05-23-2021, 09:32 AM
(05-23-2021, 08:09 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: I've mentioned gravity in a couple of posts, but if KP takes Leonard out to the three point line, then I'll take my chances with Luka, THJ, Maxi and DFS against PG, Morris, Zubac and any of their guards. Lue has an interesting decision to make. Will the Dallas secondary players be this good three more times? If the bet is no, then keep Leonard on KP. If you take Leonard off KP, you run the risk that 30 point KP shows up and beats you.Very good points!
This is an interesting reminder that KP is accomplishing something very important even when he just stands out there. If the Mavs shooters continue to hit, I wonder if Lue will try re-jiggering his defense. And if he does, whether KP can successfully call his bluff.
Maxi is super important to this series. He's the one dragging Zubac over to Luka for the switch. They have to switch it because they can't afford to leave either Maxi of Luka trying to fight through. That wouldn't be the case with Powell or WCS.
Great observation. Maxi is in some respects the unsung hero of Game One.
I agree we have reserves, as you put it. But, we won't always win the rebounding war 42-39 (we got 13 from the Maxi-Melli PF combo). We also won't hold the league's best 3 point team to 27%. Leonard was 1/6, Morris was 0/6 and PG was 2/8. I imagine one adjustment will be more Batum and less Morris.
Will be very interesting if Lue goes away from Morris. The guy was one of the leading three-point shooters in the league during the regular season, at 47%. If Lue is forced to put that gun back in the holster, I think it will be somewhat of a blow to their team. Agree that we will probably see more of Batum.