06-24-2021, 03:03 PM
(06-24-2021, 02:55 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: With that said, can we please all stop with the line of thought that says..."I know (fill in player's name) has always been (fill in issue...bad at rebounding, a health risk, a crappy FT shooter, a bad 3 point shooter)." "But, just wait until he gets here. Surely (fill in Mav player or coach or trainer) will fix that". It is total crap. Other teams have trainers and shooting coaches and and and. The idea that habitually unhealthy guys are going to suddenly stay healthy because Casey Smith is so much better than all the other trainers is just rooting for laundry.
In the spirt of this thought, which I think is astute, I feel like we need to remember that Batum's resurgence seems to be tethered to him being used as a small ball center.
I agree with your point about Markkanen/Batum with KP/Gobert re play styles, don't get me wrong. And, I'm a little intrigued by the idea of Batum, especially at the right price.
But, half the people who want him seem content to say "he's still got it" as if his role hasn't totally changed this season with the Clippers. Maybe he COULD play the 4 here mostly and be effective. Just saying. It seems like some people even see him as a 3. My thought is that many of the people who like this idea (not you, specifically, Dan) would HATE how he was being used here if he came here and played the same, exact role he has played for LAC in these playoffs.