I think you have to try to get both...go after a Goebert/Bogdanovic combo and get some inside strength with a guy who can score in several ways.

Or go after Lillard/lesser center who can defend rim.

If I'm only allowed to pick one, I'm going with the center. Lillard wouldn't fix Dallas I don't think...he's another ball dominant ISO scorer just like Brunson/Dinwiddie...just better than those 2, especially from outside.

I think you gotta go after the center, hope that Hardaway Jr, Finney Smith, and Bullock can improve and become more consistent offensively.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by Roger Klarvin

DFW

Member since Nov 2012

46671 posts

Posted on 5/22/22 at 11:46 pm to NWLATigerFan12

I guess my thinking is every title team since 2011 has had at least two guys you could give the ball to and say “go get me points” and they could do it in whatever way the defense was willing to give it. Right now teams can clog the middle, force the ball out of Luka’s hands and nobody else can consistently create their own bucket. It’s 3 and D players or above average off ball scorers trying to hit jumpers and they are all super hot/cold in that regard.

Essentially what Dallas would be banking on is an entire playoff run where at least two of Dinwiddie, Brunson, DFS and THJ were on virtually every game. Now that’s what happened in 2011 (JET, Marion, Barea, Peja and Kidd provided two reliable additional scorers most nights) but that was a run almost entirely unique to NBA history. Most of the time most players like that shrink too often in the playoffs to win a title that way.

This post was edited on 5/22/22 at 11:52 pm

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by NWLATigerFan12

Louisiana

Member since Aug 2011

13299 posts

Posted on 5/23/22 at 12:32 am to Roger Klarvin

I think Brunson can be that secondary playmaker you give the ball to. Heck he’s averaging 20 a game in these playoffs and that’s with the rest of the team minus Luka being very on/off like you said. If he develops his 3 a little bit more, he’ll be really tough…he’s hard as hell to stay in front of now. Give him a post man he can dump it off to and get into pick n roll games with, and I think he’ll become even better. Surround Luka and Brunson (with a Dinwiddie type to spell them) with a couple shooters to space the floor and a true center who can score via post up, pick n roll, lobs, etc…would be real real tough to guard.

Finney Smith, Bullock, and Hardaway Jr have shown spurts of being good 3 and D guys…but it’s only spurts. Not consistent enough to be 3 point only guys. They gotta develop a little ability to score on their own on a drive or off a screen like Klay Thompson does for Golden State.

Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7