07-02-2024, 12:04 AM
Two things that I want to note here. One. Our bench unit was not only upgraded, I think it has been upgraded in a significant way. People are focusing on the starting unit and potential issues. But a bench unit of Exum, Hardy, Grimes, Marshall and Gafford, with Maxi (maybe Omax too?) thrown in particularly on the defensive end has the potential to be one of the better bench units in the league IMO. Having 48 mins of elite rim protection makes EVERYONE better defensively, because offenses now hesitate when driving to the rim. The upgrade on Exum, Hardy, Green, THJ, Maxi/Lively (Gafford) from last season is clear to me, but remember we only had even that the second half of the season with Gaff coming in, and PJ relegating some of the others to the bench.
Second thing is referencing that constant elite rim protection. Neither DJJ or PJ were considered anything other than decent but inconsistent defensive players prior to coming to Dallas. Once the two headed monsters came in, all of a sudden both of them seemed to elevate themselves defensively into if not elite, then still borderline lockdown perimeter defenders. I don't want to not give DJJ and PJ credit for their defense, but I think a lot of their defensive performance is owed heavily to the presence of Lively and Gaff. Guys that DJJ and PJ guarded all of a sudden hesitate on drives to the rim, and that made their jobs way way easier. Like I wouldn't be surprised to see DJJ not really live up to his contract with the Clippers even though I wish nothing but the best for the guy.
Similarly to what Lively and Gafford enabled offensively in terms of potential overperformance defensively, Luka enables similar things for guys with limited offensive games on offense.
Basically what I'm getting at here, is that as long as these players come in with the right mentality (i.e. not Grant Williams), I think you could see an uptick both offensively and defensively from all 3 new additions because of what the guys mentioned enables on offense and defense. It has me a bit less worried about the potential downtick in defense people are talking about with the new additions.
Second thing is referencing that constant elite rim protection. Neither DJJ or PJ were considered anything other than decent but inconsistent defensive players prior to coming to Dallas. Once the two headed monsters came in, all of a sudden both of them seemed to elevate themselves defensively into if not elite, then still borderline lockdown perimeter defenders. I don't want to not give DJJ and PJ credit for their defense, but I think a lot of their defensive performance is owed heavily to the presence of Lively and Gaff. Guys that DJJ and PJ guarded all of a sudden hesitate on drives to the rim, and that made their jobs way way easier. Like I wouldn't be surprised to see DJJ not really live up to his contract with the Clippers even though I wish nothing but the best for the guy.
Similarly to what Lively and Gafford enabled offensively in terms of potential overperformance defensively, Luka enables similar things for guys with limited offensive games on offense.
Basically what I'm getting at here, is that as long as these players come in with the right mentality (i.e. not Grant Williams), I think you could see an uptick both offensively and defensively from all 3 new additions because of what the guys mentioned enables on offense and defense. It has me a bit less worried about the potential downtick in defense people are talking about with the new additions.
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