Game 5 Dirkie Thread: Dwight Powell!

[KillerLeft]

BW's position is mostly PG because he's always going to be ball dominant and he drives the offense. I don't think this forum realizes how much the Mavs like him, because he's been held back from view with some minor injury and then he's a hard fit to use with a lineup full of starters who will need the ball (since he's so ball dominant).

He is still an unfinished product but he's probably developing into a more athletically gifted, bigger JJB (who also raised the same position and use questions). IMO expect to see that comparison get used a lot, the more he plays.

Totally agree he's a PG, through and through. It is interesting how wide the gap is between people's feels for what that position entails. We have people claiming Williams is not a PG, while others think he's "more of a PG than Dlo." I think that right now, in 2025, they are both 99% PG. What we used to call "combo guards" has become the norm in the modern game for PG's. The old school table-setter style of play, employed by someone not only not looking to score, but in some cases even by someone basically not ABLE to score, is a thing of the past, imho. 

I thought Williams looked great last night, and honestly, I don't think of him as that undersized. I think he's got a ways to go to be the three level scorer Brunson is, particularly in the mid-range, but his first step is lethal and he's a better finisher inside than I realized. I don't know whether I agree or not about how much Kidd likes him, but I hope you're right, because I feel strongly that better ball-handling guard play is sorely needed for this team to improve. That's not born from some desire to see the ball dominated by any one player, but from a desire to see the ball advanced against pressure not only with competence but (more importantly) with ease, and to see the "good ball movement" we're all hoping for start happening earlier in the shot clock. Last but certainly not least, it's nice to have ball-handlers (at least one) on the court fast enough with the ball to beat their man BEFORE the defense gets into rotation, becoming the catalyst that CAUSES said defensive rotation, which frees up all the other guys (Flagg, PJW, AD, whomever) to show off their improved/improving ball-handling/decision making. 

Williams and Russell both need to be leaned on more as we move forward, imho.