Iztok Franko analyzes the defense in a D Magazine article. On the supposition that not everyone subscribes to D, here is a summary.
Prioritization of defense. Kidd is committed to building a team whose identity is predicated on playing good defense. It is at least arguable that the team would be better off aiming for a great offense and an average defense, considering the roster. However, Iztok is not using this article to argue the logic of prioritizing defense, and for purposes of this discussion, takes that strategy as a given.
Description of new system. Kidd is trying to implement a much more aggressive defensive system than Carlisle's conservative schemes. To get a bit jargon-y, his system involves showing high on the pick and roll (putting two defenders on the ball handler), implementing aggressive ICE coverage (pushing the ball handler to the side instead of the middle), and shrinking the floor (collapsing on the ball-handler, and then quickly executing hard closeouts when the ball is reversed) in X-out rotations (player closest to the opponent receiving the kick-out pass closes out, and a teammate rotates to the original matchup). This system requires more decision-making, all five players being in sync, fast rotations, and aggressive close-outs.
Execution of new system. The concept of the new defensive system is sound. So is the execution, against weaker teams. The problem is that this team is unable to execute it for more than a couple of rotations. They are 28th defensively against the league's ten best teams, who can keep them moving and scrambling long enough.
Lack of suitable personnel. The Mavs lack the personnel to execute this system expertly, as it requires long, athletic defenders. Dorian is the only such player in the starting lineup, and he usually draws a tough on-ball assignment, rather than being used much as a help defender. Third and fourth rotations require change-of-direction skills, fast lateral movement, and good defensive instincts. None of Luka, KP, Timmy, or Jalen has all of those things.
Two-big lineups
The team's most athletic defenders (Maxi, Bullock, Frank, and Willie) have often come off the bench. Which brings us to the dreaded two-big lineups, which Kidd is using to keep KP healthy for the playoffs. The problem is that the team may never get to the playoffs, if they continue the way they are.
Lineups with KP at the four don't foul very much and rebound well, but they give up made shots at a worst-in-the-league rate, particularly at the rim and from beyond the arc. Any defensive situation drawing KP out of the paint and leaving rim protection to Powell is bad. This is not to single out KP, who has often been on the floor with no good help defenders. But it's at best a waste of his talents, considering how much better he is defensively at center. The defense is markedly better when KP plays at the 5. When KP is paired with Maxi, the defense becomes elite at protecting the rim.
New players are required to execute Kidd's system.
The takeaway is that, if the Mavs want the Luka-KP pairing to work on the defensive end, they have to surround them with three mobile, athletic defenders. With the current roster construction, in-house solutions are limited. The best defensive lineup is probably with Maxi at PF and Bullock in Hardaway's place. Kidd is experimenting with giving Reggie a bigger role. But depending heavily on Maxi is tricky, as he is almost 30 and is fragile. He has already missed nine games this season. Playing him 27 mpg last year was probably an overuse.
After the 20-game test period announced by Nico to know who this squad is, we at least know what it isn't -- a good defensive team. Even Kidd concedes that the roster was not built to be one.
If the front office wants this team to succeed with Kidd's vision, they have to acquire more defensive players. An athletic wing, a mobile four. Most of all, a point-of-attack disruptor. Maxi and Dorian are OK, but no one would mistake them for difference-makers, a la Ben Simmons, Mikal Bridges, or even Alex Caruso. KP is not on the level of anchor bigs, like Gobert, Adebayo, or Capela. There is a reason that no Mav was among the 39 players receiving a vote for the All-Defensive team.
Is the front office committed to this system? The moves that Nico makes or doesn't make at the TDL will provide an indication of how committed the front office is to remaking the team in Kidd's image.
https://www.dmagazine.com/sports/2021/12...=feat-sect
Prioritization of defense. Kidd is committed to building a team whose identity is predicated on playing good defense. It is at least arguable that the team would be better off aiming for a great offense and an average defense, considering the roster. However, Iztok is not using this article to argue the logic of prioritizing defense, and for purposes of this discussion, takes that strategy as a given.
Description of new system. Kidd is trying to implement a much more aggressive defensive system than Carlisle's conservative schemes. To get a bit jargon-y, his system involves showing high on the pick and roll (putting two defenders on the ball handler), implementing aggressive ICE coverage (pushing the ball handler to the side instead of the middle), and shrinking the floor (collapsing on the ball-handler, and then quickly executing hard closeouts when the ball is reversed) in X-out rotations (player closest to the opponent receiving the kick-out pass closes out, and a teammate rotates to the original matchup). This system requires more decision-making, all five players being in sync, fast rotations, and aggressive close-outs.
Execution of new system. The concept of the new defensive system is sound. So is the execution, against weaker teams. The problem is that this team is unable to execute it for more than a couple of rotations. They are 28th defensively against the league's ten best teams, who can keep them moving and scrambling long enough.
Lack of suitable personnel. The Mavs lack the personnel to execute this system expertly, as it requires long, athletic defenders. Dorian is the only such player in the starting lineup, and he usually draws a tough on-ball assignment, rather than being used much as a help defender. Third and fourth rotations require change-of-direction skills, fast lateral movement, and good defensive instincts. None of Luka, KP, Timmy, or Jalen has all of those things.
Two-big lineups
The team's most athletic defenders (Maxi, Bullock, Frank, and Willie) have often come off the bench. Which brings us to the dreaded two-big lineups, which Kidd is using to keep KP healthy for the playoffs. The problem is that the team may never get to the playoffs, if they continue the way they are.
Lineups with KP at the four don't foul very much and rebound well, but they give up made shots at a worst-in-the-league rate, particularly at the rim and from beyond the arc. Any defensive situation drawing KP out of the paint and leaving rim protection to Powell is bad. This is not to single out KP, who has often been on the floor with no good help defenders. But it's at best a waste of his talents, considering how much better he is defensively at center. The defense is markedly better when KP plays at the 5. When KP is paired with Maxi, the defense becomes elite at protecting the rim.
New players are required to execute Kidd's system.
The takeaway is that, if the Mavs want the Luka-KP pairing to work on the defensive end, they have to surround them with three mobile, athletic defenders. With the current roster construction, in-house solutions are limited. The best defensive lineup is probably with Maxi at PF and Bullock in Hardaway's place. Kidd is experimenting with giving Reggie a bigger role. But depending heavily on Maxi is tricky, as he is almost 30 and is fragile. He has already missed nine games this season. Playing him 27 mpg last year was probably an overuse.
After the 20-game test period announced by Nico to know who this squad is, we at least know what it isn't -- a good defensive team. Even Kidd concedes that the roster was not built to be one.
If the front office wants this team to succeed with Kidd's vision, they have to acquire more defensive players. An athletic wing, a mobile four. Most of all, a point-of-attack disruptor. Maxi and Dorian are OK, but no one would mistake them for difference-makers, a la Ben Simmons, Mikal Bridges, or even Alex Caruso. KP is not on the level of anchor bigs, like Gobert, Adebayo, or Capela. There is a reason that no Mav was among the 39 players receiving a vote for the All-Defensive team.
Is the front office committed to this system? The moves that Nico makes or doesn't make at the TDL will provide an indication of how committed the front office is to remaking the team in Kidd's image.
https://www.dmagazine.com/sports/2021/12...=feat-sect
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