GAME 52: OKC (16-34) @ DAL (29-23): 120-114 loss

[burekemde]

I don't think there are many surprises with teams.   I just think the Mavs are not very difficult to scheme for.   Obviously Luka can answer almost any defense.  But teams don't need to worry about a big guy abusing you down low.   DFS or Maxi may drive to the basket at times, but that is certainly nothing you need to scheme against.  For the most part, I think it is a win for a defense if they get any player besides Luka or Jalen driving to the basket.  

The one thing I keep on coming back to, is do we play this way because we have to or because it is how Luka wants to play?  Jalen isn't elite.  He is a nice, tough guard who brings a lot of solid things to the table.   KP is paid to be elite, but his offensive game is not as elite as we all hoped at this stage.  But, I feel like there are stretches where both Jalen and KP are not involved in the offense and are pretty much watching.  Does this change if we pair Luka with a real elite offensive player?  Or does he play a similar role as what KP and Jalen are currently in.  To me that is a big question.

That's valid and great considerations. To me that is exactly why I really want Sabonis next to Luka. Because Sabponis won't stand around being number, 3, 4, 5 at times (as KP does). Sabonis will always be number 2 and produces every night, and his production will increase a lot next to Luka. Because he will set screens to Luka, which are far better than Powell's, then Luka will score (score more with better screens), or Sabonis receive the ball from Luka and be number 2. And Sabonis is a real threath inside, especially given how Luka passes. Sabonis will then either score, and if not he is that unique big in the league along Jokic, that has the ability to pass out to number 3 guy and keep ball moving (Powell cant do that and KP also not at least regularly). That is what real number 2 does in Lukas offense - plays together with Luka, but still makes the link to rest of the team with passing. Sabonis would most often than not be the second guy touching the ball after Luka. That means a terrific fit and that the offense will flourish, he would be employed a lot in the offensive scheme. Problem with KP is that he is number 2 to touch the ball sometimes, but not often. Most of the time he is number 3, 4, or 5. He can't set screens well enough and he doesn't have an inside and mid range game not even close to Sabonis.
This all results in that Luka and KP dont play together. The plays develop either as "Luka plays" or "KP Plays". With Sabonis, all plays would be "Luka-Sabonis" plays and given how well Sabonis passes I would say "Luka-Sabonis-rest of team plays". I really believe Sabonis or Jokic skills are the only missing to make a Luka offense completely explode to unseen levels.