Mavs FAN JAM: Open Practice Livestream 1pm CST/ 2PM EST

[SleepingHero]

If we are talking about offensive concepts I would like to point out that the 19/20 version of flow lead to a better O-rating than the even more Luka heavy version we saw in the last season.
RCs approach was basically as close to free flow without any play calling as it gets.

By freedom, I meant freedom in what each role is allowed to do on the court. You're correct that RC's offense rarely featured play calling. He might've called 2 a quarter if that, and maybe a play each timeout. So a total of 10 in what 80 FGA?  

But RC's offense itself had really strict rules in that the 5 generally would almost always initiate the play with a screen and would roll hard to the rim more often than not. If that broke down the 5 would rescreen the set and the flow would continue. Sometimes the 4 would also screen if the 5-screen broke down or they ran a Horns configuration playset. 

The 4 always flared out to the 3pt line and mostly stood around for a kickout for a 3 that was more often than not wide-open. The 4 would always be next to the 3 above the break after the initial action waiting for the kickout. Maxi excelled in this role next to Powell. 

The 3 would interchangeably switch positions with the 4 on the wing that would leave them in the corner normally waiting for a kickout on either side (they'd always be opposite of where the initiating screen from them 5 was set). 30% of DFS's shots came from either corner these last 2 years.  Sometimes the 4 would switch positions with the 3 so the 3 would be above the elbow on the kickout. Again about 34% of all of DFS shots came from there as well these last 2 years. Works out to nearly 65% of all his shots came from those 2 areas of the court averaged out these last 2 years!

The 2 would be normally same side of the screen waiting as a secondary initiator if the primary screen got doubled. This leads to a more varied shot selection and role for the 2. But since Luka is incredible, THJ's playmaking isn't really needed and he also gets a healthy amount of spot up threes just waiting for the primary 1-5 action to work through.

So yes. Lots of freedom of choice for the 1.  But everyone was clearly boxed in to what they're allowed to do. We never really saw KP initiate the offense and Luka set the screen for him for example, like how the Lakers did for AD and Lebron a couple of times. Was that because the Mavs didn't have the personnel and thats why RC didn't implement it? Maybe. I certainly couldn't trust DFS correctly running the offense for more than 1 play a week. But RC has always been notorious for his roles being set and that the point guard had the most responsibility for the offense. 

I'm looking forward to see what JKidd implements. I didn't really get much from the scrimmage other than a couple of curling actions for KP off the elbow, but that could've just been scrimmage stuff.