Why are we celebrating Kawhi

[Uncle Drew]

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/leb...a-push-defense

We win again.

[Doranku]

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/leb...a-push-defense

[3ball]

But 10 assists is more than double 4 assists


So if you only get 4 assists, you should at least average 44-50ppg to compensate


LeBron averaged 35 ppg and 10 assists, so Jordan and Kawhi can only be as good if they average 44-50ppg along with their 4 assists

Other than Magic, 8 assist guys almost never win because getting an assist turns teammates into play-finishers, or reduces their role

This is necessary to an extent but too many assists from 1 guy makes teammates too much of play-finishers and reduces their role too much

That's why 4-7 apg is optimal - nearly every #1 option that won averaged in this range, while almost no one won by averaging over 8 apg.. a player needs to be capable of 4-7 apg, but it's overkill after that
.

[Phoenix]

But 10 assists is more than double 4 assists


So if you only get 4 assists, you should at least average 44-50ppg to compensate


LeBron averaged 35 ppg and 10 assists, so Jordan and Kawhi can only be as good if they average 44-50ppg along with their 4 assists

If you look at the Raptors in the finals, the role players weren't merely assist targets, they were actively making plays for themselves. Vanvleet was out there creating shots, Siakim, Lowry, the bigs Serge and Gasol weren't merely 'get the rebound' cleanup guys so that keeps them engaged defensively. Kawhi was playing off his teammates, not the other way around. When the players are empowered to do more than wait for the pass everyone is uplifted. Try watching the game and not the boxscore, you might learn something.