02-10-2024, 10:39 AM
(02-10-2024, 10:19 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: That's actually a big part of it. Gafford is basically a better version of what McGee was supposed to be. It's still 2020 Lakers 2.0.
On defense: Big rim protector in the paint. Drop defense and ice against the pick and roll. Overload the strong side and pre rotate.
On offense: Iso heavy. Luka and Kyrie create the rest of the guys screen or space the floor. Not a lot of ball movement.
The guys they are adding right now are supposed to fill roles in that system. Gafford allows them to play 48 minutes of drop defense/rim protection + rim running. PJ is more versatile but for the most part he is going to space the floor or function as an outlet when teams double/trap Luka. I guess the idea is that he can take advantage of the resulting 4vs3.
This is just as much a test of Kidd's scheme as it is as about the players.
I have seen some PJ highlights where he is standing at the free throw line as Ball gets doubled at the Logo(similar to Luka doubles) and Ball outlets to PJ (with one guy between him and basket and tons of space around them)at the free throw line with tons of space around him and just turns around and does a push shot for an easy bucket.
Couldnt Holmes do that?
I guess they tried and it wasnt working? Holmes has the push shot to make that work...like in the PJ highlights of him being the outlet man for Ball on Ball doubles. Most of the highlights I saw of PJ as the outlet and exploiting 4v3 was him catching the ball, turning around and doing a push shot.
I get that PJ is more well-rounded skill wise and a better athlete than Holmes...maybe the Mavs think PJ is better suited to attack the basket for an easy layup in that situation if push shot is not there with his skillset?
I will say that PJ seems to be the better option in that specific scenario over Maxi, Holmes and Grant Williams. Lively does really well at exploiting that situation as well.