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Post by mistwell on Apr 18, 2024 15:05:09 GMT -8
OK. Finally, Lawrence Frank steps up and gives a more direct answer to this question rather than sending in Ty Lue to do his usual injury kabuki dance answers*
*[For those who don't know that reference, it used to be used in the 80s and 90s to make fun of some politicians who would describe an event characterized more by showmanship than by content.]
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Post by corkscrew on Apr 18, 2024 15:14:45 GMT -8
Yes, earlier in this thread he mentioned it. The payoff is worth it here. They're not beating the Mavs without him and the procedure while not recommended, isn't that bad. It's definitely worth it for us fans, we pay no price. Kawhi, on the other hand, does pay a huge price: his knees are already degenerating as it is, the steroids accelerate the degeneration, so he is making a significant sacrifice for the sake of the team. Keep in mind, his body is his cash cow, every year he plays or does not play is worth tens of millions of Dollars to him and the business he is in has a very early retirement aspect to it. The sacrifice he is making is very admirable, in my view. Respect.
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Post by mistwell on Apr 18, 2024 16:41:56 GMT -8
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Post by corkscrew on Apr 18, 2024 16:57:25 GMT -8
I wonder if part of the audience for that might be Harden… There is going to be situations and matchups when we need defense more than offense. I definitely don’t hate the idea of Westbrook starting and matching up with Kyrie. Definitely feels like he’s setting up both Harden and Mann to prepare for their roles to change based on production and matchups
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Post by hitnrun24 on Apr 18, 2024 17:23:54 GMT -8
I wonder if part of the audience for that might be Harden… There is going to be situations and matchups when we need defense more than offense. I definitely don’t hate the idea of Westbrook starting and matching up with Kyrie. Definitely feels like he’s setting up both Harden and Mann to prepare for their roles to change based on production and matchups I can def see Westbrook being used a lot and matching up on both Luka and Kyrie. I'd be pretty shocked if it's Harden that goes to the bench though. I wonder if we go ultra small and have WB in Zu's spot. In that case Theis might replace Mann since that probably would be too small but if Zu can't guard the Luka pick and roll in drop they might opt for WB to essentially be the Center (non shooter) on offense. We'll have to see if Theis can do ok being switched on Luka.
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Post by dane on Apr 18, 2024 17:53:13 GMT -8
We toast.
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Post by mistwell on Apr 18, 2024 18:13:40 GMT -8
You think Kawhi isn't going to play?
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Post by hitnrun24 on Apr 18, 2024 18:28:30 GMT -8
The patterns I've seen with Clippers/Kawhi injury is the less they talk the worse it is. I think the fact that they are talking and somewhat "cautiously optimistic" makes me think they believe he'll be ready even if they're not ready to deem it a certainty. I think Kawhi's camp doesn't ever want the team to say he's def in just in case he isn't and the backlash of dealing with that.
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Post by babyradar01 on Apr 18, 2024 18:45:04 GMT -8
Kawhi will be nice and healthy for the Olympics since he won't be touching a court for another 4 weeks
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Post by gilp5 on Apr 18, 2024 22:57:04 GMT -8
Kawhi will be nice and healthy for the Olympics since he won't be touching a court for another 4 weeks He shouldn't play in the olympics with a degenerative knee condition. Send PG or someone else instead.
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Post by dane on Apr 19, 2024 2:59:02 GMT -8
You think Kawhi isn't going to play? I can't see him going all-out for the duration (no matter the length of it). But for me, the concern is Harden, who hasn't shown much lately (at least in what I've watched) and hasn't exactly lit it up in the playoffs over his career. If the games are like ... was it Phily/Miami? ... where players were sprawled out all over the floor, I don't see him as a significant factor. (He won me over, grudgingly, for a while this season, but now he's looking more like what I feared). Do you still think he can get it together for a run?
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Post by v-ice on Apr 19, 2024 6:17:27 GMT -8
Let Kawhi continue to rest up until game 3 if it’s going to help him. If not shut him down.
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Post by htownfan on Apr 19, 2024 7:57:56 GMT -8
Man its got to be frustrating for you guys? I remember feeling that same pain with Tmac and Yao never being healthy at the same time during the playoffs. We were the only team to take the eventual NBA champions to a game 7 without Yao after game 3 and of course TMac was out the whole playoffs. We had 6'6" Chuck Hayes starting at center for games 4,5,6 and 7.
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Post by mistwell on Apr 19, 2024 9:30:52 GMT -8
I think we drop game 1, and Kawhi plays such limited minutes and is so out of tune he's not that helpful. Hope my guess is wrong and he plays well, as opposed to my guess being wrong and he doesn't play at all.
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Post by gilp5 on Apr 19, 2024 9:34:04 GMT -8
FWIW Skip Bayless says he was told by sources Kawhi is out for game 1 and shooting for game 2, but he cannot guard Luka with his condition.
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