IMO but neither is that alpha, each for different reasons.

Basketball is a strong-chain sport, in which success is usually determined by the strength of your strongest chain (as opposed to say soccer which is usually regarded as a weak-chain sport and depth and consistency are more critical to success.) I don't think it's any coincidence that teams like Miami and Boston that are not generally regarded as 'better' than us, have achieved greater playoff success due to guys like Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum.

That leadership doesn't have to only come from scoring either, it can come from being that on-court coach that recognizes when the team isn't playing right and takes responsibility for it. We don't really have that guy. We have other guys, but we don't have that guy.

[Captain Ballmer]

I think if the main problem was IQ, that could be solved relatively easily.

I don't think so. Neither PG&Kawhi are smart players. Also Ty Lue throwing the most disastrous coaching performance I've seen in our playoff history. Against a master like Rick Carlisle.

I don't know how it's "easy" to solve this.

[lautreamont]

Lue is certainly being outcoached. Rick Carlisle is a very competent coach.

[MartinToVaught]

If it's about what's between the ears, then Lue should probably look into that, because he looks like a complete idiot this series. He and Doc are likely the only coaches who would ever think it's a good idea to not make any changes after that disastrous Game 1 and expect a better result.

[esqtvd]

I think if the main problem was IQ, that could be solved relatively easily.

I worry that we don't have a strong enough leader in either Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, the one who is willing to take everyone else on his back if need be in the playoffs. They are both great players IMO but neither is that alpha, each for different reasons.

Basketball is a strong-chain sport, in which success is usually determined by the strength of your strongest chain (as opposed to say soccer which is usually regarded as a weak-chain sport and depth and consistency are more critical to success.) I don't think it's any coincidence that teams like Miami and Boston that are not generally regarded as 'better' than us, have achieved greater playoff success due to guys like Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum.

That leadership doesn't have to only come from scoring either, it can come from being that on-court coach that recognizes when the team isn't playing right and takes responsibility for it. We don't really have that guy. We have other guys, but we don't have that guy.

Yah that was my theme in the offseason. The problem is heart, not head.

[Quake Griffin]

I think if the main problem was IQ, that could be solved relatively easily.

I worry that we don't have a strong enough leader in either Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, the one who is willing to take everyone else on his back if need be in the playoffs. They are both great players IMO but neither is that alpha, each for different reasons.

Basketball is a strong-chain sport, in which success is usually determined by the strength of your strongest chain (as opposed to say soccer which is usually regarded as a weak-chain sport and depth and consistency are more critical to success.) I don't think it's any coincidence that teams like Miami and Boston that are not generally regarded as 'better' than us, have achieved greater playoff success due to guys like Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum.

That leadership doesn't have to only come from scoring either, it can come from being that on-court coach that recognizes when the team isn't playing right and takes responsibility for it. We don't really have that guy. We have other guys, but we don't have that guy.

Yah that was my theme in the offseason. The problem is heart, not head.

Oh it's both.

That was my theme...prior to last offseason and this whole time through

[NickP]

Ok I'm going out on a limb here and am willing to give Lue the benefit of doubt. Maybe he thought that the lineup from game 1 will figure it out. Let's see what happens in game 3. I have a good feeling we should see Ibaka and Rondo/Mann starting.
But you guys are right. So far we're lacking "in between the ears".

[madmaxmedia]

I think if the main problem was IQ, that could be solved relatively easily.

I don't think so. Neither PG&Kawhi are smart players. Also Ty Lue throwing the most disastrous coaching performance I've seen in our playoff history. Against a master like Rick Carlisle.

I don't know how it's "easy" to solve this.

I see your point, I guess I meant a lower bar by IQ- just avoiding needless turnovers, basic recognition and switching on defense, that sort of thing. That's what I though Kawhi was referring to, and the team is (or should be) experienced enough to do that.

But neither Kawhi and PG seem to have the court vision to figure out how to consistently generate opportunities for teammates when defenses start getting tighter in fourth quarters. Kawhi is focused on scoring (which is not a bad thing by itself), but just ends up kicking out when the shot isn't there which doesn't help our team offense. PG tries but turns the ball over too much, I think that's the result of hasty last second decisions and not having better awareness of his teammates.

[esqtvd]

I think if the main problem was IQ, that could be solved relatively easily.

I don't think so. Neither PG&Kawhi are smart players. Also Ty Lue throwing the most disastrous coaching performance I've seen in our playoff history. Against a master like Rick Carlisle.

I don't know how it's "easy" to solve this.

I see your point, I guess I meant a lower bar by IQ- just avoiding needless turnovers, basic recognition and switching on defense, that sort of thing. That's what I though Kawhi was referring to, and the team is (or should be) experienced enough to do that.

But neither Kawhi and PG seem to have the court vision to figure out how to consistently generate opportunities for teammates when defenses start getting tighter in fourth quarters. Kawhi is focused on scoring (which is not a bad thing by itself), but just ends up kicking out when the shot isn't there which doesn't help our team offense. PG tries but turns the ball over too much, I think that's the result of hasty last second decisions and not having better awareness of his teammates.

KL, PG, Rondo, Batum and Ibaka should be enough IQ to close games. We got to 100-100 in Game 1 and within 5 in Game 2. If we need Terance Mann to save us, fuggetaboutdit.

Antoine Walker was on radio this morning--our two superstars Kawhi and PG have to step up and guard Doncic. Period. That's what superstars do.