esqtvd wrote:clipperlover wrote:Roscoe Sheed wrote:
Kawhi wants to play in LA, so I'm not too concerned about that. He also could have joined LeBron and AD and chose to lead his own team instead
Except there are a few factors:
1. Kawhi isn't getting any younger
2. Luka isn't in his prime. He is like a young MJ. Taking some playoffs lumps early in the career, but could absolutely break through next year.
3. Because of 1 and 2. Kawhi could see the task of guarding Luka in the future won't be easier. May be time to set-up the next 5 years of the career.
4. No state taxes. That max money goes farther.
I am not saying he is leaving, but Ballmer shouldn't feel comfortable. There could be competitive forces that need to be considered. With the Nets having Irving, Durant and Harden, the future construction of rosters could change.
Nothing in the bag. Kawhi is Kawhi. If he had to score 40 again to get us through this, even more doubts. But 7 guys scored in double figures. THAT'S what he signed up for here--Doc's bunch of no-names who still made the playoffs and gave the Dubs a run. Add another superstar and this was supposed to be easy at least for the first couple rounds of the playoffs.
If I'm Kawhi, at this moment I'd still rather join the Suns or the Dubs if they can squeeze my salary in. This was too damn much work and not all that much fun. Clips are still on Kawhi's probation bigtime. We better do better.
A tough 7 game series happens in the league though and there's times where the #1 guy on the team has to go for 40+.. There's nothing wrong with that plus it's great television, drums up excitement for the league, and furthers the star player's rep. Dame put up 55 and didn't get not one ounce of help and they lost the game and series. Luka, who's super talented, and the offense they've created for him where he keeps the ball in his hands all game long is a huge problem for any team in a seven game series. We'll know more about this in the coming years because as of right now we're the only team that Luka has faced in his first two post seasons of his career. I actually like our chances more against Utah than Dallas as they play more traditional compared to the Mavs. Lue seems to have found his guys and the style of play moving forward so the adjustments should come quicker and more fluidly in the next round. We win this series and finally reach a WCF, I don't see Kawhi leaving.