(01-09-2024, 03:52 PM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: The one thing regarding all of the controversy around Kyrie is that there was never a single thing that he's done that called out teammates or had teammates call out him. Every issue with Kyrie was directed toward the Nets front office and then all of the off court stuff. You will never find an interview with Kyrie where he talks down about someone like coach Pop or Tony Parker.
I think the other side of this is what F Gump said. Kyrie is just a MUCH better player than Murray so I don't really understand what we're doing here anyway. We have a great fit between Luka and Kyrie, how many times do reset a star pairing together? That is just going to force us to start building chemistry from the beginning again.
There are two sides to every coin. I can find you interviews where he talks down about Lebron... and he left the Celtics because he had trouble with their young core. Anyway, I like Kyrie and always felt that he was unfairly hounded by fans and media in the past. He seems like a great team-mate. I am open to giving Dejounte a fair chance too, is my only point there.
I think you or F Gump are not speaking in full sentences when you says things like "Kyrie is the MUCH better player". Kyrie is the "much better player on offense". There, now that's a complete sentence. On the other hand, Dejounte is a MUCH better player on defense. Then, there is the question of fit. Due to Kyrie and Luka, there is a need for an extra-defensive guard and forward next to each of them, which handicaps the moves that the team can look to make because those players may not have other things the team needs. Those extra-defensive players might also continue to be a handicap once Kyrie is done, if he is not replaced like-for-like.
Also, while I agree that Kyrie that is simply better on offense... where is it showing in their respective stats?
Dejounte vs Kyrie, 2023-24:
PPG: 21 vs 23.5
FG%: 46% vs 47%
FG3%: 38% vs 42%
FT%: 80% vs 89%
eFG%: 53% vs 55%
USG%: 24.5% vs 28.3%
Apart from free-throws, the differences are mostly marginal.
Then there is games and minutes played. Kyrie has only played 670 minutes in 21 games. Dejounte has played 1212 minutes in 35 games. Although injuries can hit anyone at any time, who is more likely to be available through the whole playoffs?
As for maintaining chemistry over time... don't forget that Kyrie is 32 years old. The Mavs will have 2-3 more seasons after this one is over to win something with him. Then that will be done. With the core I am wanting there could be a 6-7 year window.
G: Dejounte (27yo) / Exum (28yo) or?
G: Grimes (24yo) / new SG (who? Another shooter who can defend, like Grimes, is preferable)
F: Luka (25yo) / new SF (who? DJJ is fine for now)
F: Avdija (23yo) or? / O-Max (22yo) or?
C: Lively (20yo) / Sims (25yo) or?