2020-2021 ROSTER TALK: Archived

[KillerLeft]

I think the watershed questions on KP are these two big ones:

1) Will his D recover to previous levels? 

2) Even if it does, what is his fit truly with Luka, RC, the locker room, and the Mavs organizational culture?

I'm not entirely sure I buy the "previous levels" argument, but I respect your analysis of the numbers, and I don't have enough pre-Mavs viewing of him to bring a strong opinion to the table. I was disappointed with his D last season here, but not THIS disappointed. 

Anyway, my take on your point above is that while I'm right there with you about #2 being an actual thing and not just a tinfoil hat theory, I think if #1 resolves favorably they will start winning. If they start winning, #2 will take care of itself, so if I believed #1 had a chance of working out, I wouldn't be very worried about #2. I hope that makes sense. 

But, #1 isn't going to resolve favorably, imo. Even if you're correct and this is a matter of regaining form, I don't find it likely. He has sustained a ton of injuries, the kind that have a cumulative effect. He's going to slow down at a younger age than other players, and I believe we're already seeing that happen. So, it's not only a matter of recovering from whatever the latest injury might be and regaining confidence. I think each new situation permanently lessens his potential, athletically. His conditioning might very well be affected by this latest injury, but damn - he has looked like a statue out there. I just don't think it's 100% about getting into shape. My opinion. 

I thought he was going to be a fast, quick player. Someone with the kind of defensive tools WCS has, only with a far superior and more innate understanding of how to play basketball well consistently. He has not been that guy. He's STIFF and SLOW. He doesn't move much better than Boban, and that's saying something. 

I know everyone thinks I'm a negative Nancy about all of this lately, and I'm sorry. I'm just not hopeful about this particular player AT ALL. I will try not to beat everyone over the head with it, but it's difficult, because anything I try to imagine as an interesting talking point eventually leads me back to this topic. I really feel like the team is stuck as long as he's on the roster.

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So stop trying to make him into a C and make him into the 4 and get a C that has those things.

So, he's too slow to play center well, and you believe playing him at forward, expecting him to chase Giannis, Kawhi and Lebron around will help? 

I suppose it's worth a try, but I'm not trying to "make him into a C." That's just what he is, I think. I think these issues get exponentially worse if he's played at any other position. 

But at this point, I suppose it's time to try anything.