11-30-2020, 11:16 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-30-2020, 12:19 PM by KillerLeft.)
As to the topic at hand (from several threads) regarding "how best to use KP"...
I agree with @"DanSchwartzman" and @"Kammrath" when they point out that during the early season last year, KP was being worked back into the flow, and that there were other factors that could potentially have accounted for his slow start.
I can also buy the idea that Powell was a positive on the floor on the defensive end, and not only as the team's best pick and roll screener. I have trouble with the idea that this points to anything in the way of KP, specifically, being more effective on the defensive end, really, but I have no trouble whatsoever believing that the TEAM is better defensively with Powell on the floor. He's exactly the kind of chameleon "big" that they need - smart, mobile, switchable, better than average defender in space, and with a high motor. He offers a poor man's version of what Giannis would give you on that end, to a certain extent. I think he's the TYPE of player who's needed here to play the 4 spot on defense, and while I don't think that player HAS to be a pick and roll master, it's one possible way this hypothetical player can be integrated on the offensive end.
Where I diverge from their thinking slightly is the exact point when they confidently dismiss any notion of "what in the hell would Powell do on the offensive end should KP be more involved in the action as the 2nd option?" I don't think this is a BINARY concern, meaning that while I agree with them that Powell's injury isn't the sole reason for KP's late season charge, I DO think that using KP more directly (with Powell on the floor) might offer a significant spacing challenge. I'm not overly confident that this CAN or CAN'T be solved, but I do wonder if playing that way might remove quite a bit of what Powell brings to the table from the equation. I have a much easier time seeing a fit with Kleber in that situation, personally, but I'm not confident that I have a complete understanding of the situation.
I agree with @"DanSchwartzman" and @"Kammrath" when they point out that during the early season last year, KP was being worked back into the flow, and that there were other factors that could potentially have accounted for his slow start.
I can also buy the idea that Powell was a positive on the floor on the defensive end, and not only as the team's best pick and roll screener. I have trouble with the idea that this points to anything in the way of KP, specifically, being more effective on the defensive end, really, but I have no trouble whatsoever believing that the TEAM is better defensively with Powell on the floor. He's exactly the kind of chameleon "big" that they need - smart, mobile, switchable, better than average defender in space, and with a high motor. He offers a poor man's version of what Giannis would give you on that end, to a certain extent. I think he's the TYPE of player who's needed here to play the 4 spot on defense, and while I don't think that player HAS to be a pick and roll master, it's one possible way this hypothetical player can be integrated on the offensive end.
Where I diverge from their thinking slightly is the exact point when they confidently dismiss any notion of "what in the hell would Powell do on the offensive end should KP be more involved in the action as the 2nd option?" I don't think this is a BINARY concern, meaning that while I agree with them that Powell's injury isn't the sole reason for KP's late season charge, I DO think that using KP more directly (with Powell on the floor) might offer a significant spacing challenge. I'm not overly confident that this CAN or CAN'T be solved, but I do wonder if playing that way might remove quite a bit of what Powell brings to the table from the equation. I have a much easier time seeing a fit with Kleber in that situation, personally, but I'm not confident that I have a complete understanding of the situation.