(06-03-2021, 07:33 PM)Dahlsim Wrote: High Usage Star Player Dependency Syndrome.Thanks for your thoughts. I would add some nuance to that. I think the Mavs did have a well-crafted plan for playing without Luka during the season, as they had to run those units out every game. Rick occasionally commented on their running a different offense with Luka off the court than with him.
Seriously it has to do with the fact that a team is built around a guy that dominates the offense so they often don't get to really develop much of a way to play without that guy.
Tobias Harris talked about how they lost game 4 in Washington because they had to suddenly adjust to playing without Embiid. It happened during the game so they had to adjust on the fly and couldn't quite get it done. By game 5 they had a plan and knew how they wanted to play. Ended up with a win and not a close one.
What is the pecking order when Luka is out? Who is the 2nd star exactly and the 3rd option?
I think the Mavs on paper have guys that can play well without Luka, but they don't have that identity down at all or at least not well enough to adjust to it on the fly.
I think the plan involved having Brunson, KP, and Hardaway keep those units afloat. For whatever reason, in this series, Brunson has not been able to be effective without Luka (size reasons?), and KP has disappeared. So, when they are out there, they indeed look like they just don't know what to do.
I think it would be worth trying to shore those units up a bit, in order to gain a little more breathing room for Luka and Tim. In the fourth quarter of this match, Luka was totally gassed, and his performance showed it.
If there indeed is a way to shore them up. Maybe there just isn't. I can't say I have any bright ideas.