08-12-2023, 11:06 AM
(08-11-2023, 04:49 PM)Smitty Wrote: I don't view Lively as a real rotation guy yet. Hopefully that comes with time. Or maybe I'm wrong. I would love for OMax to get more but other than injuries it's hard to find it.... Unless he outplays DJJ, which is possible?!
THJ has played ~30 mpg every year for the Mavs, reducing him to only 20 and having him in the finishing lineup felt about right. If he gets his normal 30 then it comes at the expense of Green, who I'd actually like to play even more than 28 mpg.
Maxi hasn't played less than 24.6 mpg the last 4 seasons. Of course we all want him to play less, due to injuries, but the Mavs haven't seen it that way yet.
Part of the reason for Maxi minutes is necessity. Look at our front court depth, especially after the last two TDL trades. Two years ago it was Powell/Maxi/Dorian. Last year it was Powell/Maxi/Wood. Our lack of front court depth has been our biggest issue (along with lacking defense in general). This year we are replacing Dorian or Wood with Williams/Holmes/Lively/Omax/DJJ. That is a massive increase in frontcourt depth. We can play Maxi 15-20 minutes in the regular season to keep him healthy, and then unleash him for the playoffs.