12-15-2020, 10:01 PM
(12-15-2020, 06:57 PM)Dundalis Wrote: Not really sure how this isn't obvious.
1) Gobert was indeed a disaster in the Rockets series in 2019 (-17.9). But this past playoffs he was +5.2 on/off. He showed that he could bounce back and become a winning factor in the playoffs. So much of this hate for Gobert is centered on a 5 game sample size in which the whole team was completely outmatched and out-talented by the Rockets.
2) "Defending in space" isn't necessarily the issue. The issue in that Rockets series was they pulled Gobert to the perimeter and the rest of the Jazz defenders sucked and offered no rim protection. The Rockets killed the Jazz IN THE PAINT. With KP+Gobert you would still have a legit rim protector to back up the other.
3) KP is actually not bad at "defending in space." When he was switched onto the pick and roll ball handler he was 98th percentile (elite!) as a defender this past season, giving up only 0.50 points per play (!).
4) People just act like the KP+Gobert defense would be SO TERRIBLE, but honestly how is it going to be worse than what the Mavs have been doing? AND Gobert has good to elite impact on the offensive end because of his screening/rolling.
Finally don't forget that there is smoke around Gobert to the Mavs. Zach Lowe reported this in November:
Quote:"Several rival executives have pitched the Mavs as a trade destination for Rudy Gobert, who is eligible for a supermax."
This kind of stuff almost always has some sort of basis for it. These rival executives are part of and hear the conversations that teams are having and what the Mavs might be shopping around for.
I am not saying Gobert to DAL will happen.
I am not saying Gobert to DAL is the only way forward for the Mavs to get better.
I am simply saying Gobert to DAL is ONE way the Mavs could improve. Building a team like the Houston Rockets isn't the only way to win and it is nearsighted to get caught up in the copycat game. Get better talent and force the other team to adjust to you.