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

[TXBamanut]

This is how I see it also.  I think there may be a perception that LM is nothing more than a younger version of Maxi who can only stand in the corner and hit open 3's.  Not true at all.  I think his best role would be as an offensive focal point off the bench.  Here are some numbers from last season...when Chicago just kicked him around like a rag doll in terms of his role.

Yes, he can shoot from the outside...87th percentile in 3's and 93rd in Corner 3's.

But, he can also score in isolation...93rd percentile in ISO EFG%

He moves well without the ball...95th percentile in Movement Impact

and he can play the PNR...88th percentile in Roll Impact and 68th percentile in screen assists.

He is VERY efficient when he shoots...91st percentile in TS% and 95th percentile in PPP.

And all of that was in his bad season where Chicago couldn't figure out what to do with him.  No matter what the outgoing deal is, there will be some other backup big on the team who can come off the bench with him.  I agree Sterling Brown will be part of the lineups that include LM.  Same with Brunson.  In fact, LM and Brunson might both be among the top finishers for sixth man if it plays out like this.  One of our biggest issues is solving the non-Luka minutes.  With less depth, Carlisle was forced to try to split his starters most of the game.  Luka with starters = good.  Luka with scrubs held their own.  Luka sitting = bad (even if 3 or 4 starters were in the game).  LM off the bench should allow for more platooned lineups and serve as KP insurance on the nights he sits or is injured. 

Here's a fun flashback...Rookie LM vs. the Unicorn.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkrVcVfH1XA

1)  What was that I saw???  Oh my word...I haven't seen it in forever...what do they call it?  Oh yeah...I think it's called "an on-time, on-target entry pass to the post"....

Wow, I had almost forgotten that those things exist.

2)  OH MY GOSH...someone ACTUALLY RAN a cross screen with a GUARD to get KP on the low post.... I thought there was some rule that the ONLY WAY you can get in the post is to put someone in a high screen, let them slip it and have to pin a guard while the perimeter players pass the ball back and forth between each other for 5-6 seconds figuring out if the pass into the post is a good thing or not.  Wow....what a novel idea...it's almost like someone posted videos of Dirk getting that same play to help him get to the post without being harassed...  Call me crazy, but it's kind of funny that no one thought to try that last year.  Except once and KP immediately turned baseline, jump hook and scored...

3)  LOOK....a rare sighting of an actual set play being called.  I thought the NBA had outlawed that.  A screen down from a guard on the low post allowing a big man to move to the center of the floor.  Amazing...what genius, what cunning, what guile...oh wait, no, that's common 5th basketball plays that coaches teach all the time...my bad, I just hadn't seen it in so long because all I watch is the Mavs.

Markannen looked great!  I'm sold if that is what we are getting!