(06-08-2021, 03:50 PM)ItsGoTime Wrote: What a difference a day makes on this board!

(06-08-2021, 03:53 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: https://twitter.com/RealSkipBayless/status/1402291129844789248

This alone should tell you that the "poor KP" crowd is on the wrong side of history.

(06-08-2021, 03:55 PM)ItsGoTime Wrote: Ok, you did actually get me there. I retract everything I said about KP.

(06-08-2021, 12:41 PM)khaled1987 Wrote: Is there is any doubt about it?

(06-08-2021, 01:27 PM)Kammrath Wrote: He shouldn't stay.

BUT, yeah, if he does (UGH), then I am torn as well. Neither is a good option. I hate him having anymore weight on his ligaments and I hate his current lack of strength. 

Best case scenario in my mind is this:

He stays thin and works on his agility to play PF and welcomes another big like Richaun Holmes to play C next to him.

(06-08-2021, 01:52 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: To me, this is the worst possible scenario. As @"vfromlmf" said the other day very well, "if he's a PF, there are two dozen PF's I'd rather have than KP." 

You, @"Kammrath" made a great point the other day about the Clippers' smaller lineup when you pointed out that their rare length at most positions means they're not actually that small. 

To ME, that is the benefit (in theory) of KP. He's a unicorn, but only at the 5, where (again, in theory) he has physical advantages in terms of speed, mobility and skill. At the 4, his length is uncommon, yes, but all three of those other things are huge, huge deficiencies. 

Like the point you made regarding the Clippers, the UPSIDE to KP (in theory) is that he's faster, quicker and more skilled than other centers WITHOUT giving up any length. He's a small ball center, without being a small ball center. Is he a little too weak? Yes, but I think mostly he just looks that way because he played so soft this year. And, frankly, he looked too slow to play the 5, NOT like he had an advantage there.

EDIT: In my opinion, this whole thing revolves around whether or not the Mavs believe KP can learn how not to get played into being a negative as a DEFENSIVE center. If they can figure that much out, I have a fair amount of faith the offensive end will click, eventually. If they think he'll always be a negative as a DEFENSIVE center, then the whole operation is just a waste of time.

(06-08-2021, 02:02 PM)omahen Wrote: He still is all what you say related to KP against other centers. The problem is teams have figured out the key is not to defend him with center but a random wing or guard, and he is more or less cooked. For me this is the biggest priority for his offseason. Learn how to punish small guys. This way he will force opponents to guard him with centers, which will allow Luka/KP PnR or PnP to feast on them. Just imagine how Clippers series would look like if they would be forced to play Zubac.

Let's be honest, his technique and footwork is extremely poor in the post. His only move is to turn around and shoot a contested fade away jumper. He doesn't see help defense coming, lowers the ball and consequently often turns it over. He needs to work on this, whole offseason. Of course I see physical training as mandatory part of any offseason.

(06-08-2021, 04:15 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: KL you had a good explanation of why KP at center *should have worked* but it failed and there's no going back. His way forward is going to be a PF next to a defensive/rim-rolling center

(06-08-2021, 04:15 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: KL you had a good explanation of why KP at center *should have worked* but it failed and there's no going back.

(06-08-2021, 04:20 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: KP cannot play PF on defense, plain and simple.  Even when he is paired with Powell, they're essentially playing Powell at 4 on defense.

If you think that KP playing center and being our defensive anchor is not something he is doing well enough to win a championship then you need to move on and not overthink it.  Playing him at the 4 will create even more issues and he will be an even bigger negative impact on that end of the floor.

(06-08-2021, 04:29 PM)fifteenth Wrote: guesses and opinions presented as fact

the silly world of sports talk

(06-08-2021, 04:33 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: I mean I don't think...bc 99/1 I believe...I don't see him...I believe

(06-08-2021, 04:30 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: I don't think it's as bad as you say. Really the key thing is KP needs to play next to a good defensive big. I am already on the record that KP needs to go and I am 99/1 sure he is gone. I also think its hard to judge every move by "will this win a championship" bc short of signing Kawhi there aren't a lot of moves that you can say will put you in true contention for a championship.

Until the Mavs really upgrade their perimeter defense I think you are cooked either way. If I have a choice of finding two elite wing defenders (DFS is not one which is also a problem) or running a 2 big system to pack the paint I think its easier in the short term to do the latter. Mavs already play a more conservative drop coverage to funnel things into the messy middle but KP at center isn't good enough on his own. I would rather have 2 bigs that really make it hard to get things inside and live with the fact that some nights you will get cooked from 3. That happens anyway a lot of nights anyway. 

The Mavs sans KP could create a switchable defense but as long as KP is here that just isn't possible. So with that I do think you can live with a 2 big system and still win a lot of games.

(06-08-2021, 04:39 PM)fifteenth Wrote: There ya go, that's better :-)

(06-08-2021, 04:41 PM)ClutchDirk Wrote: KP needs a prime Ibaka type player..