08-18-2023, 10:46 AM
(08-18-2023, 09:33 AM)mvossman Wrote: In a similar vein, I like comparing this roster to what we had after the KP trade when we made the WCF run.
Luka => Luka
Brunson => Kyrie
Dorian => Williams
Din => THJ/Hardy/Curry
Bullock => Green
Maxi => Maxi
Powell => Powell
Green => Exum
The biggest issue with that team was the massive lack of depth in the front court, where this team has Holmes/Lively/Omax/DJJ.
Several things to consider here.
1. Maxi, Dorian and Bullock were awesome that offseason. Played way above their contracts. Neither came close to repeating that performance last season. Maxi is two years older, so I don't think we can just put an equalizer there. He was bad last season. Bullock was imho way better in that run than Green has been at any point so far. Difficult to compare DFS and GW at this point.
2. That team had great cemistry. Can this team get to that level?
3. Having three ballhandlers was a great advantage in that run. Unless Hardy (or Green) takes a serious step forward, Mavs don't have that on their team. It will be especially missed big time in the regular season every time Luka or Kyrie will not be playing. It will cost us games, imho. None of THJ/Hardy/Curry can replicate what SD was contributing in that run, imho. Based on the history, we can count that Luka will miss some 15 games and Kyrie some 30 games. That could be more than half of games where one of them will not be available.
4. So here is my evaluation comparing that team with current one
Luka = Luka
Brunson = Kyrie (I don't think Irving brings much more value altogether, taking into account Brunsons mentality and locker room impact. Despite perhaps better counting stats)
Dorian = Williams
Din > THJ/Hardy/Curry
Bullock > Green
Maxi > Maxi
Powell = Powell
Green/FN = Exum (I added FN, because Green was bad in that run. But I wouldn't expect Exum could contribute more than they did in that run)
I don't think this team is better than team from two years ago.