AROUND the NBA:

[cow]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4830...-year-race


End of the regular season rookie rankings.

I think Kon would my pick too, but I do think the race is closer than that author's opinion.  I'm not going to penalize Kon for being on a good team just like I wouldn't penalize Flagg for being on a bad team.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I think Kon would my pick too, I do think the race is closer than that author's opinion.  I'm not going to penalize Kon for being on a good team just like I wouldn't penalize Flagg for being on a bad team.

And just think if this were any other year, without Knueppel and Flagg, Edgecombe and Harper would be top contenders.

[Winter]

It looks pretty close to me. Statistically, it's easier to see Flagg than Kon.

Flagg leads in PPG, rebs, assists, and has a significantly better defensive rating (and stocks).

Kon has better offensive efficiency numbers, and is clearly on a better team.

[cow]

Flagg leads in PPG, rebs, assists, and has a significantly better defensive rating (and stocks).

Interesting that you mention defensive rating as I went and checked that out earlier today based on my admittedly sporadic viewing of Mavs games this season.  What my eyes have told me and based on expectations is Cooper is that he's been disappointing in that regard or at least I expected someone more impactful.  While he leads defensive rating of all rookies, 115.3 isn't the biggest feather in his cap.  The team as a whole is a mess though and on the flip side, his offensive game is much more effective than I'd expected.

[mvossman]

Interesting that you mention defensive rating as I went and checked that out earlier today based on my admittedly sporadic viewing of Mavs games this season.  What my eyes have told me and based on expectations is Cooper is that he's been disappointing in that regard or at least I expected someone more impactful.  While he leads defensive rating of all rookies, 115.3 isn't the biggest feather in his cap.  The team as a whole is a mess though and on the flip side, his offensive game is much more effective than I'd expected.

Defensive rating is not a useful measure across teams.  Most NBA rookies struggle to have a strong defensive impact (Lively was an outlier).  I'm guessing next season with a year under his belt and (hopefully) a more coherent lineup he will provide a much stronger impact on that end.

[cow]

Defensive rating is not a useful measure across teams.  Most NBA rookies struggle to have a strong defensive impact (Lively was an outlier).  I'm guessing next season with a year under his belt and (hopefully) a more coherent lineup he will provide a much stronger impact on that end.

Mostly agree, but more of a counter to the claim that Flagg's defensive rating was better than Kon's when both were below average and to put numbers around my eye test. Like I said, the team is a mess.  I'm sure experience and having to handle the ball less next year will help out his efficiency on the defensive end.

[mvossman]

Mostly agree, but more of a counter to the claim that Flagg's defensive rating was better than Kon's when both were below average and to put numbers around my eye test. Like I said, the team is a mess.  I'm sure experience and having to handle the ball less next year will help out his efficiency on the defensive end.

If its any consolation, Flaggs DBPM (best box score stat) is better than average (Kon's is worse) and his DEPM (best advanced stat) is just below average (like Kons).  DEPM is the better stat but it tends to punish players on crappy teams and reward players on good teams.  The fact that Flagg's DEPM is near average as a rookie on a terrible team is actually a really good sign.

[cow]

If its any consolation, Flaggs DBPM (best box score stat) is better than average (Kon's is worse) and his DEPM (best advanced stat) is just below average (like Kons).  DEPM is the better stat but it tends to punish players on crappy teams and reward players on good teams.  The fact that Flagg's DEPM is near average as a rookie on a terrible team is actually a really good sign.

I'm not too worried about Flagg to be honest.  He's a worker and the team is going to look a lot different next year not to mention having zero incentive to lose.  This years team should remind everyone of the importance of point guard play in an era when position-less basketball gets thrown around a little too casually.

[michaeltex]

Speaking as a Mavs fan and without the statistical mumbo jumbo...

Coop has been expected to lead the DAL team as a rookie while getting pressed to play a new (to him) position that challenged his skills and BBIQ on a team with significant holes due to injuries. Kon has been asked to play his natural position, and has done that really well.

I know a lot will just look at the numbers for comparison, but there is a LOT of context that the stats don't describe.

[loki]

If Flagg were playing on a team with a quality point guard and great shooters he would be averaging 25 ppg on even higher efficiency. It's pretty amazing the numbers he's put up in a dysfunctional offense. To me he's still the clear ROY.

[Smitty]

I'm not too worried about Flagg to be honest.  He's a worker and the team is going to look a lot different next year not to mention having zero incentive to lose.  This years team should remind everyone of the importance of point guard play in an ear when position-less basketball gets thrown around a little too casually.

Several, if not most, in the NBA say it’s position-less basketball these days. So who’s right and who’s wrong? You mention point guard. I’d argue that Kyrie isn’t even a point guard. Sure, his size matches that of a point guard, and it’ll be his role on this team next year if he’s here. But, I’ve never thought of Kyrie as a point guard. Which is kind of the point of saying position-less basketball. I think most of us on this board use position labels to help define or explain roles. Which I do think is helpful.

[cow]

Several, if not most, in the NBA say it’s position-less basketball these days. So who’s right and who’s wrong? You mention point guard. I’d argue that Kyrie isn’t even a point guard. Sure, his size matches that of a point guard, and it’ll be his role on this team next year if he’s here. But, I’ve never thought of Kyrie as a point guard. Which is kind of the point of saying position-less basketball. I think most of us on this board use position labels to help define or explain roles. Which I do think is helpful.

No one.  I do think the term gets thrown around a little too freely.  And while you might not consider Kyrie a traditional PG, combo guards existed long before the term in question was overused.  And if you want to take it outside of traditional position assignments, someone able to run an offense is important and lacking that role is why we are a lottery team. A lot of the old positional archetypes don't work in the pace and space era of basketball, but that doesn't mean other archetypes aren't still very important.

[mvossman]

Several, if not most, in the NBA say it’s position-less basketball these days. So who’s right and who’s wrong? You mention point guard. I’d argue that Kyrie isn’t even a point guard. Sure, his size matches that of a point guard, and it’ll be his role on this team next year if he’s here. But, I’ve never thought of Kyrie as a point guard. Which is kind of the point of saying position-less basketball. I think most of us on this board use position labels to help define or explain roles. Which I do think is helpful.

That's because he is not a PG.  He has always been best playing off ball next to an on ball player as a secondary creator.  One of the many failures of the Nico vision is you need an on ball offensive creator (usually called the PG) and the Mavs didn't really have one after the trade. If we draft one of the PGs I think it will make sense to have a lot of minutes were that guy is the PG and Kyrie is playing at the 2.

[vfromlmf]

I'm kind of on a soap box about this but if you look at modern NBA teams, the good ones play with at least two ball handlers on the floor who can create for others. Bigger is better. Think Cade, Luka, JJ in Atlanta as jumbo versions. Harden is 6' 5" 220+. Shae is 6' 6". Booker is 6' 5". Ant is powerful 6' 4" 225. Ideally you have three of these types in the rotation.

Next to your two handlers, most teams play with two big wing/forwards. Bigger is better. Ideally, you rotate four of these guys.

At least one of the high minute players above needs to be an elite point of attack defender.

Then you need a couple of rotation bigs who can space the floor. Ideally, one can apply vertical rim pressure and one can shoot threes. A rare version can do both.

Applying this logic to Dallas, and bucketing only the guys who have a contract next season, we have:

Handlers
- Kyrie: small
- Cooper: jumbo
- Naji: big

Wing/Forward
- Christie: small, average defender
- PJW: good size, plus defender
- Martin: small, average/good defender
- Klay: small, negative defender

Big
- Lively: vertical spacer
- Gafford: vertical spacer

It's an interesting case with Max Christie. Kidd has obviously given him minutes on-ball and he failed pretty miserably. It would be a major upgrade if he could be a secondary creator in the Podzmieski mold but I don't think he'll get there. He's best suited as an off-ball shooter, which caps his upside unfortunately because he's small for a wing and not very strong ath the piont of attack.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4832...-proposals


Here's 3 anti-tanking proposals from the NBA. Take it for what it's worth.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/4831...ark-iceman


This is crazy. There's only one "Iceman."

[Winter]

There are three anti-tanking policies now being reviewed. They are....

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4832...-proposals

[michaeltex]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/4831...ark-iceman


This is crazy. There's only one "Iceman."

RIP...

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7140649...franchise/


Pistons' defense is reviving their winning past.

[Scott41theMavs]

There are three anti-tanking policies now being reviewed. They are....

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4832...-proposals

The report makes it pretty clear that it won't affect this year's draft. Bullet dodged.