Helljumper wrote:borri wrote:^^^^
To continue with the D12 touches issue.
1. SInce Antoni, his FGA is down, his FT are down. 2 and 1 per game respectively.
2. Factor in the increase pace of the game, the Lakers are at 98.1 possessions per game and trending towards 100 per game. ORL with D12 was consistently at 94 or so per game, yet his FGA and FT are higher than it is now.
Lower touches for D12 + more team possessions = Antoni's offense is NOT catered to centers. It never has and it never will.
No one's disputing this. KBJelleyBean24 was pointing out that D'antoni's offense isn't as limiting to Dwight's game to the extent that some of you are making it out to be.
A few less touches for Dwight isn't a bad thing for the team. A common complaint against D'antoni is that even though his offense might be better for Nash, it's not better for Pau and Dwight. That's probably true. Pau and Dwight will get less touches and there numbers will go down. But it's not true that this is automatically bad for the team. Feeding Pau and Dwight in the post would be better for their individual stats. But it takes the ball out of Nash's hands and relegates him to the role of spot-up shooter. Without Nash facilitating, the amazing ball movement we've seen since Nash's return to D'antoni's system goes away and our perimeter players don't get as many good looks. The paint becomes clogged, diminishing Metta's newfound ability to use his speed to attack the rim.
This is ignoring the fact that Pau can't play in the post anymore and this:
LTLakerFan wrote:It's not like this guy is constantly getting himself open in the post area with his man sealed if teammates will only throw him the ball. Come on the guy is not Shaq down there and he is quite limited with his repetroire of offensive moves. At least at the level he is playing right now.
Dwight getting less touches means more perimeter shooting. That means more long rebounds that we always miss, more run outs, more transition buckets for opponents, more fighting from behind, more mins for Kobe/Nash/Pau, and more playing the style of the Heat/Thunder/Clippers- all of whom will do it better than us. Oh it also lessens ability for Dwight to protect the paint if he's always having to catch up to the action.
Stepping up the tempo and trying put up more shots is a good thing but it need to come in balance with post play. Push it when we have the opportunity, play with a slightly faster pace (which we are doing now) but also throw in into the post a good portion and let Dwight and Pau create. The flip side is the playoffs become a half court game. We can't have an offense that relies on knocking down jumpers. It has to be able to go through the post- Dwight is no Shaq, but he can and should do it far more. It'll open up things for shooters and slashers. If MDA wants to do that off the PNR to create a mismatch for Dwight then do it, but don't just use him as a roll option or decoy to clear up shooters. BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.
Oh, and last thing, if Dwight feels like he's not a feature of the offense, maybe just maybe he'll want to go play somewhere else. Just something to keep in mind.
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