I'm surprised that Hardy's minutes have been cut for Spencer. Hardy shot the ball really well in the first couple of games. I understand with Maxi out, moving Naji to the backup 4, Grimes to the backup 3, and adding Spencer to the rotation, but cutting Hardy's minutes for Spencer does not seem merited at this point.
Disagree with your assessment about the defense on Ant in the 1st quarter. On the drive for his first bucket, Klay did what he was supposed to do and funneled him into a trap with Gaff but to Ant's credit he read the trap early enough to successfully maneuver the fairly small gap and got the ball around Gaff to lay it in. But schematically, Klay and Gaff did what they were supposed to, Ant was just Ant. The bank shot was made on PJ, not Klay, after Ant was handed off to PJ. Ant's 2nd 3 that quarter was on PJ, his 4th was on Grimes, his 5th on Lively, and 6th was on Naji.
Also Klay (who spent the most time guarding him throughout the entirety of the game), ultimately held Ant to 2-for-7 overall, defending him in the 2nd half as well not just the 1st quarter, and forced him into 2 turnovers on drives, both in the 2nd half including a huge one in the clutch when Dallas was up 5 with just 1:56 left in the game. Ant's Ant so he's going to get his buckets but overall, Klay defended him as best as anyone did that game and the 1st quarter was definitely not on Klay as it's made to sound. It was a team wide failure to force him off the 3pt line, which Kidd himself noted in his post game comments and that’s why once they made the adjustment to do that, Ant’s water, so to speak, was turned off.
Thanks for the feedback and nothing wrong in having different opinions. Part of great on ball defense is disrupting, preventing actions to happen...and on first two shots, two Ant drives Klay was not doing that, so Ant got a drive, downhill and a paint shot. The third one he made, an wide open three was he (and Kyrie) showing 2 on Conley and leaving Ant wide open for a three. There was one other three in Q1 when Klay went below the screen on a Naz pick and Ant made a pull-up 3.
And it's not on Klay, I love what he's bringing to the Mavs. But I think asking him to be the primary defender on guys like Ant, Booker, SGA, Curry...it's a bit much especially for the duration of the full season.
Really enjoying your insight.
I'm surprised that Hardy's minutes have been cut for Spencer. Hardy shot the ball really well in the first couple of games. I understand with Maxi out, moving Naji to the backup 4, Grimes to the backup 3, and adding Spencer to the rotation, but cutting Hardy's minutes for Spencer does not seem merited at this point.
It was quick...but I also thing he'll get his chance again soon. Kidd just trying different things early
Thanks Keith...the season just started and it's already so much fun.
Disagree with your assessment about the defense on Ant in the 1st quarter. On the drive for his first bucket, Klay did what he was supposed to do and funneled him into a trap with Gaff but to Ant's credit he read the trap early enough to successfully maneuver the fairly small gap and got the ball around Gaff to lay it in. But schematically, Klay and Gaff did what they were supposed to, Ant was just Ant. The bank shot was made on PJ, not Klay, after Ant was handed off to PJ. Ant's 2nd 3 that quarter was on PJ, his 4th was on Grimes, his 5th on Lively, and 6th was on Naji.
Also Klay (who spent the most time guarding him throughout the entirety of the game), ultimately held Ant to 2-for-7 overall, defending him in the 2nd half as well not just the 1st quarter, and forced him into 2 turnovers on drives, both in the 2nd half including a huge one in the clutch when Dallas was up 5 with just 1:56 left in the game. Ant's Ant so he's going to get his buckets but overall, Klay defended him as best as anyone did that game and the 1st quarter was definitely not on Klay as it's made to sound. It was a team wide failure to force him off the 3pt line, which Kidd himself noted in his post game comments and that’s why once they made the adjustment to do that, Ant’s water, so to speak, was turned off.
Thanks for the feedback and nothing wrong in having different opinions. Part of great on ball defense is disrupting, preventing actions to happen...and on first two shots, two Ant drives Klay was not doing that, so Ant got a drive, downhill and a paint shot. The third one he made, an wide open three was he (and Kyrie) showing 2 on Conley and leaving Ant wide open for a three. There was one other three in Q1 when Klay went below the screen on a Naz pick and Ant made a pull-up 3.
And it's not on Klay, I love what he's bringing to the Mavs. But I think asking him to be the primary defender on guys like Ant, Booker, SGA, Curry...it's a bit much especially for the duration of the full season.