06-24-2023, 10:33 AM
(06-24-2023, 03:40 AM)Dundalis Wrote: A third ball handler in the starting lineup is less of an issue if this team is much improved defensively, because its not incumbent upon the offense alone to drive the team to wins.
A team can be elite defensively but still lose games.
Apparently, teams lose when they have exploitable weaknesses.
I'd like to think the requisite number of ballhandlers for any team should be 3.
Currently, the Mavs have 2 ballhandlers.
Hardy has pretty good handles, and he can be counted as a quasi-third, but he isn't a player you ask to bring the ball up and organize an offense.
Green has good court vision, but his dribble although functional, isn't as good.
Beyond these 4, there's no one who could dribble.
The thing is -- this third ballhandler doesn't need to be a guard.
The Mavs need a PF more than a ballhandler at this point, if they can find a stretch 4 or a big SF who's not totally inept with the ball, that's going to do wonders for the Mavs.