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

[DanSchwartzgan]

For that matter, it's ludicrous to suggest that playing Porzingis at a different position will result in less targeting of him in the pick and roll. Regardless of what position he plays, that's going to be how teams attack the Mavs when he's on the floor unless he gets better at handling it. Probably even after that, unless he improves to the point where there's a more enticing way to attack them. 

Agree KP gets targeted no matter what you call him.

My team building question (forgetting O for the moment) is when a player blows by KP on the perimeter, who would you rather have meeting that player at the rim?  Option one...mobile big who can block shots (thinking Holmes).  Or, quicker wing defender who can cause issues (but can't block shots) and has the recovery speed to also defend the three point line (thinking DFS).

If we played KP and Holmes together, offences can only target one at a time and the other will be waiting to block a shot.  We probably give up some corner 3's (which we do anyway).  Having a competent big next to KP probably cuts down on regular season wear and tear.  When you need more specialized lineups in the playoffs, I bet a few minutes of single-big Holmes or single-big KP would work (especially the former).

BTW, as to his time in NY, it was rare in 17/18 that KP wasn't in with either Kanter or O'Quinn.  He was a PF as they were clearly centers.  In 16/17 he was PF about 80% of the time playing alongside Noah, O'Quinn and Hernangomez.  He did get some time a C with Anthony as the next biggest player.  In 15/16 it was about 76% PF and 24% C.  The Knicks were bad defensive teams in those seasons. When KP was on the floor, the Knicks were better defensively to the tune of 2.6 points in 15/16, 3.1 points in 16/17 and  5.2 points in 17/18.  The more he played PF, the better the numbers got.