Game 5 Dirkie Thread: Dwight Powell!

[ballsrchr]

I was thinking the game was a little sloppy, but after a little reflection I see we got some good play from several people we don't normally see--in games, much less wins.

PJ continues to impress me with his play. He didn't score a lot but he was disruptive on both ends of the floor.

I thought this was a bad game for Cooper Flagg, and maybe it was, but he did end up with commendable stats across the board. I like the rebounds and points best.

Dlo continued playing well.

Brandon Williams made a belated entrance into the game and was a spark plug. I still think he's a shooting guard, not a point guard. Maybe just a creator. I don't know.

On to Mr. Dwight Powell. He does not get the respect he should. I like him on the team. Not as a first, or even a second center...but as a third? Hell yeah! He also doesn't make many mistakes. AND Mr. Powell is my Dirkie finalist...

[KillerLeft]

Dwight Powell is the clear winner, and imo it’s not close. 18 efficient points. Two blocks. Incessant running in transition, both ways. Amazing work to box out (so others get the rebounding glory, in true “good team player” fashion). Flying around on defense like someone is holding a family member hostage, contesting everything. Team high +12 in 30 minutes! The Mavs were lucky to have him tonight.

Tied for second on my list would be Williams and Russell. I lack the ability to adequately express how much I prefer to watch this team when there’s an actual PG on the floor. I feel strongly that one of these guys needs to be in the game pretty much all the time.

[Jmaciscool]

For me it was a toss up between Williams and Powell. Ended up voting for Powell but I could go either way

Also 100% agree with the above that one of Dlo or Bwill should be in the game at all times.

[Mavs2021]

I give it to AD for getting hurt, which allowed a superior player in Powell to save the game. And I´m only half kidding. They 100% lose this game with AD. Of course this was Indiana´s E team that could be beaten just by matching their effort. Powell can´t do that against actual NBA teams, but it just shows how much of this teams problems track back to ADs lazy ISO a**.

[meistermatze]

B-Will, because it was SO unexpected. You could say the same thing about Powell and while I think, he was more important overall, I would go with Williams because we needed every one of those points and it was all so out of the blue, especially after his arrest, lol. With Powell, you can expect productivity when he gets minutes.

[F Gump]

Brandon Williams made a belated entrance into the game and was a spark plug.  I still think he's a shooting guard, not a point guard.  Maybe just a creator.  I don't know.

BW's position is mostly PG because he's always going to be ball dominant and he drives the offense. I don't think this forum realizes how much the Mavs like him, because he's been held back from view with some minor injury and then he's a hard fit to use with a lineup full of starters who will need the ball (since he's so ball dominant).

He is still an unfinished product but he's probably developing into a more athletically gifted, bigger JJB (who also raised the same position and use questions). IMO expect to see that comparison get used a lot, the more he plays.

[Jmaciscool]

BW's position is mostly PG because he's always going to be ball dominant and he drives the offense. I don't think this forum realizes how much the Mavs like him, because he's been held back from view with some minor injury and then he's a hard fit to use with a lineup full of starters who will need the ball (since he's so ball dominant).

He is still an unfinished product but he's probably developing into a more athletically gifted, bigger JJB (who also raised the same position and use questions). IMO expect to see that comparison get used a lot, the more he plays.

I didn't watch him last season (I was pretty out on the Mavs at that point) so last night was the first time I actually watched him play. I can see why you've been a fan of his.

[KillerLeft]

BW's position is mostly PG because he's always going to be ball dominant and he drives the offense. I don't think this forum realizes how much the Mavs like him, because he's been held back from view with some minor injury and then he's a hard fit to use with a lineup full of starters who will need the ball (since he's so ball dominant).

He is still an unfinished product but he's probably developing into a more athletically gifted, bigger JJB (who also raised the same position and use questions). IMO expect to see that comparison get used a lot, the more he plays.

Totally agree he's a PG, through and through. It is interesting how wide the gap is between people's feels for what that position entails. We have people claiming Williams is not a PG, while others think he's "more of a PG than Dlo." I think that right now, in 2025, they are both 99% PG. What we used to call "combo guards" has become the norm in the modern game for PG's. The old school table-setter style of play, employed by someone not only not looking to score, but in some cases even by someone basically not ABLE to score, is a thing of the past, imho. 

I thought Williams looked great last night, and honestly, I don't think of him as that undersized. I think he's got a ways to go to be the three level scorer Brunson is, particularly in the mid-range, but his first step is lethal and he's a better finisher inside than I realized. I don't know whether I agree or not about how much Kidd likes him, but I hope you're right, because I feel strongly that better ball-handling guard play is sorely needed for this team to improve. That's not born from some desire to see the ball dominated by any one player, but from a desire to see the ball advanced against pressure not only with competence but (more importantly) with ease, and to see the "good ball movement" we're all hoping for start happening earlier in the shot clock. Last but certainly not least, it's nice to have ball-handlers (at least one) on the court fast enough with the ball to beat their man BEFORE the defense gets into rotation, becoming the catalyst that CAUSES said defensive rotation, which frees up all the other guys (Flagg, PJW, AD, whomever) to show off their improved/improving ball-handling/decision making. 

Williams and Russell both need to be leaned on more as we move forward, imho.

[michaeltex]

What struck me is the way DAL sped up the pace after AD sat. Especially once BWill got warmed up.

Even if it was against the IND subs, it still makes me question the all BIG lineups. You can't teach height, but speed kills. Respect to DP for keeping up with the pace. AD has seemed (to me) like a drogue chute all season. He also seems lost about what to do sometimes, so he just pounds the ball and tries a step-back jumper that is not very efficient. Gaff hasn't played yet, but Lively seems to keep up when the pace quickens.

Williams and DP lifted the teams energy and were both key in getting the win. I voted DP because he is the epitome of "be ready" and held down his position better than anyone expected.

[KillerLeft]

What struck me is the way DAL sped up the pace after AD sat. Especially once BWill got warmed up. 

Agreed, and the question becomes: were they playing slowly because AD's out of shape, or because there wasn't enough ball-handling on the floor? Or, maybe even both? 

AD is going to slow them down on both sides of the floor, even when in shape...at FORWARD. At the 5, I'd argue he's ability to play just as fast or faster than most centers when in shape. There's some recent talk about how he might be less than properly self-motivated to play fast, and for the Mavs' sake, I hope the people offering those opinions are wrong. 

But the ball-handling, balanced roster part...I don't think that's even a matter of opinion, frankly.