Game 33 Dirkie thread: Josh Green

[mvossman]

Partly because I'm tired of watching T-Rex arms play for the Mavs. Partly because he injured Kyrie and cost this team multiple games this month alone. Partly because he can't rebound. Partly because he can't defend the rim. 

Lots of reasons to crap on Powell continuously. I understand the value he brings. I am fine with him as a 4th string center. He isn't a proper player anymore just based on his production and he should be playing the role Holmes is currently playing. 

We've even spoken last year (HA! How many "i haven't seen you since last year" jokes have you heard already?) how desperate this team is for a proper backup center. One that can allow the Mavs to continue to play the way they do with Lively on the court. One that can provide even a modicum of defensive effort. We've seen in the data if the Mavs hold their opponent to just a tick below league average, they win hard. 

Powell isn't that. And it makes my eyes burn watching him sprint up and down the court recklessly, hopelessly trying to rebound to no avail.

I wasn't trying to frustrate you with my comments, moreso just pointing out how Powell as a double edged sword hurts this team more often than it helps. And I really, really, want to be done with the dude.

I get the frustration with the injury to Kyrie, but he is just not that bad of a player.  He is not a great rebounder, but he is averaging nearly 4 offensive rebounds per 36 (a stat more attributed to individual than defensive rebounds) which is 92 percentile in the league.  He has TS of 79% (99 percentile) and a better than 3 to 1 assist to turnover ratio, which is great for a center.

Early in the season a lot was made of his terrible net rating even though historically he has had a positive impact on the court.  Flash forward to the 33 game mark and he is back to a net positive and higher than some of the regulars (DJJ and Willians) and his primary competition (Holmes).    

He is an undersized center playing with undersized forwards, which is a problem.  We need to get bigger in the second unit, and Kidd is playing a defensive style not suited to Powell, but he is still providing value.  It just seems strange there is so much hate for a player making 4 mil a year and contributing, even when the fit is not ideal.