MAVS 114, WOLVES 102

[Kammrath]

The evidence also showed we had an unbelievable offense two years ago when KP and Powell were on the floor together.  

Is it Kidd's "scheme" or just his placating KP?  Early in the season Powell got all the blame for crowding up the lane (because blaming Powell is just what we do around here).  But over time it has become clear that KP is the one killing the spacing.  He even kills it when Powell is out of the game and it is impacting Luka's ability to get to the rim.  

What are we getting for our investment in KP's happiness?  .388 from 3-10 feet and .382 from 10-16 feet (oh yeah, and his 3% has totally gone to crap).   Meanwhile, Luka has lost 47 basis points off his TS% because KP's flashing into the lane while Luka is trying to drive.  Hardaway's TS% is over 70 basis points worse than each of the last two seasons.   Bullock's TS% is a full percentage point worse than his career average.  The payoff of Kidd letting KP "just be a basketball player" is a hugely diminished team offense.  

Here are the numbers from Luka and KP this year....




Luka's lineups have been WAY better offensively without KP...but absolutely HORRIBLE defensively. So the net is about the same. KP's lineups offensively without Luka have been WAY better as well and only slightly worse defensively. 


And with the DP+KP lineups two years ago not sure we can ever get back to that....too much has changed. DP has, the coaches, the schemes, and in many ways Luka has. Luka has just been really "meh" this year and I am desperately hoping that nagging injury stuff is the only issue there and that everything else (including weight) will resolve itself once his body heals.