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Jym · 12-31-2022, 12:33 PM

(12-31-2022, 11:35 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: *cough*onebig*cough*

Still can't believe that Wood's defense has actually outpaced his offense
He still takes so many clunky, out of the offense, shots. Which might end up being a blessing in the post-season when everything bogs down but seems like they're missing out on a lot of easy regular season points at the moment

**KillerLeft** · (This post was last modified: 12-31-2022, 01:02 PM by KillerLeft.)

(12-31-2022, 12:33 PM)Jym Wrote: Still can't believe that Wood's defense has actually outpaced his offense
He still takes so many clunky, out of the offense, shots. Which might end up being a blessing in the post-season when everything bogs down but seems like they're missing out on a lot of easy regular season points at the moment

Interesting. This phenomenon you describe, Wood taking out of the offense shots, isn't something I've observed often enough to make significant note. I've always assumed those shots are simply examples of the ball ending up in his hands when the actions don't pan out as planned, no different than what often happens to Luka, Dinwiddie and Hardaway. But it sounds like you're suggesting he's the cause of the plan breaking down, and with frequency.

I'm going to watch for this more carefully.

**ItsGoTime** · 12-31-2022, 01:49 PM

(12-31-2022, 12:33 PM)Jym Wrote: Still can't believe that Wood's defense has actually outpaced his offense
He still takes so many clunky, out of the offense, shots. Which might end up being a blessing in the post-season when everything bogs down but seems like they're missing out on a lot of easy regular season points at the moment

I haven't noticed it any more than the other confident shooters on the team. THJ and Luka especially, but SD does it too. He's just following suit, IMO. Also, I think THJ is the worst on the team at it, Wood falls in the SD/Luka range of doing it.

MarkAguirreWrathofGod · 12-31-2022, 03:17 PM

I think Wood sometimes settles for long 2s earlier in the shot clock than he needs to, when he is ISO’d on the wing. Seems like he gets pushed out to where he’s receiving the ball just inside the arc, which isn’t bad as he has a really nice face up game. Minor quibble though. I think he’s been pretty unselfish all things considered.

**KillerLeft** · 12-31-2022, 03:24 PM

(12-31-2022, 03:17 PM)MarkAguirreWrathofGod Wrote: I think Wood sometimes settles for long 2s earlier in the shot clock than he needs to, when he is ISO’d on the wing. Seems like he gets pushed out to where he’s receiving the ball just inside the arc, which isn’t bad as he has a really nice face up game. Minor quibble though. I think he’s been pretty unselfish all things considered.

I agree with this quibble, as in that he doesn't always do the ideal thing with the opportunities given. BUT, I feel like the majority of those times the actions have ended in 1-on-1 scenarios for him, and that he's not going rogue by trying to create a shot for himself.

**KillerLeft** · (This post was last modified: 01-01-2023, 12:40 PM by KillerLeft.)

I think there is significance here beyond the usual coached media speak. During the Porzingis years, he and Luka would often say complimentary things about each other in a general sense, and Porzingis, especially, always struck me as uncommonly professional and good at handling interview situations. But, recently both players have said things about that time period that were variations on "we could have communicated better" when asked why things didn't work out here for them.

When I watch this Wood interview, not only does he seem plenty intelligent to me (if not as polished as Porzingis in public speaking), but he seems to have a genuine sense of pride and accomplishment relative to how he and Luka play together...how they communicate on the floor concerning the opposing team's pick and roll coverage, how they're figuring out how to beat those coverages, etc. In the simplest terms, he seems interested in and engaged with the process of learning to play well WITH LUKA, which is something I, personally, just never felt from Porzingis. There was also an interview for one of these past few games in which Luka said something along the lines of "he doesn't get mad when I yell at him" when asked about playing with Wood.

I think these are positive and significant indicators that this pairing has the potential to work out.

https://youtu.be/qFomGvfUo3Q

StrandedOnBeauboisHill · 01-01-2023, 01:29 PM

I was excited the first interview I heard Wood give during summer league because he kept talking about how great it would be to play with Luka in the pick and roll. KP just never seemed interested in playing off Luka, he wanted to get the ball in the post and go to work (which he is ironically pretty bad at and probably worst than Wood in that area).

Wood gets it and understands what his role is next to Luka. On top of that he’s crazy talented. Really hope we figure out a way to extend this guy.

**KillerLeft** · 01-01-2023, 01:39 PM

(01-01-2023, 01:29 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: Wood gets it and understands what his role is next to Luka. On top of that he’s crazy talented.

Yes, they're soooo close to making this work. Just have to hope that

A) Kidd recognizes why this is working and doesn't break it.

B) Wood enjoys contributing to winning enough to continue putting in the work necessary to keep it going and become consistent.

C) Cuban recognizes the opportunity in front of him and figures out how to make it work, financially.

If any of those three things don't happen, this will crumble. I'm starting to feel more optimistic about things though.

omahen · (This post was last modified: 01-01-2023, 01:51 PM by omahen.)

(01-01-2023, 11:59 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I think there is significance here beyond the usual coached media speak. During the Porzingis years, he and Luka would often say complimentary things about each other in a general sense, and Porzingis, especially, always struck me as uncommonly professional and good at handling interview situations. But, recently both players have said things about that time period that were variations on "we could have communicated better" when asked why things didn't work out here for them.

I think, leaving injuries asside, the biggest problem with KP was, that Mavs were selling to him that he will be the star or at least a co-star of the team. When I watched KP in Washington, I didn't see many of those post-ups he seemed to want so badly in Dallas (and was very bad executing them). I think, if the Mavs would be looking to trade for KP with Luka as an established star, he could fit just perfectly fine as Wood does. Because it would be clear from day 1, that Luka is the alpha and KP adjusts to what fits best with Luka.

Edit: I saw Stranded already said what I am trying to say here

**SleepingHero** · 01-01-2023, 03:36 PM

(01-01-2023, 11:59 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: In the simplest terms, he seems interested in and engaged with the process of learning to play well WITH LUKA, which is something I, personally, just never felt from Porzingis. There was also an interview for one of these past few games in which Luka said something along the lines of "he doesn't get mad when I yell at him" when asked about playing with Wood.

+41

I think a players ability to take comments from Luka, even while yelling, might be a very underrated aspect we need to factor in. I never thought KP wanted to take a backseat next to Luka, or liked doing so. He came in thinking he was going to be the guy only to be upended by a 2nd year MVP in the making.