I think this just goes to show you that one big star can make so much differences. Demar derozan is a great player, he is an all-star and he is seen as one of the best players in our league. However kawhi is literally top 3 in the league right now, he is the best player with great offense and defense at the same time, nobody has better offense AND defense than him, just one of them could be better on other players. He is THAT good. So what happened? When spurs got demar they got eliminated by nuggets in first round with him and said bye bye to the playoffs. Look at Kawhi, dude managed to bring Raptors to finals in his first ever season after demar failed to do so in the past 4-5 years. Difference between "great player" and "top 3 player" is literally worlds apart.
I agree, Leonard and DeRozan is not comparable, specially on the mental factor. I mean he literally carry the team down 0-2 against the most hype player in the NBA right now and upset them, winning 4 straight games. Damn, I wish I was still in Toronto this days, because I'm sure all my NBA friends and families are very happy to see the Raptors finally made it to the finals with Leonard at the helm.
Forget about DeRozan , he cannot shoot 3s, and I don't see a champion who can't shoot 3s. LOL.
Anyway, he is happy with the Spurs but comparing to Leonard, his guy is nothing, Leonard is in the Level of Kobe Bryant and Lebron James now.
Remember, Leonard guarded Lebron in the NBA finals where he earned his first Finals MVP award.
Yes.
Games now are way different than it was before.
It was like Miller time always at GSW where players keeps on running to be freed at 3's. But it has a toll to pay. They will get exhausted easily.
DeRozan. Yeah forget about him. He cannot even shoot a damn 2 at perimeter or let hs say 30 percent.
Kawhi is at another level. An MVP and MDP. Who else did that? Yeah, Jordan.
He does perimeter shots, 3's and dunks the ball whenever he can get that little space.
He is the damn perfect player who can be at any position. His defensive awareness is so damn high that I almost thought he had an eye at his back. Steals, blocks, you name it. He is everywhere.
But still he needs the role players to move too for that ring to be achieved.