08-04-2021, 11:12 PM
(08-04-2021, 10:46 PM)JamesConway Wrote: Dwight Powell was penciled in as the starting big man before his achilles injury. He’s healthy now. They signed him to pair up with KP.
I think the answer is right in front of us here.
We all know about the strong lineup data on the KP/DP duo from the 2019-2020 season.
I totally agree that this could be the thinking, but:
We know KP has complained about being a spacer (sometimes by name and other times referring to himself as a “decoy”). If Powell/Luka are the main foundation of the offense again, that is exactly what KP will be.
We know KP has said he prefers to play the 5 on offense because he likes to be in “trail position.” He likes those early opportunities to play off of Luka in secondary transition, in other words, also known as “early in the clock 26-ft 3’s”.
We know that Kidd has said he wants to get back to what KP was doing in NY “when he was having fun.” To me, this means KP having the ball in his hands, either in the low post or face-up in the extended free throw line areas. What’s Powell doing while this is happening, standing in the corner? Who would guard him there? If he’s standing in the dunker spot on the other side, where’s the space for KP to do anything?
Idk…I get where you’re coming from, and it’s kind of what the tea leaves are whispering to me, too, but I see a ton of conflicting info if this is the case.