11-13-2023, 08:47 PM
(11-13-2023, 04:50 PM)Nowitzki Way Wrote: The lack of size mostly. Which accounts for all the points in the paint given up. The lack of rebounding.
Our best big is a 19 year old rookie who the refs hate at the moment. The rest of the "bigs" are Powell (soft), Kleber (washed), Holmes (washed).
We've already seen this being a huge problem in our two losses (Denver / Toronto).
I'm not sold on the perimeter D being much better than the past either. But we seem to be improving in that area.
Then the injury factor. Luka and Kyrie have not been the healthiest duo in their careers. I think we can pretty much chalk up 15-20 games each season that these two will lose out on injury. Having one of them out really stretches the rotation. Having both out at the same time for a long stretch would be a killer.
Lastly, i'm not a huge fan of the roster construction. We just don't fit the typical championship model. We seem to have ill-fitting parts. The lack of size is just the beginning.
Of course, i hope i'm terribly wrong and we win 50+ games and get a top 4 seed. I just see us more in the 40-42 win group, which is about par for a play-in game.
And honestly there isnt much of a difference between a 50 win team and a 40 win team. Most of the difference is luck (avoiding injuries) and execution (coaching). And now that i mention coaching, i'm not the biggest fan of Jason Kidd's in game coaching. I think he's great behind the scenes. I mean for the guys in the NBA now he's a legend. An NBA champion and Hall of Famer. But he's not an X's and O's type coach.
Wasn't this team in an even worse spot size wise when they went to the WCF? The only bigs on that roster after the trade were Powell and Maxi.
I'm also curious what the roster construction issues are and the ill fitting parts? I can see the argument for more big depth if Holmes is truly washed, but I just haven't seen a lot of ill fitting. Our 2 losses are against the world champs and a game without Lively (big depth). Otherwise, team has looked pretty good to me.