Game 55: San Antonio Spurs (11-43) vs. Dallas Mavericks (31-23)

[surfpuckmd]

I am talking about things like DFG% compared to his block numbers. 5blk in a game. One would think that he is an elite rim protector. But his DFG% around the rim is average for a big. Add a below average DFG% outside the paint. Especially from 3 and the defensive impact probably isn't as high as blks+reb indicate.
That goes along with the +/-. Mavs are winning but looking at the lineup data Gafford's minutes have been among the worst. Looking at the first five games of the winnning streak Maxi lead the team in +/-. Yesterday it was Lively.

That's not Gafford bashing. Just factual information. What people do with it is up to them. For me it indicates that Gafford probably isn't as good as the boxscore suggests.

Doesn't mean that I am completly out on him. He is the big bruiser type that can give them 10-20 minutes per game depending on the matchup. Instead of having a fatal flaw that could be exposed the Mavs finally have a counter. I just don't think he is even in the same conversation as Lively (or even Maxi) when it comes to on court value for the Mavs.

This is an interesting discussion.  

I think Gafford will have a positive impact for us defensively because of a different reason.  He isn't as quick as Maxi or PJ and so won't be able to contest as effectively.  He will, however, be in better rebounding position to secure the defensive rebound.  We were the league's 2nd-worst rebounding team prior to the trade.  It was a huge liability.

Since the trade, we have secured 31 more rebounds than our opponent. Gafford is why.  Gafford is averaging 12 boards per 21 minutes for us.  Gafford won't be able to guard the perimeter like our other rotation bigs.  He'll be the best defensive rebounder we have though and that will make him a net positive on defense.  He will also guard the rim significantly better than DP.  We acquired him to be a backup center and I think he'll thrive in that role.  He's held his own as a starter so far.