Small-Ball Antidote???

[KillerLeft]

His original post kicking off the thread was basically bragging about how good the Mavs' small ball lineup was, and that teams generally wouldn't try to match them because they couldn't, not even the Clippers. What he was just saying is that the Clippers have played Zubac (and the hapless Plumlee when Zubac sat) quite a bit, which indicates that he's right from where he's sitting. What I hear you saying in rebuttal is that the Clippers' strategy isn't serving them and they'll have to change.

Oh, no, if that is his point, then you have my rebuttal way wrong.

I agree that PJ Washington makes the Mavericks‘ non-center lineup (sorta, Kleber is a center, imo) BETTER THAN EVER. But, it is essentially still the same thing they have been running out there for the last several years, just maybe a better version of it. If the idea of this thread is that this is somehow scaring the clippers away from small ball, I vehemently disagree.

For starters, that Kleber/Washington lineup is probably best used not as a counter to a small lineup by the opponent, but as a counter to a big lineup by the opponent. If anything, this series (so far) has proven more about Kidd’s wishes than Lue’s. Although I sincerely hope that Kidd is just trying to hold onto it as long as possible (which would be smart), he’s the one who seems reluctant to commit to the gear we’re discussing. The Kleber/Washington front court is rather obviously the very best weapon the Mavs have, and by saying that, I am in no way meaning to discount the luxury of having Gafford and Lively on the roster. There’s just something special about having Kleber/Washington out there together.

Also, after watching two games of Kawhi, I’d say it’s wayyyy obvious why Lue isn’t playing the way he wants to - the way the roster is designed to be played - and I don’t know that it has much, if anything, to do with Dallas. The most important component of that strategy is simply not healthy.