07-12-2022, 08:26 PM
(07-12-2022, 07:42 PM)F Gump Wrote: My own reasoning on why the Mavs are heading down this road with Wood:
1 Luka
2 Luka
3 Luka
We forget what the Mavs have liked to do as they start the game - Luka starts very ball-dominant and there's plenty of potential pnr-dunk action. Last year it was Powell, and McGee has replaced him. Simple easy peasy. In addition, the Mavs want to set a defensive tone, and playing an opening core of McGee-DFS-Bullock will do just that. Maybe it wears down the opponent, setting the table for when Wood, Kleber, and THJ enter the game.
The Mavs have also said that they want to limit the workload on Wood, over the long grind of a season, and this is a route to load management w Wood, where McGee gets some targeted minutes to that end.
As for those who think this is an indication that the Mavs don't want Wood, or he won't want them, imo it's none of any of that. In time, Wood might become a starter, but at least from what he's saying, he mainly just wants to win. He's never been on a playoff team before. And buy-in to what is best for the bigger purpose is part of that success equation.