07-03-2025, 10:02 PM
I can tell I'm in the minority here (by a lot), but DL shooting 3s is not on my wish list at all. I don't want him to try to be Dirk and a 4. Instead, I want him to stay in his lane, be a player who dominates the lane on both ends, making the other team game plan for him, ie a 5 like Chandler.
"I think the plan is they play Davis exclusively at power forward (not a very good plan)" --- I think you're close to 100% right. I do think Mavs will use AD situationally here and there as a 5 (so not 100% as a 4), but I agree the vast majority of his play will be as a 4 and they will see him as a 4. I think Nico accepted that premise with AD when he got him. AD expects to be the 4, and stars get their way.
I am not sure it will be a disaster. While he may be way more flawed as a 4, that just means the Mavs (Kidd) have to figure out how to work around the flaws as is, or coach him up. (For example, if you want to be a 4, you gotta make 3's at 40% not 30%, because these days top 4's have that in their game as another weapon - so we want you to be the best, and how do we get you there?). IMO it will help tremendously that Mavs coaches will be ones who coached AD to a great year in 2020 when LA won a title (and fwiw he shot 57% overall and 38% on 3's in that playoff run) - that should make his buy-in much easier on whatever improvement is needed.
"I think the plan is they play Davis exclusively at power forward (not a very good plan)" --- I think you're close to 100% right. I do think Mavs will use AD situationally here and there as a 5 (so not 100% as a 4), but I agree the vast majority of his play will be as a 4 and they will see him as a 4. I think Nico accepted that premise with AD when he got him. AD expects to be the 4, and stars get their way.
I am not sure it will be a disaster. While he may be way more flawed as a 4, that just means the Mavs (Kidd) have to figure out how to work around the flaws as is, or coach him up. (For example, if you want to be a 4, you gotta make 3's at 40% not 30%, because these days top 4's have that in their game as another weapon - so we want you to be the best, and how do we get you there?). IMO it will help tremendously that Mavs coaches will be ones who coached AD to a great year in 2020 when LA won a title (and fwiw he shot 57% overall and 38% on 3's in that playoff run) - that should make his buy-in much easier on whatever improvement is needed.