06-19-2021, 06:30 AM
(06-19-2021, 06:12 AM)Kammrath Wrote: Gobert in the playoffs this year:
+4.0 Offensive on/off
+8.0 Defensive on/off
+12.0 Net on/off
If Favors was exposed even more than Gobert, it doesn't mean Gobert works... Utah defense was bad.
Gobert is a great defender, but his strength is help defense. Five out take help defense away. The only way to counter that is force them to go bigger (or have a better 5 out team, but that is quite a challenge based on quality of Clippers wings). Neither Mavs nor Utah succeded in that and both for the same reason - their bigs are unable to punish smaller guys. Clippers masterfully took away PnR. Luka/Kawhi/George can pick a defender they like and feast on him. KP and Gobert can't. Mavs tried to kill Clippers small ball with Bobi but he just doesn't have enough quality - too slow, not good enough of a passer (and refs allow small guys beat the hell out of big ones without blowing the whistle unless they call an offensive foul). I would actually say KP can be more useful than Gobert - they are both similarly exposed defensively against 5 out but KP can at least space the floor to create driving lanes for wings.
On the other hand Clippers sure have some luck to an extent. Reggie Jackson is playing at an all star level after 10+ years of very average NBA career. Mann appeared out of nowhere and scored 39 in game 6. Still, everyone knew Clippers are a good shooting team.