01-24-2021, 09:10 AM
(01-24-2021, 08:07 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: This. With Iwundu and Johnson on the floor the Mavs basically play 3vs5 on offense. Add an non shooting big like WCS and it turns into a 2vs5. With Luka/THJ/Burke/Brunson trying to create of the dribble. Taking difficult pull up shots or driving into a clogged paint.
The Mavs only had 25 3PA. That´s a season low. Not a suprise that THJ and Burke combined for 1/10 from 3. Without any other floor spacer on the court Houston could run them of the 3-point line. Rest pf team is not a threat. Most of them refuse to take an open 3 (Johnson,Green).
Something to look at in the coming weeks. With the return of the missing guys and KP the spacing should improve. I don´t think any of the current net negative guys will be a part of the rotation when everyone is healthy.
Yeah, missing KP AND the Covid 4 is a bridge too far for this team. We've yet to put the entire lineup on the court for a single game this season. Assuming we ever do, I suspect Luka will look better as a leader and spacing will improve dramatically. To your point, you might be able to hide one of your non-shooters with KP as center and other good offensive players around them, but not without them. Even JRich has struggled without the spacing KP provides.
With that said, allow me to whine a little bit. WCS has been abysmal the last two games. The light switch hasn't just been turned off, it was covered with sheet rock. When Powell had had games like this the board lost its ever-loving mind. Time and time again I made the point that it was incredibly unfair to judge Powell as a solo big. I will give Willie the same courtesy. Both of these guys will look better next to KP or Maxi. But let's be intellectually honest and point out that SAS and Houston have scored at will anytime Willie has been on the floor as a solo big. We've seen Willie next to KP and it was successful. I imagine the same will be said when Powell gets the same opportunity. We saw it work last year. We haven't had the opportunity so far this year.