MAVS NEWS: Luka Is Hurt, But is Trudging On | DLive's Mom Passes Away| Maxi OUT

[Smitty]

Based on trends I wouldn't be surprised. Lively since coming back from his nose break is down to 19.6mpg vs. the 26mpg he was getting before. It'd be the incorrect choice to sit him down. Anyone watching hasn't ever brought up Lively to be the issue. The Mavs starting lineup has been great so far post TDL too. 

I posted this a bit earlier but:

Luka, Kyrie, Green, PJ, Lively in just 72 minutes

Offensive Rating: 133.3
Defensive Rating: 112.9
Net Rating: +20.4

The only issue is Kidd likes to play with this group for the first 4 minutes of the quarter before he brings in THJ. Then its been some combo of Luka+THJ with Green or Kyrie with PJ and Lively. Then Gafford comes in shortly after. 

Why he'd want to mess with the starting lineup I have no clue.

I know I sound like a broken record on discord about this topic but I'll say it again here. The only thing that works right now is the starting 5. You highlighted one of the problems, that THJ is usually the first sub at the 8 minute mark. The starting 5 is averaging a little under 11 mpg together (86 min in 8 games). This is a problem!

Exum has been the popular choice to replace Green in the starting lineup, per discord folks. And I've asked anyone and everyone to answer how they think that solves anything? Exum has played 13.5 mpg since returning from injury. If he plays all of his minutes with the starting lineup then that means Luka and Kyrie are always on the floor when he is. Who is the one running the offense when Luka and Kyrie sit? Your options are Green and THJ (because Hardy doesn't play and even if he did he's not a PG).

Green is not a terrible defender, his screen navigation is poor but a simple screen-level hedge or switching at the top of the key would offset some of those issues. It is almost impossible for a player to go over a screen and not trail if there's no hedge. Drop coverage is terrible and going under is a disaster in most cases.

It's time to stop over helping off-ball, stop drop coverage, hedge and/or switch on-ball screens and live with the results. It's exactly what teams are doing to us post-ASB. We're at the point now where musical chairs and playing guys more or less isn't going to effect the outcomes. The average margin of defeat in the last 5 losses is 14.6 points. Play time and minor rotation adjustments aren't making up that difference. Effort and scheme will!