04-20-2021, 06:30 AM
(04-19-2021, 09:50 PM)mavsluvr Wrote: Carlisle has admitted that he likes to use KP as a spacer, to draw off a good defender, and then play four-on-four to attack weaker defenders. That is built into the system, and requires an adjustment to fix. Rick has acknowledged that it is on him to make sure that the offense is balanced, and KP gets a chance to shine. While KP should cooperate with the system, I can't fault him for not wanting to stand in the corner the whole game -- that is surely not maximizing his considerable talents, and is not getting any closer to solidifying a Luka-KP synergistic duo.
You made a great post and I mostly agree. But still I think there are other elements to it. KP has unfortunately constantly shown inability to punish smaller defenders and it has become a constant tactic for the opponent. They just park their big in the paint, leaving DSF or Maxi wide open, while KP is being guarded by a random wing. Neither of them is really able to exploit the mismatch. DFS and Maxi by bricking open threes and KP not exploiting his height advantage.
What would be the go-to move you would have for KP?
- He is not faster than those wings guarding him to drive against them.
- He is not very efficient posting up against them with 50 % of his shots made. This is better than some elite centers like Vucevic, Towns or Sabonis. On a first glance this looks good, but it doesn't take into account the mismatches he is mostly getting on post ups. I don't know if anyone can find how many times KP is posting up against smaller players and his success in those situations compared to other centers. If you put someone like DFS on Vucevic it will be basket at least 75 % of time, imho. KP is not really punishing teams for puting smaller defenders on him.
- for a reason unknown to me he is not rolling to the rim from PnR this season (he did it last season). It is always PnP.
This leads me to conclude that it is not much more you can do with KP than Mavs are actually doing. He is basically a spot up shooter with limitations he is showing. As I stated in discussion a while ago - I don't mind that. His gravity is huge for the team. But as you and others have stated - it might be he has a problem with that. We certainly know some fans have a problem with that.