Anyone else concerned about Porzingis?

[mavsluvr]

We have KP locked up for 5 years. He'll figure it out at some point. Obviously I prefer him to figure it out this season though. Realistically, we're not competing for a title this season or next, but a playoff push is for the most part expected. I think we can make the playoffs with the way KP is playing now. He hasn't been to consistent but he has had good games. We don't really have cap flexibility until 2021 off-season I believe. We have time to figure KP out until we become serious about trying to win championships. 

My favorite thing about KP is his mentality. He is all about what's best for the team, he seems willing to try new things or sacrifice for the team, doesn't complain, etc. Its not like Rondo vs Rick. They'll figure it out. Kristaps put on a considerable amount of muscle since he last played for NYK, is traveling with the team every game now, is going through practices on top of games, etc. To me, it just looks like he's not comfortable in his new body yet. That can only improve with time. He's had really good games this season already and some bad ones, but that is bound to come with all the adjustments he has had to make. He's not a plug and play player, he needs an offense built around him, which again, will come over time once Rick fully knows how to integrate him while giving roles to all of our rotation guys. Its difficult to have certain expectations when nobody on the team aside from Luka and Maxi have clearly defined roles. Another thing is I think he's thinking too much when he has the ball. Often times when a player is in a slump, they over think everything they do and end up putting too soft of a touch on the ball, or they put too much force behind their shots, etc. When he was with the Knicks, he had the green light, so he was letting it rip unconsciously. His shot has looked a lot smoother when he gets the ball really late in the shot clock and is forced to toss it up, its must more natural. 

There are a lot of things that can be improved upon going forward. I wouldn't press the panic button on KP until maybe 35 games have gone by and he's shown no signs of improvement. Its silly to freak out after 10 games. The guy's still 24 and will get more comfortable over time. When he was drafted, Knicks fans booed him and didn't want him, he proved them wrong, gets injured several times, misses over a year of real game play, gets traded, changes up his whole body, and with that he's still shown good signs in 10 games. He'll get there.

In fairness, I wouldn't say that we're "freaking out." Having said that, you make some very good points. And when KP ultimately gets it together, his current challenges will likely fade from memory. 

I think the main risk with KP is whether he can stay healthy, not whether he is able and willing to eventually make a substantial contribution on the court on a consistent basis. It's just interesting to see how he and Rick work to make that a reality in the case of this unique and unconventional player. 

Thanks for the thoughts.

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So ya I am concerned. He does look like he's lost. I do agree he's better when he just has to shoot. I don't understand why they don't set off-ball screens for him. I thought that was a big part of his game and would let him just shoot open jumpers. At this point, until he gets comfortable I would like to see more sets that just get him open shots. Even if he's missing them (such as open 3s) they usually start falling after a while. His other parts of his game just aren't there right now and they shouldn't try to force it too much.

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Another thought, I wonder if Mavs are eventually going to punt on the idea of KP being a full-time center. He may just play better along side a more traditional big. We have seen him play well with Boban. KP at the 5 creates all kinds of space which is nice but then I think it might be negatively affecting his overall game.

KP has made it very clear that he has no interest in playing center, so they are using him mostly as a PF with another big. I assume that he is willing to play some center if they need him to. 

Carlisle talked about KP some on the Lowe post today. Zach asked him why they don't run more Luka-KP pick and rolls. Rick said that such a strategy was likely to lead the opponent to switch, which could result in isolation play, slowing the game down, which was undesirable. Zach brought up Carlisle's use of the switching strategy in San Antonio in their last 7-game series, which was successful in drawing the Spurs into a series of isolation plays as a possible example of what Carlisle was talking about. (FWIW, not sure i'm totally buying Carlisle's reason. Maybe just coach speak for letting us know that he doesn't want KP posting up very much, for whatever reason. In this regard, Phil Jackson, suspecting that KP's ceiling might be lower than a franchise player, noted his difficulties posting up.)

Zach also asked if spotting KP up marginalized him in the offense. Carlisle said they are working on getting him integrated, and it's a work in progress.

So Mavs are kind of playing him center in that they are playing other PF/center hybrids next to him. So what I am saying is instead of basically playing 2 PFs Mavs might punt on that idea and get a Steven Adams tyoe in there next to him.

 
Who is chasing all the small-ball and 3pt shooting fours around the perimeter?

Porzingis is a center and if the Mavs have really sold him on the idea that he can be a PF here, then to quote Roddy Piper: "Just when they think they have the answers, I change the questions."

In other words they´ll have to make teams adjust to them and change the whole style of the NBA back to BIG BOYS ball.

From a defensive positioning perspective, KP seems to be more effective protecting the rim than dealing with the ball flying around the perimeter. But he is capable of closing out, and to an extent, that's something big guys have to deal with in today's guard-oriented play.