05-07-2021, 11:12 AM
(05-07-2021, 10:29 AM)mvossman Wrote: I agree with all of this. Green does show some signs that he is more than just 3&D (although there has been little evidence of the 3 yet) but I don't expect him to be ready to start consistently anytime soon. What we desperately need this off season is a replacement for JRich. A true two way playmaker that can relieve both offensive and defensive pressure from Luka. I had high hopes that JRich could fill that role but it's just not there.
I think a healthy engaged KP is still the second best player on the team and necessary for us to do any damage in the playoffs. I am coming around to the idea that a mobile rim protecting big who is also a high quality rim runner is probably a better fit for Luka and if we could use KP and cap space this off season to get both a two way playmaker and that big man, it would probably make sense to pull that trigger.
Team without KP and JRich has low ceiling. Everything looked great last couple of games, extremely fun to watch. But this came with a couple of guys playing way above their "normal". Sure I would be happy if it is sustainable but I doubt. On a season, Mavs are 14-12 without KP and 7-6 without JRich.
I think last two seasons are showing that SG position in the Mavs system is extremely demanding. I think Mavs need a good defender in this role but if this player is average offensively it just doesn't work. Happened last season with Wright and is happening so far with JRich. THJ has his defensive limitations (they were hiding him whole game) and is a bit too inconsistent to be a long term solution. Sure it is extremely fun to watch him when he is scoring 25 ppg on great efficiency, but it will not last. JRich didn't live up to what we hoped for, but I don't believe any of the other guards would look better in his role for a season. JRich plays hard and is one of the few on the Mavs that effectively fights thrugh screens after the opposing guard. I am a little surprised by his lack of athleticism - strange season or normal JRich?
As for KP, time for excuses and complaints about playing style, number of shots etc is over. I was saying whole year the final grade will come after the season end and it will depend on playoff success. I can take first 60 or so games as prolongued summer camp, where stuff is being tested and perhaps playing with a little reserve, saving the best for the last (ensuring you make it till the end
). But that time is over now. Now it is time to give everything in terms of effort. I want to see engaged KP, who above everything plays hard. Even if his conditioning allows it only for 20 mpg. If Luka passes him every other posesion or ignores him for whole quarter. The team is playing hard and giving a fight every night now. If KP doesn't blend in, he will have my negative review. I can forgive if I see effort but shot just isn't falling. It happens. But I can't forgive lack of effort at this stage of the season.