(01-08-2021, 01:12 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I don't believe so. I think Boban literally lacks the ability to do anything about it. But, if the defenders had been KP and WCS, rather than Boban and WCS, I don't think he gets nearly as many of those perimeter looks (even the ones he didn't take that '98 is talking about).
Totally agree that Bobi couldn't guard the three-point line.
Given that, for example, doesn't a decision to run Bobi out as the sole big against Jokic effectively constitute a decision that you're probably going to allow Jokic some open threes?
I wouldn't fault Rick if he chose to make Jokic a jump shooter, even an open one, if necessary. As bad as Bobi was defensively, the team didn't lose points during the overall time he was on the floor. And although Jokic can hit jump shots, he hasn't historically been a particularly good three-point shooter. With KP out and WCS in foul trouble for a good part of the game, I wouldn't be shocked if Rick decided that leaving Jokic open behind the arc was the least lethal of the various poisons presented. Even WCS wasn't amazing against Nikola's 3PAs -- iirc, on Jokic's last killer three, Willie was on him, but didn't get a hand up.
Not saying this to quibble over a small point. Not even saying for sure that's what happened. More that it seems like a window into how the team might best respond this season against offensive behemoths like Jokic and AD when no great answer seems to be available. Maybe a bit of a test of the theory that if you can't stop one of these guys in any case, you might as well try to contain him in the paint and put in an offensive player who can score and make the big guy play a little defense? A sign of Carlisle adjusting to the minute-by-minute reality that the players available just can't stop a guy in a way other than continuing the same approach to get said players some more experience, which might indicate a more win-now focus?
Not at all saying you are wrong, and this one game may be too isolated an example to draw any particular conclusions, anyway. I have been pondering all season whether the Mavs have an answer for these huge guys who can score from anywhere, and I may just be wishfully thinking that we have some decent Plan Bs available. Something to assuage my horror when Jokic kept firing off threes with nobody near him, lol.