01-27-2021, 04:54 PM
(01-27-2021, 04:17 PM)haveitall Wrote: KP has been very predictable. He will either take that low percentage three 1 ft behind the line with a hand in his face. He will post up or face up and shoot or will drive. When Dirk had the ball he would give a series of fakes and feel out the defense. KP makes up his mind and does something irregardless of the defense. He needs to feel out the defense. Doncic on the other hand is super dynamic, everything he does on the court is 2 moves ahead. Sometimes when I watch him and he does something I wonder why go there its crowded and 2 seconds later a lane forms and he has an easy layup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8dGOBwMYLU
Great post HT. This is also the thing that has been annoying me with KP as well. And it is exactly the cause that was the issue in last game, of ball movement and the flow stalling. In 1st quarter KP had around 6 of this early clock shot attempts, all of them with defender on, and all without any sort of fakes or attempts to feel out the defense.
Its very well that you describe the cause of these actions, its actually the root of the problem, that he doesnt read the defenses, but makes up his mind very early in a play.
Have to take what defense gives, and feel out the defense. This is what Doncic is all about.
Totally agree with you on this. When his game shape/athletic ability is on the top, he can hide this lack of skillset in probing defenses and making reads, to some or even good extent. But when his athletic ability is not the best, as in this very moment, this lack of skillset in probing defenses, gets really exposed, and he becomes highly predictable. I totally agree even at his best, he is not at Dirk/Luka level, where he makes reads, and adjusts, and involves teammates. Most of the time, he is the end station of ball movement, and takes the quick shot, without making the read.
All that being said, he can be really great, and his best value is probably even greater on defense, protecting the paint. That, like the offense, only works when he is in top shape, and can make the blocks. At the moment, he comes too late for the blocks, and our paint is not well protected.
If we could trade him to get an even better young star with even better talent, I would be all in for that. Keeping him is also a good solution, as he is a great player, and has many great skills still.
With KP, I think we need that 3rd star and great depth, unlike if we had a real 2nd superstar along with Doncic, we could then live without the 3rd star player to make regular contenders.