Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
Clearly in the world of "what have you done for me lately" hindsight, the trade seems like it is no-brainer bad.
But I really don't understand how history has gotten rewritten that Hill failed to do exactly what we needed him to do in those first couple of years. Remember he was a sixth man in SA with occasional starts - that's what we expected him to do here. While he got to start due to injury, it became clear even after DC came back that Hill's defense was miles better. At that time, Hill was performing ABOVE what we had gotten him to do.
We simply did not have the luxury to develop Kawhi. If we had tried, there would be people today screaming about how terrible it is that Lance was stuck on the bench and why could we not find minutes for this amazing player we probably ended up trading for someone else.
As long as fans live in hindsight, forgetting anything between then and now, there will be something to be upset about.Comment
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
It's just that Frank (or any other good to great coach) isn't Pop. There is only one Gregg Popovich.Originally posted by IrishPacer
Empty vessels make the most noise.Comment
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
From the Spurs view the deal was right, and as I said before the Spurs wouldn't have won the 2014 championship with George Hill instead of Leonard. I'll say this again, the Pacers will NEVER win a championship with George Hill as the PG. You can take it to the bank, bet the farm on it as it will NEVER EVER HAPPEN.
I'm not saying Hill can't be on a Pacers championship team, just not Hill being the starting PG. If the FO doesn't see that, then don't expect to go any further in the playoffs than the last 2 years.Comment
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
I think it certainly could happen. I won't rule it out. If Lance and PG mature well over the next two season (assuming Lance is here) I think a championship is certainly possible.
I am more worried about our bigs going forward.Comment
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
Whether you personally like him or not, Hill was a BIG part of keeping that team afloat. He had a few game winning shots (@TOR, @ Lakers, @ NO Hornets) and was averaging nearly 16 a game through November/December.
He then chipped in another 15 ppg during the playoff run that year.
Whether or not he's a starting PG on a championship team could be debatable but this idea that he's completely inept and hasn't contributed to this teams success in a big way since his arrival is trivial. Easily the most under appreciated player within this forum IMO.Comment
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
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Ignorant fan tweets about how he would take Leonard over Paul George all day, and KD tweets back u trippin' and claims Leonard is a product of the Spurs system.Comment
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...f-spurs-system
Ignorant fan tweets about how he would take Leonard over Paul George all day, and KD tweets back u trippin' and claims Leonard is a product of the Spurs system.Comment
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
They were in a position to - as well as being squeezed by the cap and Hill's contract. Remember back - there was speculation by more in the NBA world than just people fooled by San Antonio that they would not have done the deal if Hill had not been up against a new contract.BillS
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Or throw in a first-round pick and flip it for a max-level point guard...Comment
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
Hill had a massive series against Dallas in the playoffs, and was so badly outplayed in the following round against the Suns that he got removed from the starting lineup halfway through and never played another game for the Spurs again.
It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.
Division Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Conference Champions 1955, 1956, 1988, 2005
NBA Champions 1989, 1990, 2004Comment
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
Not true. That was the 2010 playoffs you're referring to. Hill played another season in SA after that and his final series was when the 8 seeded Grizz beat them.Comment
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Re: Would we be a better team right now if we would have kept K. Leonard?
During the 2010 series against DAL Hill averaged 12 ppg, but 20.2 ppg over the last 4. He then averaged 12 ppg against the Suns. He was taken out of the starting lineup after game 2 where he scored 14 points. He was the Spurs leading scorer in game 4 with 17 off the bench.
He would then play another season with SA where they were the number 1 seed and lost to MEM in 7 games. He started game 1, and came off the bench for the rest of the series, but was still solid in averaging 12 and 5 rebs.Comment
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