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

[DanSchwartzgan]

 

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https://twitter.com/iztok_franko/status/...0344517632

It is ironic that Wood is in both of those highlights.  In a super small sample size (2 games and 12 minutes), the three man lineups with Wood, Luka, Kyrie, are -22.3 with a D-Rating of 134.8.  There is no telling what other players are polluting those 12 minutes (as we can see from the video, at least some of those minutes included Green/Hardy and Green/Bullock).  Theoretically, those lineups should be strong.  For comparison sake, Powell, Kyrie and Luka have played triple the minutes together and are a +3.6 with a D-Rating of 114.7.

All the Wood discussion here has essentially ruined the board for me.  I could go to some political site (or Mav's Reddit) if this was the experience I wanted.  I'm done with Wood commentary going forward, assuming I continue to post at all.  Just wanted to give this one 'insight' that I think will determine where Wood goes from here.  I think we'll know if there is any hope for Wood to have a significant role here about two weeks after Maxi's return.  

Right or wrong, we have a pretty good idea what the team prioritizes as currently constituted.  The only hope that changes significantly is finding Maxi/Wood minutes alongside Luka/Kyrie.  Wood's minutes since Kyrie's first game have been 17, 12, 17, 22 and 22 (the uptick coming with Hardaway's injury).  That's not even Maxi's restricted average.  Wood has been a negative on-court in only one of those games (encouraging), but Kidd works meticulously to keep Wood away from the other team's best big.  That isn't going to change in the Wood solo-big minutes, which limits Wood's time on the court.  

Maybe that changes starting next week (hopefully) as we add a new option.  Maxi is going to either play with Powell, with Wood or without another big.  If one wants to root for a bigger role for Wood (maybe even starting), it will need to be alongside Maxi.  The two of them were +5.3 with a D-Rating of 106.2 before Maxi got hurt (as I pointed out at the time, this came mostly against subs).  If we see that pairing prioritized starting next week, then there is some chance it moves toward a finishing lineup or even maybe a starting lineup.  But, it isn't a given.  The key isn't just minutes for Wood.  It is minutes for the Wood/Maxi combo and who they come against.  Maxi could just be used to shore up the D during some of the time Wood is playing against subs.  If it is to expand beyond that (assuming the other bigs are healthy), Kidd will need to loosen that restriction some and try Wood/Maxi minutes against the opponents best bigs.  Time will tell.