03-24-2021, 01:14 PM
(03-24-2021, 12:19 PM)vfromlmf Wrote: The contested 3 chart above is super interesting and in-line with my thinking about the challenges posed by playing DFS and Kleber together. Some of that is Doncic's vision & passing. Some of it is KP's gravity. But a huge part of it is team's don't believe either player will hurt them very much.I think it’s more to the point of Maxi doesn’t shoot unless he is wide open for tge most part...the Seth Curry school of thought.
That said, the eye test tells me teams are at least guarding Kleber now. They don't leave him, at least in regular season late game situations. But when a guy is only taking 4-5 shots he's not going to do too much damage, even if he's shooting 45% on 3s.
Teams just don't guard DFS.
If the Mavs don't address one of those spots we're going to see the same thing we saw in last year's playoff run. Go back and read the game summary from that first Clippers game.
The Clips ignored DFS and Kleber and blitzed Doncic out of the gate forcing three turnovers in the first two minutes as they raced to an 18 point lead. They were extremely physical. Luka exited the game with a leg injury. KP got tossed. Just a complete S show.
I'm keeping that playoff series in mind as we get closer to the trade deadline. I don't believe the answer is to insert James Johnson as a playoff enforcer. The Mavs need to add skill to the wing/forward spot -- playmaking & shooting -- to improve upon last year's playoff run.