12-05-2019, 04:48 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-05-2019, 04:52 PM by StepBackJay.)
(12-05-2019, 02:24 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote:(12-04-2019, 07:56 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: I think he is definitely contributing as a role player I just don't know that he is going to be happy with that all season. We will see, he still has plenty of time to figure things out.
"He's not going to be happy with that?" If the Mavs continue to force-feed him offensively, they will lose games they would otherwise win. If KP preferred being the man - or *a* man, since Luka is here - to winning while making max money, I would want him out of here. Fortunately, I don't at all believe that he is the douche that that theoretical player would be. He's very much acting as a team player, and is a big part of what the Mavs are doing. Anyway, if he were to be fussing about not getting more touches, etc., while playing poorly offensively, then he would have nowhere but the mirror to cast blame.
I know man, I am purely speculating when I have seen a guy who was clearly the number 1 alpha dog in NYC come to Dallas not to be the co-alpha star but more of a complimentary piece - I have concerns long-term. Right now it's all good and we're winning. I also think KP is going to figure it out. If he likes winning more than he likes being the man then this is a good situation and it's still possible that he can emerge as the "co-star" he wants to be. Only time will tell.
Another thing I am encouraged by with KP is seeing him line up sometimes in the corner or in the dunker's spot on the baseline looking to crash for offensive rebounds or put-backs. I do think he is slowly figuring out where his offense will come from. There's no reason he can't be a 20 ppg scorer on semi-efficient shooting (higher than he has been in his career). I do wonder if the handles are ever going to return post-ACL but even if they aren't 100% there they will still be better than average for his position and it's not essential for his offensive game.