10-07-2023, 07:03 AM
I don’t know that I got any new or hot takes from watching that game. My antenna got a little more focused when I saw THJ was out. He was really engaged on the bench though, so if something was up, it wasn’t apparent in his body language.
I’ll stand by my statement that there is no way they start two rookies to begin the regular season. The game isn’t close to slowing down for either of them yet. If they decide to start one, it will be a product both of that player’s readiness and what they look like in comparison to the alternative. I think the team hurts itself more starting OMax over Green than starting Lively over Powell. Yeah, Powell has a more veteran understanding of what to do and where to be. But, he’ll never be able to intimidate and protect the paint like Lively can. Fouls will be the limiting factor for Lively. I’m also watching for him to develop stronger hands and grab rebounds with authority when the game slows down. Right now he’s not the surest of rebounders.
If you start a rookie, the logical lineup is Lively, Williams, Green, Kyrie, Luka. The first subs out are Kyrie, Green and Lively so that Green is available to run with Kyrie when both return to start the second/fourth when Luka sits. Killer bemoaned the idea that Green could get lost in the crowded rotation in the second unit for minutes at the 2 and 3 next to one of our stars when the other sits. If Maxi is going to back up GWill, the same might happen to OMax. A Maxi/Powell/Luka lineup means OMax is a 3 and competing with THJ for those minutes while Seth, Hardy and Exum compete for the backup two minutes next to Luka or Kyrie. The issue gets solved pretty quickly if THJ gets shipped out before the TDL. I heard one commentator say OMax looks like he’s playing on skates. There is a bit of frenetic energy and herky-jerky movement to his game anyway. But it was more pronounced in what we saw Thursday. It will take a while for the game to slow down for these guys.
I’ll stand by my statement that there is no way they start two rookies to begin the regular season. The game isn’t close to slowing down for either of them yet. If they decide to start one, it will be a product both of that player’s readiness and what they look like in comparison to the alternative. I think the team hurts itself more starting OMax over Green than starting Lively over Powell. Yeah, Powell has a more veteran understanding of what to do and where to be. But, he’ll never be able to intimidate and protect the paint like Lively can. Fouls will be the limiting factor for Lively. I’m also watching for him to develop stronger hands and grab rebounds with authority when the game slows down. Right now he’s not the surest of rebounders.
If you start a rookie, the logical lineup is Lively, Williams, Green, Kyrie, Luka. The first subs out are Kyrie, Green and Lively so that Green is available to run with Kyrie when both return to start the second/fourth when Luka sits. Killer bemoaned the idea that Green could get lost in the crowded rotation in the second unit for minutes at the 2 and 3 next to one of our stars when the other sits. If Maxi is going to back up GWill, the same might happen to OMax. A Maxi/Powell/Luka lineup means OMax is a 3 and competing with THJ for those minutes while Seth, Hardy and Exum compete for the backup two minutes next to Luka or Kyrie. The issue gets solved pretty quickly if THJ gets shipped out before the TDL. I heard one commentator say OMax looks like he’s playing on skates. There is a bit of frenetic energy and herky-jerky movement to his game anyway. But it was more pronounced in what we saw Thursday. It will take a while for the game to slow down for these guys.
![[-]](https://www.mavsboard.com/images/collapse.png)