11-19-2023, 02:51 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-19-2023, 02:52 AM by SleepingHero.)
(11-18-2023, 05:27 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: So why is the D trending backwards? Do you think this team currently constructed can get to league average? With their offense, things could get really interesting if they find a way to get to 15th in defense.
Do you think the more Lively and some of the newer players play together they can fill in the gaps?
I think for all of DJJ's positive moments this season, this team is sorely missing a strong defensive wing. He's athletic as hell but I wouldn't call his on ball defense elite. On top of that when he is scoring the team looks radically different.
A guy like OG for example would radically transform this team and would probably fix our defensive woes as we'd have at least 3 positive defenders in Grant, OG, and Lively on the court.
Advanced stats are fools gold, but there is something to be said of the trend that the Mavs go from a top 5 net rating to last in the league when Lively sits. Powell just doesn't cut it against the majority of teams in the league. I'd say weather the storm until Maxi comes back but he's looked horrific this year.
It's the reason why I've been so vocal about trying to target a guy like Drummond, who while isn't known for his defense, is a rare big that can move his feet on the perimeter and rebound well. My biggest concern about Drummond is his inability to take schemes and overall basketball seriously. He's never been on an elite team, and I think there's something to that. The Dwight Howard conundrum if you will.
An alternative backup center could be Kelly Olynyk, but he'd violate trade rule #1 and that is don't trade with Danny Ainge. An under the radar target would be Sandro Mamukelashvili on the Spurs. 6'9, 240lbs.
He's closer to a Maxi archetype than Powell but the fact I'm debating whether or not he'd even be better than Powell makes me pause on trading for him in the first place.
2 pieces needed to make this team a real serious threat come April. If Nico can somehow pull an OG while keeping most of the core then you got to run with it. Green+Hardy are on the table as well as the 2027 first.
14x All-Star, 12x all-NBA, 1x MVP, 1x Finals MVP, 1 NBA Championship: Dirk Nowitzki, the man, the myth, the legend.