Game 39: Denver Nuggets (22-15) vs. Dallas Mavericks (22-16) | 2:00pm CST

[Mavs2021]

Historically he has been his most valuable to this team in the playoffs.  I disagree with him being cuddled into favorable match-ups.  I would argue that he has mostly been playing out of position at the 4 when at this point he clearly needs to be at the 5 in specific circumstances.  

But my primary point was more about how you have bashed large sample net rating numbers on this board many times, but when it fits your narrative you use small sample example to make your point.  Can't have it both ways.

Well the sample size relevant to why we lost this game is this game. Kleber was the reason we lost this game. You brought up his seasonal net rating.

The biggest problem is his refusal to shoot. If he didn´t start this, teams would not leave him wide open all the time. Teams still respected his shot. It´s not like he´s Ben Simmons. He got into his own head. He turned himself into a mental liability on top of his physical issues.

Either he starts to shoot every time he´s open or he might as well sit on the bench for the next two years. Omax can shoot 5% from three and it would still be better than Maxi. Maxi is responsible for half the bad plays on offense from other players, when he´s on the floor. I can´t even count how many times, he´s gotten somebody into a bad late clock situation, cause he refused to shoot a wide open shot prior. Or how often somebody then decides to attempt a worse pass or shot (Hello Dinwiddie), when he´s wide open, cause they don´t see the point of passing to him. 

Kleber trying a wide open three (even at his current 26%) likely has a higher points expectancy than Hardy or Grimes shooting an expiring clock mid range sideways jumpers with two defenders draped around them. Shoot or get off the floor.