12-03-2024, 05:51 PM
You guys are still getting it wrong imo because you're sleeping on Maxi. He's the backup PF. The Mavs will not play PJW 48 minutes. Maxi will get those minutes. Naji is NOT a 4, and Kidd rightly sees more value in playing the better PF as PF rather than using a non-PF to get that non-PF more minutes. And to Kidd there's not a better backup PF on the roster than Maxi, because they like his defense, his shot-blocking, his agility.
Hate him all you want, because the injuries are frustrating, but I believe as long as he's on the roster and healthy, he IS and WILL BE Kidd's backup 4.
WHEN EVERYONE IS HEALTHY -- The idea that Maxi is going to be used at C (with PJW) isn't really part of the PF equation at all. We do see Kidd using him at C in matchup situations when he feels the need for his skillset there, but that's more likely when a C is injured. I don't think it's to "get him some minutes" or seen as a substitute for him playing backup PF. I think Kidd's style is to play PFs at PF and Cs at C and so on, so he gets play from a better player at that position rather than an inferior one.
As far as the overall rotation, I think it's fairly obvious who the 10 are, and they are at obvious positions. Gafford, Maxi, Naji, Grimes, SD are the backups.
If everyone is healthy, looks to me like Hardy has become 11th man in the pecking order with the emergence of SD and Grimes, and can maybe get spot minutes to try to be a spark at the 1,2, or 3, and who knows what might happen when Exum returns.
Hate him all you want, because the injuries are frustrating, but I believe as long as he's on the roster and healthy, he IS and WILL BE Kidd's backup 4.
WHEN EVERYONE IS HEALTHY -- The idea that Maxi is going to be used at C (with PJW) isn't really part of the PF equation at all. We do see Kidd using him at C in matchup situations when he feels the need for his skillset there, but that's more likely when a C is injured. I don't think it's to "get him some minutes" or seen as a substitute for him playing backup PF. I think Kidd's style is to play PFs at PF and Cs at C and so on, so he gets play from a better player at that position rather than an inferior one.
As far as the overall rotation, I think it's fairly obvious who the 10 are, and they are at obvious positions. Gafford, Maxi, Naji, Grimes, SD are the backups.
If everyone is healthy, looks to me like Hardy has become 11th man in the pecking order with the emergence of SD and Grimes, and can maybe get spot minutes to try to be a spark at the 1,2, or 3, and who knows what might happen when Exum returns.