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

[DanSchwartzgan]

One thing that is important to point out is that when assessing these stats to the eye test, I am not just using this year.  For example EPM has Powell ranked better defensively than Bullock in most years (and have them basically even this season).  Honestly both metrics rate Powell higher defensively than the eye test warrants.  I still have not figure out why that is.  Maybe he just looks useless but his size and positional knowledge means he impacts the game better than it looks?   

I have a theory on this.  If you are watching the game, you often see the end of a scoring play and he's often the closest guy to some ugly and memorable scoring plays by the other team.  It looks really bad at times.

However, if you watch Powell instead, you see a guy that is all over the place helping (too much sometimes).  He does a lot of impactful little things that don't get noticed if you aren't watching him the whole time.  Sometimes that help he's providing others is such that he can't recover and you see the ugly result I referenced before.  But his hustle and mobility are pluses.

Interesting thing I've noticed lately.  Powell isn't helping as much when matched against top guys (I'm thinking Towns and Jokic most recently).  He played both quite credibly (no one stops those guys).  Part of the reason was he stuck with them more tightly (or was allowed to...we don't know what the scheme actually calls for).  We've also made some changes in how Powell is allowed to deal with the PnR that I like.  I much prefer jumping the screen for Powell rather than drop coverage (another way Powell looks awful is when we play drop coverage and a ball handler gets up a head of steam).   

BTW, thanks for the well reasoned and well articulated post.