GAME 10: DAL (6-4) @ BOS (8-1) | 106-116 loss

[BigDirk41]

Powell should be traded December 15th. That is a very bad contract. It's not THJ level, but probably top 20 worst contracts in the league. As many of us stated over the summer, you spend money on stars and then use exceptions on role players. That was a boneheaded move by the Mavs.

I was one of the biggest opponents of the extension and wanted no part of it while pointing out plenty better deals other players of Powell's mold have signed. That being said, Dwight had basically no preseason due to his injury and he as a player is very dependent on other guys to set him up and team chemistry in general. I doubt he will play this subpar all season, Imo it can only get better with him. Hopefully he can turn it around quickly and get back to where he was as a rim runner.

Otherwise it's tough argueing him being a starter instead of e.g. Maxi who has shot the ball well and does his thing on defense.

Being out the preseason has zero to do with effort/defense/rebounding. Yes it effects offense quite a bit, but I honestly think his rim running is being shut down for the most part until he shows something else. Everyone has started to collapse on him in the lane and they know Luka wants to throw the lob. As far as your other comments about trading him and it's a bad contract, yes I understand the two don't really go together. We might be able to trade him in December by others thinking he's rusty from missing the preseason as you stated. If he performs like this in 2020, he'll be stuck here.

You do understand that this is the point, right?  If DP never scores a point, (in any particular game - not as an on going trend) he makes Luka more effective because DP's gravity opens space for Luka to do his thing.  That is the duty of the rim runner.  The THREAT often garners the desired result.  As long as the rim runner can finish effectively, and the ball handler can a) pass well enough to make the threat a reality if the defense doesn't cover the rim runner, and b) the ball handler is effective at finishing if you guard the rim runner, then it is a winning strategy whether or not the play ends in the ball handler making that pass.  It also pulls people in off the shooters on the perimeter.  If DP wasn't a threat, Luka wouldn't be getting as good of looks on the interior.  So... good for the D "shutting down" DP while Luka scorches them!

Yes I understand the rim runner strategy. My issue is you are greatly overvaluing DP. His atrocious defense negates any kind of advantage you think he provides Luka. Maxi can catch lobs with way better defense and rebounding. I would also argue that Luka doesn't need "elite rim runners" due to his height. Luka can pass over the defense with ease. As long as he has a true big close to the rim, Luka will put the ball where it's needed. For DP and Maxi that's above the rim. For Boban he puts it close to the rim so he can just lay it in.

I know the point of your view is that DP's defender can't leave him, but I would argue that nobody can leave Maxi, Boban or KP(obviously). My point is you get the same advantage with all our bigs due to Luka's size and vision. So to me that doesn't make DP special in anyway. I've watched every minute so far this year and I don't see anything that stands out as far as Luka scoring better with DP on the floor instead of our other bigs. Luka gets his whenever he wants when he's not settling for step back 30 footers.