02-06-2024, 01:20 PM
(02-06-2024, 12:49 PM)Mavs2021 Wrote: We need a back-up center as much as a scoring forward. Lively/Goga can probably protect the rim for 48 minutes and if the opposing team chooses to go small on them, we can insert Powell or Kleber into the line-up. But then it becomes OUR choice, not OUR DESPERATION, due to lack of better rebounding/rim-protection options. We need to balance out the frontcourt. DJJ/Exum are very good defenders, but in today´s NBA you cannot stop guards completely anymore, but you can funnel them into uncomfortable places. A floater over well-positioned Lively/Goga is a tough shot. A floater over Powell/Grant is a "is there anybody here" shot.
Really don’t think we need either. Maxi and Powell as the 2nd & 3rd center look very good to me. And Lively will be a dependable 34 minute/night guy probably by next spring. So you’re only talking about upgrading 14 minutes of playing time, which is precisely the role I envision for Maxi.
And the thing we’re missing at forward is not, in my mind, scoring. We have that in spades already. Someone who is able to defend all-star 3s and 4s is what we’re missing. And it’s important that he can rebound and is competent offensively. But he doesn’t have to score. Just enough to make the opponent guard him. (DFS could probably plug this hole pretty well.)
Pessimism doesn’t make you smart, just pessimistic.