06-12-2024, 02:34 PM
(06-12-2024, 12:50 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: more
Double-big lineups with Maxi Kleber and one of Gafford and Lively offer more back-line heft, but Kleber has to make 3s, and his shot has not looked right since he suffered a shoulder injury. The Celtics are treating him like a total non-threat. The Mavs are minus-22 in 18 minutes when Kleber plays with either Mavs center.
They are plus-8 with Kleber as a small-ball center, but I'm not sure the benefits of those groups outweigh the absence of a vertical threat on both ends. It is hard to out-duel Boston in a battle of five-out lineups. That equation tilts a bit if Porzingis misses time.
This is the way, unless Dallas can somehow get that 1-5 pick and roll working again. It's not an ideal play style for this team, given how they've played the last couple of months with Kleber out, and he's definitely going to have to make shots, but if leaving him open was the game plan, there were a few times when that plan was not followed, which just goes to show that the Boston defenders still think of Kleber as a shooter.
I'd say they either need to establish the Kleber at 5 lineup on both sides of the court OR get Lively going, somehow. BOTH would be the best outcome possible.