Basketball experts...is Kawhi Leonard a top 5 player in the NBA?

[humble Hermit]

PG>>>Kawhi

PG actually carries more of the load for his team than Kawhi. Came back better than ever after that horrific injury he suffered.

PG doesn't play in a system that has been successful for an organization for over 15 years.

The same system that had Danny Green hitting from all cylinders and the same system that had Patty Mills and Boris diaw beasting on the court.

PG was going head to head with LeBron James in back to back eastern conference finals. He didn't have a system.

Took a trash team this past playoffs to a game 7 against a soon to be eastern conference finals team.

PG is that nikka. I think he's gonna take his game to the next level this season.

What happened when they went head up

 

[Here Comes the Pain]

What happened when they went head up

Nothing happened my nikka. PG was exhausted from carrying his trash team on his back.

 

[humble Hermit]

I think one of the reasons Kawhi doesn't much love is because hes not the prototypical, dribble between the legs 4x before driving to the cup player.
KD, PG, Bron..... you see the likes(in 5'7 bodies) across the playgrounds in most states.

Kawhi is much more efficient and he is the system.

 

[Jplaya2023]

Can't call a guy top 5 who can't close out series and plays bad in elimination games

 

[humble Hermit]

Nothing happened my nikka. PG was exhausted from carrying his trash team on his back.

He seemed to have a ton of energy the game before and the game afterwards

 

[humble Hermit]

Can't call a guy top 5 who can't close out series and plays bad in elimination games

That's what I said about

3-1 lead and still lost





I could play this game too

 

[Stack Money]

Generally people talk about the top 3 or 4 guys...Durant, Curry, Lebron, Westbrook...in whatever order they so please.

But who rounds out the Top 5?

Good thread I was wonderin this all season cause EVERY analyst and commentator stayed sayin the Thunder had 2 of the top 4 players in the league, Curry and LeBron were considered 1 and 2 thruout most of the season wit Durant bein 3rd by all accounts makin Westbrook 4th yet the entire season no one ever mentioned who the general consensus was for 5th.

When I started to think about it I realized it could arguably be multiple people and they just didn't say the 5th cause they don't even know, its like those 4 players are a Mount Rushmore right now of best players in the NBA wit errbody else bein up for debate about the 5th spot cause you could make an argument for 3 or 4 players.

It's either Kawhi or James Harden, but I don't like Harden cause he a fukk nikka so I'll give the edge to Kawhi. Kyrie, Lillad, and AD are coming for that spot though

Harden can't play a lick of defense no way he better than Kawhi who can play on both ends of the floor and Harden damn sure ain't a top 5 player.

:michaeljordanlaugh:@ Lillard comin for the top 5 spot, now Kyrie could challenge for the spot next year cause he bout to reach superstar status if he follows the Finals up wit a great season.

If you factor in age Kawhi might be...shyt probably is...the best player in the NBA right now...

Every single person you could possibly put over him is in their prime right now or past it...27 or older...Kawhi is still two years away from that...

Kawhi only 2 years younger than 27 and he's in his prime now, the best player right now Curry is 27 himself and in his prime sayin a player battlin for the 5th spot is better than him is laughable.

I think one of the reasons Kawhi doesn't much love is because hes not the prototypical, dribble between the legs 4x before driving to the cup player.

That was the same problem Duncan had he was the Big Fundamental nothin flashy just went and got it done wit the basics solid defense reboundin and well executed post play, Kawhi that same type of player he not gonna knock down a ton of 3s or make fast break lob dunks he gonna play lockdown D while gettin a quiet 20 points to go along wit 12 rebounds and a couple blocks but since he don't do it in a flashy way it won't appeal to the Sportscenter top 10 plays crowd.

 

[Collateral]

Harden can't play a lick of defense no way he better than Kawhi who can play on both ends of the floor and Harden damn sure ain't a top 5 player.

:michaeljordanlaugh:@ Lillard comin for the top 5 spot, now Kyrie could challenge for the spot next year cause he bout to reach superstar status if he follows the Finals up wit a great season.

Kawhi plays both ends but Harden > Kawhi offensively James Harden finished 2nd in the MVP voting in the 2014-2015 season. He was on fire from January on but Curry had the better team. Last season was just an off season for the Rockets. He will bounce back and you'll see he IS a top 5 player.

As for Lillard, dude just turned 26, he's won a couple playoff series for his team already, and he's a top 5 scoring PG in the league, he will have a breakout MVP like season and again, you'll see that he's worthy for that high of a ranking in a year or two

 

[Remote]

Can't call a guy top 5 who can't close out series and plays bad in elimination games

Are you top 5 if you blow a 3-1 lead and commit 6 turnovers in the final minutes of Game 6?
Are you top 5 if you squander 3 straight elimination games?

 

[homiedontplaydat]

I'd take Leonard over Westbrook

 

[feelosofer]

Yes, dude is one of if not the best defensive players in the league and one of the most efficient as well. He can give you over 20 points a game on just a little over 15 touches a game. I know he didn't have an amazing series last year but out side of Lebron all of the other guys in the top 5 have come up somewhat short in the playoffs at one point or another.

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

Kawhi played like a top 5 player last season...

He's not an attention grabbing loud mouth, he's game (tho extremely smooth and fluid for how very athletic he is) isn't seen as "sexy" (pause) as KD's or as flashy as Sabo's. He doesn't have a scoring burst like when AD had 59 that everyone looks back in awe at.

I bet if you ask NBA coaches they'd say he's top 5 based on current output and not potential (a la AD).

He's defense is obviously top in the L along w Draymond so since that isn't as pretty as averaging 30/game thst hinders him as well. If he was playing for the Lakers this coming season we'd be hearing about him daily. My point is a lot of ppl don't like the spurs, are tired of the spurs, or equate their player development to Pop and only Pop.

Kawhi right now is better than AD and surely better than PG-13 based off output to date...

 

[the cool]

If kuh why had handles and did cross overs between his legs and behind the backs then ya'll would have him top 5

 

[GoFlipAPack]

Kawhi can't carry a team.

 

[GoFlipAPack]

Scust at yall putting AD in your top 5 over Kawhi. he can't stay healthy and he's only made the playoffs in one out of his 4 seasons. He's not top 5.