(01-15-2021, 01:55 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: If by "outlier" you mean his best shooting season, I agree. But, it wasn't random, based on "all accounts" that you're ignoring, accounts made by several people around here. His role changed. The quality of his teammates, coaching and offensive system changed.AMEN
I don't doubt that he'll cool off some, but ALL shooters go cold sometimes - Curry(s), Hield, Robinson - ALL OF THEM. Sometimes I think the expectations of what constitutes a solid off the catch shooter around here are bananas. When the dust settles on this season, THJ won't be shooting 46% from distance, but he won't be shooting under 38% either, and my bet is that he'll be right around the 40% he shot last year, which, at the volume this team REQUIRES him to empty the clip in order to make the offense work, is REALLY GOOD.
If they move THJ, they'll need to replace him with a similar player. They'll need a wing who works hard off of the ball to get himself open and CREATE 7-12 shot opportunities for himself, even when the opposing defense knows that's his role. This is simply not an ingredient the team can go without and hope to be successful. The chances of that clone being a BETTER version of THJ are slim to none, given that you can count those guys on one hand. Do you think the team can somehow turn THJ into another version of that player type that's BETTER, while simultaneously filling a different hole in the same deal? If not, then what's the upside? I think the chances of moving him and getting worse are extremely likely, and I think the Mavs know that. The second Curry was traded on draft night, I thought THJ's standing here got exponentially more solid, at least unless another Porzingis level deal became available.
Sorry to single your post out, because I know many people feel this way and I just don't understand it. He's a good professional, a good teammate, he wants to be here, and he was one of the most integral pieces of the puzzle that contributed to a playoff birth last season. He's not a one dimensional player. He's defending well. He's MUCH more effective early on this season off of the dribble than he was last year. If anything, I see signs that he's having a BETTER season than he did last year. This is a young(ish) player who is still improving. Still working on his craft.
I'll give you the Clippers series. He didn't give the team enough during those 5 games, but neither did a few others, and it was his first playoff series, too (just like the rest of them). For some reason people ping pong back and forth between Powell and THJ as a scapegoat for everything that doesn't go the Mavs' way. I think it's so bizarre.
The only thing I want to add is that THJ is probably going to get more comfortable now that the Mavs have Porzingis back. KP has his offensive gravity and so does THJ and other teams respect that. That's big for making things easier for Luka.
Oh and the bolded part is HUGE! It's not like every player in the league would have that kind of hustle/energy and great teammate in him.