03-07-2020, 07:34 PM
(03-07-2020, 05:09 PM)StepBackJay Wrote: Gallo in the starting lineup makes the Mavs an even worse defensive team than they already are. I think offensively we are just fine, especially with KP & Luka getting into their groove (altho Luka keeps getting banged up).
Luka/THJ/DFS/Gallo/KP is nice from a size standpoint but defensively it's not going to cut it. Mavs need an athletic, defensive wing that can hit from outside to play along DFS at either the 3 or 4 spot. Part of the reason the Mavs offense struggles late is that their defense doesn't get stops which means it's harder to get good offensive looks. I also expect our closing offense to only get better as the team gels. Mavs already have the top offensive rating in the league, let's get better on defense y'all!
KP and Maxi on the floor have been so great defensively. The team overall has been playing much better defense due to these two defensive presence under the rim. Especially when they are together its virtually impossible to get easy baskets and layups and dunks. Thus, Mavs with those two in the starting lineup will never be bad defensively almost no matter who is playing the guard position.
Having those two also allows you to have two great shooters that are perhaps not the best defenders in THJ and Curry.
I love the lineup:
Luka / Curry / THJ / Maxi / KP
You have Luka that can dominate a game offensively, and in case he has an off period in the game he can always find THJ and Curry and they get you consistent points with their shooting. The defense will always be strong with Maxi and KP. I think its a lineup that will be impossible to deal with for any team in the NBA at the moment. Its nightmare matchup offensively since all 5 players can hit the 3 point shot and cant be left alone. Defensively also a nightmare in the paint, you cant get any baskets in the paint, you are forced to shoot outside and the 2. You can get one of Maxi or KP out of the paint by play design. But both? You cant do that, one will always be present around the rim and alter the shots.
Whether that lineup wins the championship comes down to this: if THJ/Luka/Curry can perform a solid defensive play on the perimeter, and second: the bench. We have seen Luka getting better on defense and THJ and Curry are solid as well. That starting lineup it self is likely the strongest in the playoffs IMO. Given how Luka and KP are playing and how Curry and THJ are shooting at the moment and how open they are. Nobody wants to meet Dallas.
The bench is VERY worrying and it may come down to this how far the team goes.
I think that Lee shows he is much better than we thought. He is the all around player with skillset that could thrive on the team next to Luka. JJ, Barea, WCS, Wright, DFS there are quiet some question marks there how they will and are performing. I have question marks with DFS also, he is not as great defensively as he is getting credit for IMO. I really liked what i saw from Lee. I hope Brunson is back for the playoffs.