05-21-2025, 01:32 PM
(05-21-2025, 12:45 PM)vfromlmf Wrote: The problem is different teams create different problems defensively.
Some teams have a quick lead guard at the point of attack (Ja, SGA, Brunson, Halliburton, Garland, Steph, Murray etc). Someone on Dallas needs to defend these guys. Right now the best bet is Caleb Martin and no one is mentioning him starting or even really in the rotation. Klay certainly can't guard them so a starting Flagg at SG seems unworkable unless you move Klay (to the bench or another team) and replace him with a ball hawking defender who can handle the ball.
Other teams lead with a bigger guard (Luka, ANT, Booker, Mitchell, Harden). Flagg should have a chance guarding these guys on switches but it's asking a lot of a 6' 9" rookie forward to take full-time responsibility here.
Wing point of attack (Tatum, Brown, Lebron, DeRozen, Butler, Kawhi, George) Flagg projects as a strong switchable defender but seems better suited to this type of primary matchup. Teams run offense through these guys but they're not usually the lead ball handler.
+1.
I agree and to add to this point, the switch-ability and versatility of what this team projects to be defensively is why I'm not nearly as worried about what we label each player's position. It's like the 7-year debate on what people labeled Luka. On offense he's a PG, on defense he's a Wing/Big, depending on the matchup. If I'm going to label someone at position X, I tend to do so on where they slot on the defensive end. The NBA has really moved off these traditional position labels.
Also, I could see the Mavs running a lot more zone. We've seen it more and more in the playoffs and not just used as a gimmick or change of pace, but an actual defensive strategy that's effective. Think about the size and athleticism the Mavs can roll out, and the multiple ways they can run defensive schemes in a 7-game series.