ROSTER TALK: Mavs favs for Vogel if no HC job exists. Kyrie handshake deal?

[DanSchwartzgan]

What is it that you're looking for and not seeing? No snark, I'm really curious. 

I think he's improving at rotating quickly, identifying what the opposing actions are trying to achieve ahead of time (these are the important things, from my POV) and tbh, his ability to stand his ground in the paint and defend the rim is already better than what I expected when I started this crusade. 

I think he falls short of Powell and Kleber significantly in the area of "well, I know Luka's not going to shut off the base line, so I need to be prepared to cover for him" but that, to me, is something regarding Luka, specifically (when he's the second biggest on the floor) and will improve with time they spend together. Not really what I'd call a deficiency in the principles of general help D.

I just don't trust his defense yet.  Jet Terry did a nice job in the other thread of outlining Wood's history.  A couple of good weeks when he's up for an extension doesn't quite erase what I know of Wood over several seasons.  The fact much of the success came against the 22nd best offense (Minn x 2), the 29th best offense (Houston x 2) and then didn't come against the 27th best O (who has a good center...SA) doesn't quite get me there.  Cleveland (11th O), NY (9th) and LA (17th) have VERY limited centers, so those wins haven't lit my fire either. 

That's why I'm couching much of what I'm writing as 'if' they decide to keep him and build around him and Luka or 'if' they decide to move him.  I just don't know what the plan is and while I'm more encouraged than I was, NBA history is full of personnel mistakes based on short bursts in the NCAA tournament or contract year effort that doesn't repeat itself.  Even if it proves to be a fairly stable level of defensive play, he needs help and needs others around him who compliment him.

Someone can remind me of the exact stat, but I believe we have the best record in the league against either playoff teams or .500+ teams or whatever it is.  Wood was a more minor player in wins against Memphis, Brooklyn (twice), Utah, Toronto, Portland (the first time), LAC, Denver (twice), Phoenix.  He was inactive for the 21 point blowout of NY the first time and didn't play over 27 minutes in any the wins above.  That changed on 12/16 with a great game in the win against Portland.  Since then he's played much more and played well defensively in most of those games.  I'd just like to see it against a few good teams who have all of their best players on the court a few times before declaring Wood an above average defender.

This isn't a relative to _______ thing.  This is a 'who do you want to hitch your wagon to for the next few years' thing.  And before someone puts out the usual noise about "yeah, but they paid Hardaway".  I wasn't for that either.  I put out a 100 versions of that summer that didn't include keeping him.  Not that I hate him.  I just thought there were better ways to spend the money that summer.