HAWKS 113, MAVS 87

[KillerLeft]

I had said this a few times last year and the answer I got is that KP is not a great PnR player.  This might be true since Luka is an exceptional PnR player and so it would seem a natural thing to do.  My counter was how committed was the team to do that?  Maybe KP takes time. Maybe his injuries were why the coaching staff couldn’t commit to that. 

Have we considered the idea that KP doesn't WANT to do that? Or even that he flat out WON'T? I don't know that this is the reason, but it's getting more and more plausible, at least to me. 

Also, can't really run two-man stuff with Luka and KP with Powell on the floor - too easy to commit an extra defender to support, even on the weak side. Even if Powell is as far away as possible, his man will not be, because the GOAL of the defense in that situation will be to shut down the action with Luka/KP (and their preferred outlet) and force Powell to brick a 3. That's what they want. 

When they announced Powell as a starter I was open to it, because I thought that meant we would see a return to the Luka/Powell pick and roll game  with KP spacing (HE can shoot). As @"DanSchwartzgan" tells us about once a week, this was the foundation of an all-time great offense. Now, I'm fine with ANY other plan Kidd has, too, but I'm with @"burekemde" on this one: if Powell is NOT going to be the first option in the pick and roll game (something we know he's elite doing) then WHY ON EARTH is he out there?