GAME 68: DAL (42-26) vs. BOS (41-28)| 95-92 WIN!

[ItsGoTime]

Well, other than Gobert, who's a freak, and Denver/Philly, who are built around their centers, offensively, who are you comparing the Mavs to? 

Ayton isn't strong, really. GS will play Green at center in the playoffs more than anyone else. BRK's plan is to roll Simmons/KD out there together as the front line. Giannis will play the 5 most often in the playoffs. Etc, Etc. 

The Celtics (even better defense than the Mavs) play a guy who's smaller than Powell (though he plays pretty big, I'll admit). 

I'm just saying that there are way more threats like that than there are Embiid's. It would be great if the Mavs had Adabayo in place, but there just aren't many players like that in the world. It would also be great if the guy in Boban's spot could actually play in the NBA so you'd have someone to throw at Embiid and others like him, but then again, if doing so requires you to play an entirely different style of defense than what's working for you I think it might be a zero sum game.

Without watching every team play all their games this year, I'm looking at GP and MP for the backups. Top 10 (possible playoff teams) from each conference starting and backup C's.

Utah - Gobert and Whiteside
Denver - Jokic and Cousins
Minnesota - KAT and Reid
Phoenix - Ayton (much stronger than you're giving him credit for) and McGee
GS - Looney, Wiseman and Green (I add Green cause he's the reason teams are looking for the smaller ball big...AND he can bully DP out of the lane).
LAC - Zubac and one of Morris or Covington
LAL - Davis and Howard
Memphis - Adams and JJJ
New Orleans - Valanciunas and Hayes
Philadelphia - Embiid and I can't tell
Boston - Horford and Williams
Toronto - Siakam and Achiuwa
Brooklyn - Drummond and I can't tell
Milwaukee - Brooks and Portis
Chicago - Vucevic and some very small ball option
Cleveland - Allen and Love
Miami - Adebayo and Dedmon
Charlotte - Plumlee and Harrell
Atlanta - Capela and Okongwu

There are very few starting C's on that list that don't have their way with Powell. There are also only a couple starting C's on that list that I take Powell over (Looney and Plumlee...if Drummond comes on a small salary that allows us to sit him when he isn't effective, I prefer him over Powell to start), and the ones I'd do it with, the teams are looking strongly to improve that position. If Powell played bigger than he is like Green or Adebayo does (extreme names I know), I wouldn't be having this conversation, but he doesn't. Some of the backup names have their way with Powell even, but I take Powell's contribution over theirs as a backup.