Not looking good for Powell after 2 games
The effects have been particularly profound on Luka Doncic. According to NBA.com/Stats, Doncic is shooting just 7-of-22 (31.8%) when Powell is on the floor this season. His numbers skyrocket up when Powell leaves the court, shooting 13-of-23 (56.5%). He also sees a significant jump in his scoring around the basket.
The most painfully obvious issue is his liability on defense. First of all, Powell is just a tiny bit undersized for a traditional NBA center at 6-foot-10. This makes matchups like Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton, his first two assignments of the season, really difficult to contain.
Powell also doesn’t offer you very much rim protection — Dallas the lowest number of blocks among teams that have played two games. The lack of a shot-blocking threat often forces Powell to sag off his man and stay in front of the point of attack. This creates a problem when you’re defending a shooter and is a weakness that seems likely to plague the Mavericks until Porzingis’s return.
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