Another solid week here at Ye Olde Mailbag and that’s basically thanks to the Kawhi Leonard saga.
asserted
that → ’ → saga
With that drawing to an end, I hope there’s more to sustain us going forward.
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I → draw → us
I suspect that will be proven true because, as the great Roseanna Roseannadanna said: “It’s always something.”
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It → suspect → ?
One easy question, but I think the answer won’t be so easy.
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answer → think → question
The question is prompted by the number of injuries across all sports, and specifically prompted by Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors.
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question → prompt → Leonard
—Bev, Vancouver
You’re right about that, but doing difficult is right in our wheelhouse.
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doing → ’re → wheelhouse
I don’t know what the limits are.
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limits → know → ?
We keep seeing more athleticism, more astonishing moves, more speed and strength as physiology changes and training improves, and things like rehab and diet and rest become more important.
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things → see → rehab
I think all those advances push bodies too hard, but the desire to push them comes from the financial rewards and the competitive nature of humans.
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desire → think → humans
We (franchises and leagues, that is) demand more and athletes give it to them.
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athletes → demand → them
I cannot see that happening.
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that → see → ?
So maybe there are limits, but we’re not at them.
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we → be → them
It’s down to crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s on the big trade, so there’s going to be questions now that it’s official.
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it → ’ → trade
I’ll add a couple that hopefully aren’t too redundant!
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that → add → couple
1) I’ve seen a lot of articles and heard a lot of people describing the new Raptors as “scary.”
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lot → see → Raptors
I get it, but the same pundits usually rank the Cavs higher than the Raptors fairly consistently.
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pundits → get → Raptors
Any idea why people might think adding Kawhi doesn’t make us any better than the Cavs minus Max Strus and Dean Wade?
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us → think → Cavs
2) Not to name names, but how many Uncle Dennis types have you seen or encountered in your career?
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you → name → career
Do you think either could pan out?
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either → think → ?
4) Sorry to stir the pot, but I’ve heard one reason why Kawhi was motivated to return was due to his Canadian-born child being curious about his birthplace.
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child → stir → birthplace
(Not sure how much I buy that.)
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I → buy → that
But in the event of a worst-case scenario, if there’s another salary scandal, do you think all is forgiven (by Toronto fans) if we win another trophy?
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we → ’ → trophy
Would we even mind?
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we → mind → ?
Hope you aren’t sick of Kawhi questions!
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you → hope → questions
And since we won’t speak to Kawhi until media day and then get to see Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick in the first two weeks of the regular season, it’s not going to end any time soon.
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it → speak → season
The arrival of Leonard, the departure of Strus and Wade (even with the arrival of Peyton Watson) and a healthy Immanuel Quickley changes the dynamic, in my mind.
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arrival → change → mind
There had been high-maintenance agents and hangers-on but none, as far as I’ve ever heard in more than 30 years, as blatant as him.
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I → hear → him
I don’t think Simmons or Oladipo (if he gets a job) will turn into rotation players on even average teams, but I do think Oladipo is the kind of well-respected veteran who could help a young team in a mentor-like role.
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who → think → role
I don’t think that’s true of Simmons.
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that → think → Simmons
The next time Leonard will be facing a free-agency decision he’ll be 37 or 38.
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he → face → decision
I hope you don’t mind another Kawhi question.
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you → hope → question
I watched some interviews with young Raptors about their thoughts on playing alongside Leonard.
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I → watch → Leonard
It made me wonder: Do you see anything in the games of OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell that looks like the influence of Kawhi?
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that → make → Kawhi
I guess his influence could be things that we can’t see.
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we → guess → that
I have always enjoyed your coverage.
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I → enjoy → coverage
—Mark
Report found four companies that paid Leonard outside of the salary cap via the Clippers.
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that → find → Clippers
Report found four companies that paid Leonard outside of the salary cap via the Clippers.
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that → find → Clippers
Because players’ skill sets vary, it’s hard to see on-court influence.
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it → vary → influence
Role, talent, team all play into each case.
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Role → play → case
But when he was here and after he was first gone, Leonard’s impact came off the court.
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impact → go → court
…and 26 more, not listed.
The Aporia
