03-23-2021, 08:46 AM
It is a tricky riddle. But one where KP needs to play better is the answer. I think there are several reasons (KP, Luka, coaching, etc) that may be part of the issue. That is not to say, they are to blame.
I think the next step in Luka's development is finding the hot hand or knowing when a player needs some confidence. Luka plays his game. He creates to score and if that is stopped, he almost always makes the right play. That is good basketball. But it is my opinion that we will not win a championship when the whole offense always goes thru Luka. I think the offense just needs to give KP more touches. Sure he looks like a giraffe on skates in the post and sometimes looks really bad making passes, but there is only one way this gets better. Give him more touches. Also, I wouldn't fault KP if he felt some frustration that Luka sometimes treats him as DFS. As in, he will get the ball if Luka is stopped and you are the guy left open. I can understand KP's frustration. Before his first injury with the Knicks, he was building to be the guys most teams would build around. Now a few years later, he is behind a supernova.
KP needs to do his part as well. If he isn't getting the ball as much, he needs to go an get it. He needs to get to the free throw line more. He needs to be a willing cutter. It may not be the sexy stuff that grabs the highlights, but the more active he is the more opportunities he will get.
Lastly, I think the coaching staff needs to find ways to get KP more touches 15 feet and in. I don't like when he spends the majority of his time outside the three point line. I don't know the full story behind the scenes, but I haven't been overly impressed how they have utilized KP for most of his time here. I expected it would be a process, and a difficult one. I just hoped we would be further along at this point.
My ultimate vision is Luka and KP (and the players that surround them) could play any style and beat you at your playing style. If you went big, Dallas could go big but play small. If you went small, Dallas could go small, but play big. I think Luka has lived up to this billing. KP still needs to take a few improvement steps.
I think the next step in Luka's development is finding the hot hand or knowing when a player needs some confidence. Luka plays his game. He creates to score and if that is stopped, he almost always makes the right play. That is good basketball. But it is my opinion that we will not win a championship when the whole offense always goes thru Luka. I think the offense just needs to give KP more touches. Sure he looks like a giraffe on skates in the post and sometimes looks really bad making passes, but there is only one way this gets better. Give him more touches. Also, I wouldn't fault KP if he felt some frustration that Luka sometimes treats him as DFS. As in, he will get the ball if Luka is stopped and you are the guy left open. I can understand KP's frustration. Before his first injury with the Knicks, he was building to be the guys most teams would build around. Now a few years later, he is behind a supernova.
KP needs to do his part as well. If he isn't getting the ball as much, he needs to go an get it. He needs to get to the free throw line more. He needs to be a willing cutter. It may not be the sexy stuff that grabs the highlights, but the more active he is the more opportunities he will get.
Lastly, I think the coaching staff needs to find ways to get KP more touches 15 feet and in. I don't like when he spends the majority of his time outside the three point line. I don't know the full story behind the scenes, but I haven't been overly impressed how they have utilized KP for most of his time here. I expected it would be a process, and a difficult one. I just hoped we would be further along at this point.
My ultimate vision is Luka and KP (and the players that surround them) could play any style and beat you at your playing style. If you went big, Dallas could go big but play small. If you went small, Dallas could go small, but play big. I think Luka has lived up to this billing. KP still needs to take a few improvement steps.