THE CRUCIFIX: Cato: Wood isn't thrilled w/ his role...Will depart in the summer

[sefant]

“Those concerns still exist, and there are doubts about how Wood will fare as a defensive anchor in the playoffs. Dallas has allowed 119.8 points per 100 possessions when Wood plays as the lone big man in lineups with Doncic, according to data from pbpstats. The flip side: Those lineups have lit it up, scoring 121.9 points per 100 possessions.”

Now the data without Spencer next to Luka. pbstats has the defense as follows:


Luka + SD + Wood = 122.64 DefRtg
Luka + Wood (no SD) = 109.16 DefRtg

Now this:

Luka + SD + Kleber = 121.20 DefRtg 




Imo those numbers (and at the bottom) point out who are causing the defensive problems. I am not seeing how it will be feasible to start Luka + SD + THJ + Wood + X. Unless Josh Green is so good that he can carry that lineup on D. I guess you need at least 2 "defenders" in that starting and finishing lineup. Green/DFS i guess.
I would rather see SD going back to the bench. And start Luka/Green as a combo, and SD/Frank as backups. Because SD/Frank/Powell might be a trio that can have success from the bench.


SD/Frank +20 net in 122 min
Frank/Powell +50 net in 54 min

If Kidd still wants to start SD, i think THJ is the odd man out here by default. But do you really want to bench THJ again?

People can talk all they want about Green and DFS coming back, but if they are sitting on the bench during crucial minutes, nothing will improve on defense i am afraid.



Wood on 113.1 DefRtg
Wood off 111.0 DefRtg

Powell on 110.9 DefRtg
Powell off 113.0 DefRtg

THJ on 113.5 DefRtg
THJ off 112.8 DefRtg

Bullock on 115.3 DefRtg
Bullock off 110.7 DefRtg

Frank on 104.1 DefRtg
Frank off 117.3 DefRtg

Luka on 118.0 DefRtg
Luka off 103.4 DefRtg

SD on 117.5 DefRtg
SD off 104.2 DefRtg