04-12-2021, 11:35 AM
(04-12-2021, 11:15 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: If you watch closely, Dallas has been putting the ball in the hands of JRich and Brunson much more to initiate plays. Often that ends up in a Luka post up, but not always. They have other plays they run out of that action. They absolutely have to take the ball out of Luka's hands some or we will forever be capped as the James Harden Rockets. It is just too easy to game plan one guy at the end of games. If you have other guys who can create (like DeRozan and Brunson) in late game situations, doubling Luka will get you killed. Right now we don't have a great counter.I’m with you in that we could find a way to make it work offensively. Both Luka and Derozan could feast down low off ball. And the main concern would be defensively. Put Derozan at the 2 in place of JRich and there’s nobody to guard the point. Put him at the 3 and there’s no more DFS to guard the wings at the perimeter. Put him at the 4 and there’s no Maxi to guard stretch bigs on the perimeter.
DeRozan has the same limitation playing next to Murray. But, he doesn't appear to negatively impact the offense. The SAS O is 7 points better when DeRozan is on the floor than when he isn't (82games.com). The O-Rating is is 122 (it is 110 at all times) and was 118 last season. If DeRozan and Murray can figure it out with all of DeRozan's flaws, then I imagine DeRozan and Luka can also. I think the ball movement would be fantastic and we would be a nightmare match-up for defenses. Frankly, I'm much more concerned about how we guard people than I am scoring.
And you hit the nail on the head in regard to Brunson and JRich. Both have been more involved and could solve our problem for us. Brunson has been dishing out of the attack more. JRich has been working a two man game with KP more. I’d like to see more from JRich where he dishes to cutters and drives and dishes or lobs. Also more creating designed shot attempts for Hardaway specifically to get him going early