04-19-2021, 10:26 AM
(04-19-2021, 09:08 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: I'm not sure it would work, at this point but this thought has occurred to me many, many times this year.
Like why wouldn't it work? It would at least fix the offense, presumably. That was our starting lineup last year until Powell got hurt. Mavs made these lineup changes to try to improve defensively while still maintaining a pretty potent offense. I think right now we have neither. Also given that the Mavs have had a string of terrible first quarters that seems to me to fall on the starters who play most of the minutes in the first quarter.
So ya I think given where things are now would be the time to start tinkering with the starting lineup again. Mavs are sort of stuck at 7th place anyway. I don't think you'd be worse off with trying last year's lineup.
THJ and Powell both give you energy. THJ replaces Maxi's shooting and gives you a little more creation (no more or less than what J Rich gives you). You give up some defense but Powell can rotate to help with close-outs on shooters. We already are terrible at this so its like how worse can it get? Powell at least helps crashing the offensive glass. A lot of times KP is too far from the board to crash it. Also on offense I think Powell's presence sort of turns KP back into a spacer/shooter which wouldn't be the worst thing.
Powell also gives Luka some easy offense with his rim-running. Anyways this is probably my favorite idea at the moment. I wouldn't mind trying other lineups too but since we have a large sample size with this lineup having success last year it seems like the first one I would go to honestly. Our bench would certainly do fine with Brunson, J Rich, Maxi, & JJ.
Previously I didn't want to bench J Rich bc I knew that would hamper Mavs ability to keep him but at this point he's a goner so I'd rather see what things look like with THJ back in the starting lineup since the Mavs need to determine their future with him.