04-23-2021, 07:47 AM
(04-23-2021, 02:06 AM)mavsluvr Wrote: MAVS OVERCOME LAKERS AT AAC
KP SPRAINS ANKLE
STATISTICS
It was an unusual game, numbers-wise. However, Dallas had an astounding 36-17 advantage in free-throw attempts.
Very unusual 56 Points in the Paint and only 24 three point attempts (vs. normal 38 per game). Concerted effort to live at the rim and it worked.
PLAYERS
WCS. Willie had a huge evening, as he was called upon to step up with Maxi out, and KP’s time cut short. He played 31 minutes off the bench and had 11 points and 8 boards to show for it, along with boasting a team-high +/- of 18. The most athletic of the Mavs' big men made impressive use of that talent on the night.
In much the same way we've seen virtually no KP/Powell minutes this season until this week, we've also seen virtually no KP/WCS minutes either...until last night. Those minutes were positive, but for the second night in a row, the Luka/WCS vs. opponents bench is what really carried the team. Luka-Willie minutes were +9.
We had 48 minutes of non-KP Center minutes last night. Maxi's absence kind of required more KP at PF minutes, but Carlisle was already experimenting with "always 2-bigs" the night before when Maxi was healthy. Playing Powell next to KP hasn't exactly killed KP's O as some feared (KP's O-Rating the last two nights was 140 and 147). Nor has it resulted in a net positive run for the starters in two games. It has resulted in two wins.
BENCH. Redick made an impression with 7 points in 11 minutes. He was part of the star-less unit to start the fourth, and he stepped up with a no-look pass to Brunson, put up a spectacular three, and followed that by freezing his defender with a pass fake and driving to the basket for a layup. In addition to his shooting accuracy, he is demonstrating great activity off the ball, along with good passing.
So, this is what Carlisle was trying to do with those Burke minutes. Redick would have been my vote for the Dirkie if he was on the list (I know, WCS was good too, but 11/8/2 in 31 minutes should be our expectation rather than something that feels like an outlier). Redick looks so much more comfortable. It was only 11 minutes, but it was critical that he helped keep the star-less lineup afloat. He has been +4 and +6 the last two nights. Carlisle playing him productively early in the fourth quarter helps the coach rest either Luka or Brunson so they will be fresh for the stretch run. A lot of Redick's minutes come with KP sitting, which helps to absorb the loss of a good scoring threat. You can't really play him against starters, but getting good strategic bench minutes from his really helps.