02-13-2020, 10:49 PM
(02-13-2020, 11:52 AM)Kammrath Wrote:(02-13-2020, 11:23 AM)DanSchwartzman Wrote: It pains me to say this, but part of KP’s improved play is probably tied to Powell’s injury.
I had not put that together yet.....but, yes, you are absolutely correct I think.
If Powell's injury forces Luka and KP to learn how to do pick and roll together, then in a strange way his injury may be one of the best things to happen to their careers.
Some more data on this...KP is scoring 20.2 per game since December 15th on 58% TS% (he was at 50% before December 15th). In Tim Cato's story today he describes the difference in KP's PnR opportunities post Powell:
"With Dwight Powell’s Achilles rupture in January, Porzingis is now turning into more of a pick-and-roll screen setter than he was used before his injury. Before Powell’s injury, he was setting about 15 picks per 36 minutes for Doncic while Porzingis was down around seven per 36 minutes, according to Second Spectrum data. Since then, Porzingis has actually topped Powell’s peak: He’s setting about 16 picks for Doncic per 36 minutes, while Maxi Kleber has gone from about eight per 36 minutes to 14. (Before Powell’s injury, Kleber was actually setting more picks per 36 minutes for Doncic than even Porzingis.)"