2019-20 Mavs News

[DanSchwartzgan]

Yahoo power rankings.  Interesting bit on how Powell's injury is affecting us.


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10. Dallas Mavericks (35-23)

Since Powell’s injury, the offense has actually been better while the defense has slipped, resulting in a net rating that ranks closer to the middle of the pack. Their record in that stretch is 8-8, dropping Dallas to the seventh seed. There is little risk of falling further, but they are in danger of a brutal draw.

 

The hate Powell gets over his contract and play on the court is terrible...this sheds some light on how he made us better and kept Maxi and Curry on the bench which made our bench as deadly as it was...

That is part of what doesn't get enough attention regarding Powell (it forces people who are less effective into sub-optimal positions).  The other thing that gets almost no attention is third tier guys have to move into second tier roles and a once great bench is less effective.  Brunson is another favorite punching bag around here, but he's an on-court positive and gets most of his minutes when Luka isn't on the court.  That is incredibly valuable.  

I've mentioned before that part of KP's renaissance is related to Powell going down.  That doesn't mean Powell wasn't valuable.  I suspect he and Maxi will pair up as a dynamic duo off the bench going forward.  It does mean we still need a 5th starter to move Maxi, Seth and Wright into roles that better fit their skills.  I suspect that 5th starter won't look too much like Powell, but will be more of a Power Wing who is lethal from distance.