2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[KillerLeft]

Is this in reference to the loss of JR's playmaking?

Yes. Meager, ineffective and frustrating as it was, he WAS the third best handler/creator on this team last year. 

I get that he was a negative (nobody gets that more than me - trust me), and I am SOOOOOOO glad he's gone. Even without replacing him, that makes the team better in a few important ways. 

But, what I did not hate was the IDEA of him. Someone good enough to run the offense for stretches while Luka takes a play off here and there. Someone who drives at a different speed than Luka, creating different passing angles. Someone who can provide an outlet when the other team blitzes or doubles and can easily defeat a 4 on 3. Someone who can CREATE offense, in short. 

Just because Richardson was a failure in these areas (and defense, ironically) doesn't mean they aren't areas of need. 

Luka is going to be run into the ground even MORE this season, because frustrating as it was, they kept trying to get Richardson's on-ball game going all season, pretty much right up to the playoffs. Was it successful? No. Did Luka get some breaks, and some opportunity to take advantage of his off-ball skills? Yes!