Game 36: HOU (21-10) @ DAL (12-23)

[Chicagojk]

. 

I'll state the point that's central to all of this, and that bizarrely nobody seems interested in discussing, again: one of the problems with the 2 big lineup, and the one perhaps most unique to this roster, is that almost all of their good players are centers and forwards. You play two centers, but you don't want to shelve PJW or Marshal, so already you're in an awkward situation. You obviously can't sit Flagg, nor should that even be considered, so you're basically forced to give him the ball. Stein echoed this exact sentiment in the latest DLLS podcast, and you know he's getting it from the coaches. They have no choice but to play Flagg at point in that huge lineup, unless they sit either him or PJW (and my lord, sometimes even Marshall is on the floor with that group - insane). This is just as true now as it would be with a healthy Lively, and I can't even imagine how awkward the rotation would be at this point if he hadn't gotten hurt. 

News flash: you can still run the offense through Flagg plenty in lineups with appropriate, complementary skills (like shooting, for example). I'd argue that he'd get even better opportunities to grow if he was initiating in sets/actions/lineups that played to his strengths. In fact, during the more successful games, and in most of those where Flagg balled out impressively, this exact approach was used to close out 4th quarters. 

The roster has many good pieces, but they don't fit with Flagg nearly as well as they fit with Luka. What worries me is whether or not the next GM sees the same thing I do, because I think something has to be done about this, and fairly soon. If you're going to lose games, fine, but at least put some kind of offensive plan in place so progress can be made for next season.

Incidentally, this is why I haven't been on the "trade AD" train as hard as everyone else. I'm into it if the deal is right, but AD/Flagg together works, and actually might be the very best discovery of this season so far, as far as I'm concerned. There's a real synergy between them at the defensive end when AD is at the 5 and Flagg is at the 4. Almost all of the Mavs basketball I've enjoyed this season has come out of that lineup.

This the big point.  It looks like I was wrong with the super big lineup.   I was never a huge fan and prefer skill, but I thought it would look ok.   AD with one of our centers was always weird, but you compound it with trying to play PJ at small forward and asking him to chase smaller players, starting Flagg in his career at a guard and combining him with another just ok creator.    As you mention, the super big lineup may have been doomed from the start but it was always doomed with the current talent.   Would it work if you had for example Flagg at the three and Phillys backcourt?    

The Mavs have good players.  A lot of good contracts.  The roster just doesn't fit.   They can't have a fire sale though.    The fix will probably not be quick.   They need to prioritize smart and skilled players.   Hopefully they have a type.   We appear a ways off from being a good/great team and we are.   Although, the bump to less than average to sort of good should not be a hard fix.  The sort of good to really good is a much harder jump.