07-15-2024, 10:25 AM
Everyone is worried about the starting lineup, I get it. DJJ was huge for the Mavs, but some context... The Mavs had the best defense in the league when they changed the starting lineup post-TDL. In that time the starting lineup of Luka, Kyrie, DJJ, PJW, Gafford played 176 minutes together in 17 games. That's an average of 10.3 mpg. In the playoffs, the starters played 236 minutes together in 22 games, an average of 10.7 mpg. Basically, the first 5 minutes of the first and third quarter.
Kidd doesn't play his starting lineup big minutes together like the Nuggets do (19.9 mpg regular season, 22.8 mpg playoffs). It was one of my complaints when the lineup data was great but it didn't get used enough. Bottom line, there's a big deal being made about team defense with Klay starting in place of DJJ when in reality it's all about rotations. The only thing that really has to happen is for the starting lineup to have a positive net rating, which I think it will (insert Lively).
Kidd doesn't play his starting lineup big minutes together like the Nuggets do (19.9 mpg regular season, 22.8 mpg playoffs). It was one of my complaints when the lineup data was great but it didn't get used enough. Bottom line, there's a big deal being made about team defense with Klay starting in place of DJJ when in reality it's all about rotations. The only thing that really has to happen is for the starting lineup to have a positive net rating, which I think it will (insert Lively).