(12-31-2020, 12:50 PM)SweetFidelia Wrote: Great recap. I’m puzzled by how lifeless they look. I missed the Clippers game, so I’ve only seen the 3 turds. The other complete puzzler is Carlisle’s insistence on starting Powell. Last year he tinkered with lineup for 15 games with myriad guys starting. The only constant was KP and Luka. He finally settled at game 15. You know he knows it ain’t working, yet he keeps sticking with it. I’m perplexed.
No one can shoot a lick right now, so it might not matter. The only fun I’m having is watching James Johnson. The only player consistently bringing heart and energy.....with a dash of helter skelter.
Thanks, SF. It's too bad that the Clippers game was the one you missed, because the Mavs displayed in that match that they still have it in them to to play well.
With respect to you and everyone else presenting the Powell question, I sometimes wonder whether we fans get a little too wrapped up in whether Powell is starting or not. I haven't seen anything to indicate that the team would have done significantly better in any of the four games if Powell had played his minutes at a different time in those games. Happy to be corrected, if I missed the evidence. In any case, once KP gets back, the lineups will be reworked, and Powell's role will be different. I'm not saying there are no concerns about Powell -- there are, but I question whether rearranging the deck chairs while Porzingis finishes his recovery is going to accomplish much of anything.
On another aspect involving lineups, I have been impressed with Josh Richardson and how well he has fit in. However, last night's poor shooting performance by him led me to focus on the implications of the loss of Seth Curry. The move to a bigger, two-way player doubtlessly needed to be made. However, it is easier for teams like the Hornets to clog the paint with Josh in the lineup. It was often hard to even get Seth many shots, since defenders tended to stick to him like glue. Josh is also capable of hitting threes, but for whatever reason, doesn't seem to command that level of defensive respect. So when his shots aren't falling, he isn't helping nearly as much with floor spacing. I do not say this as a knock of Josh -- it is just one of many issues resulting from the personnel changes that the coaches will need to sort out as the season rolls along.
I also enjoy watching Johnson. He is actually a pretty skilled player, as well as being the ultimate energy guy. His ability to facilitate some has been a welcome bonus. And the dash of helter skelter is definitely adding some brio to the game!