12-18-2020, 11:53 AM
(This post was last modified: 12-18-2020, 01:06 PM by HanspardsShowerVoice.)
The way I see the big rotations ...
Carlisle likes to keep Maxey on the 2nd unit because he wants at 1 dependable and consistent big for the 2nd unit to work with. This is more about Brunson/Bruke/et alls benefit as anything. Being on a 2nd unit by definition means you're not a great all around talent that can roll with whatever, so Mavs exploit other 2nd units with sheer consistency and precision execution of their unit to their advantage. This has been a staple philosophy of the Mavs since Carlisle has been here, thus the reason why JJB and Devin Harris have always had a place here. Note when Powell went down last year they mostly went with KP as the lone big, moved Seth into the starting line and left Maxi on the 2nd unit.
Mavs like pairing KP with a rim runner because rim runner is a vital role in the Carlisle PnR heavy offense, particularly with Luka's strengths, and they don't want KP with his delicate knees and lower legs playing above the rim and jumping in the paint around a lot of bodies. KP is a unicorn because he is 7'3 and has a shooting touch of a wing, so he is at his most effective when he is stretching the defense and creating room in the paint for Luka.
Dwight Powell has exceptional chemistry with Luka on the PnR (see above insane efficiency stats), and is a bit of security blanket partner for Luka. He also is exceptional at setting screens for Luka to provide him space. The first rule of the NBA is keep your superstar happy.
Powell has limitations on defense, but due to his All Academic Pac 12 Stanford Brain, he is continuously where he needs to be and provides help at the right time to prevent KP and other teammates from getting put into bad situations from his stupidity. This is something that WCS has not demonstrated. I do agree with everyone that Powell is a net poor defender on the whole
There seems to be this narrative that WCS is not respected or liked by Carlisle and that Mavs, when on the contrary is seems like WCS is more respected and liked by the Mavs than any other franchise in the NBA. Maybe there is a reason for that? IMHO, WCS is only on the roster as Powell insurance.
Yes, as much as fans don't care about it, there is something to be said for providing consistently high energy that's contagious with your teammates. So many regular season games in NBA are won and lost in the NBA just by sheer energy ... thus the demonstrable disadvantages teams have when the play road back to backs or 4 games in 5 nights. The talent gap is too small in the NBA, particularly in the West, and you can lose games by simply being outhustled. At least in the regular season.
That said ... Powell is coming off a major injury. Maybe he is a shell of his former self. I think if he's a shell of his former self he might play himself out of his role ... but it's not going to be after 3 preseason games when he's still knocking off a year's worth of rust. He's earned too much respect and trust in the franchise to be treated like that. And he brings too much to the Mavs to not allow him every opportunity to show that he can still be that guy. It's worth the patience to find out until proven otherwise, at least as far as the Mavs are concerned.
Carlisle likes to keep Maxey on the 2nd unit because he wants at 1 dependable and consistent big for the 2nd unit to work with. This is more about Brunson/Bruke/et alls benefit as anything. Being on a 2nd unit by definition means you're not a great all around talent that can roll with whatever, so Mavs exploit other 2nd units with sheer consistency and precision execution of their unit to their advantage. This has been a staple philosophy of the Mavs since Carlisle has been here, thus the reason why JJB and Devin Harris have always had a place here. Note when Powell went down last year they mostly went with KP as the lone big, moved Seth into the starting line and left Maxi on the 2nd unit.
Mavs like pairing KP with a rim runner because rim runner is a vital role in the Carlisle PnR heavy offense, particularly with Luka's strengths, and they don't want KP with his delicate knees and lower legs playing above the rim and jumping in the paint around a lot of bodies. KP is a unicorn because he is 7'3 and has a shooting touch of a wing, so he is at his most effective when he is stretching the defense and creating room in the paint for Luka.
Dwight Powell has exceptional chemistry with Luka on the PnR (see above insane efficiency stats), and is a bit of security blanket partner for Luka. He also is exceptional at setting screens for Luka to provide him space. The first rule of the NBA is keep your superstar happy.
Powell has limitations on defense, but due to his All Academic Pac 12 Stanford Brain, he is continuously where he needs to be and provides help at the right time to prevent KP and other teammates from getting put into bad situations from his stupidity. This is something that WCS has not demonstrated. I do agree with everyone that Powell is a net poor defender on the whole
There seems to be this narrative that WCS is not respected or liked by Carlisle and that Mavs, when on the contrary is seems like WCS is more respected and liked by the Mavs than any other franchise in the NBA. Maybe there is a reason for that? IMHO, WCS is only on the roster as Powell insurance.
Yes, as much as fans don't care about it, there is something to be said for providing consistently high energy that's contagious with your teammates. So many regular season games in NBA are won and lost in the NBA just by sheer energy ... thus the demonstrable disadvantages teams have when the play road back to backs or 4 games in 5 nights. The talent gap is too small in the NBA, particularly in the West, and you can lose games by simply being outhustled. At least in the regular season.
That said ... Powell is coming off a major injury. Maybe he is a shell of his former self. I think if he's a shell of his former self he might play himself out of his role ... but it's not going to be after 3 preseason games when he's still knocking off a year's worth of rust. He's earned too much respect and trust in the franchise to be treated like that. And he brings too much to the Mavs to not allow him every opportunity to show that he can still be that guy. It's worth the patience to find out until proven otherwise, at least as far as the Mavs are concerned.