01-05-2021, 12:07 PM
(01-05-2021, 08:20 AM)DanSchwartzman Wrote: Excellent write up as always. A couple of under the surface lineup things...
Luka looked fantastic (like 19/20 Luka for the first time this year). He played 38 minutes...wow. The issue is the 10 non-Luka minutes. We were -14 in those minutes.
We saw more Brunson/Luka than we've seen this season and the results were positive. The combo was +11 in limited minutes. Part of the reason Burke was so bad may have been he lost his typical w/Luka minutes to Brunson.
To me, the most surprising thing wasn't WCS starting (I've long been in favor of starting two bigs. It almost doesn't matter which two). The surprising thing was that he finished the game. It was still in doubt when he entered with 3:45 left replacing Maxi. WCS is a huge swing factor for this team. He provides the roll gravity that we used to get from Powell. Before the season I wrote he has more upside than anyone on the roster if he could just bring it consistently. For this one night, he brought it.
I was surprised by the 2 minute Iwundu cameo (mainly surprised it was him and not Green). There just isn't enough O on the floor when Luka sits to get much time for him or Green until KP returns. Then suddenly those guys will have more space and their lack of O won't be as noticeable. I would love to see one of those guys EARN Burke's minutes, but it can't happen without KP on the floor in the non-Luka minutes.
Great observations, DS.
I was also intrigued that Willie was on the floor at the end of the game. Tbh, I suspect it had a lot to do with Maxi having five fouls and the Mavs having a substantial lead when Willie was inserted. Good on him for taking advantage of the opportunity.
I was also surprised to see Iwundu suddenly appear. It was a short-lived experiment. Still a bit of a mystery.
Loved Luka's form.