(05-13-2021, 12:41 PM)mvossman Wrote: I have a really hard time believing that a KP/Powell/Luka/THJ grouping can possibly be good enough defensively for the playoffs.
Totally agree. If I think about Clippers, I just don't see it work at all defensively. You would have:
- KP on Ibaka (in any case),
- THJ on Beverly (in any case, I see no way THJ can guard George, Kawhi or Morris, as a little bigger guys are always punishing him inside)
- you need to put DFS on George, I think DFS is too small for Kawhi
- this leaves Luka on Morris and Powell (good luck!) on Kawhi. Or you put your best offensive weapon Luka to waste all his energy on their best offensive guy
On the other side they would put Ibaka on Powell, one of Kawhi or Morris on KP and the other on Luka, George on THJ and Beverly on DFS (or switch those two). They will switch everything. They would be able to afford to have the DFS guy and the Powell guy play help defense on Luka, basically blocking all driving lanes for Luka limiting him to midrange jumpers.
I think it is necessary to play Luka/KP PnR in the playoffs, not PnP as they had in the regular season. Without it, they will be in trouble.