01-10-2023, 12:38 PM
(01-10-2023, 12:30 PM)mvossman Wrote: Calling SD central to the Mavs defensive struggles vs saying he is the cause seems like semantics to me.
Well when I say "central" (and that was a very thoughtful word choice by me), I am saying his presence is somehow in the middle of the defensive struggles. That is VERY different than saying he is THE "cause" of all the struggles (I do not believe that is the case, as he is just one player on a team of 15). He is A cause, as ALL the players are "A cause" in one way or another.
Is SD being "central" to the struggles his personal play/effort? To SOME extent from my seat. Is it coaching? To SOME extent from my seat. Is it his role? To SOME extent from my seat. Is it the players he is playing with and against? To SOME extent from my seat.
From my seat it is a very multi-faceted problem, but the data tells me that the coaches should look at addressing it somehow, someway. Don't just pretend it doesn't exist. That does NOT mean "never play him" and he is "useless" (or some other extreme reaction).