Zaza and Powell - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

DGM · 02-10-2016, 05:37 AM

RC has fallen in love with Zaza to the Mavs detriment. I like Zaza but there is a reason he's a career backup. A center must provide rim protection and Zaza just can't do it. 20 minutes of Zaza is fine. 35 minutes of Zaza provides the opponent too many opportunities to get to the rim.

Powell is a 4. RC insists on playing him at center. Powell plus Dirk is a weak defensive team yet RC insists on playing that combo with two centers on the bench. Powell flails around a lot but he produces little resistance at the basket? The Mavs lose ground when he is at the center position. RC is not putting him in the best position to succeed playing him at center

rimrocker · 02-10-2016, 02:41 PM

I have to agree. Love Zaza and he is great for this team but I thought we were getting pretty strong at the center position with a one-two punch of him and McGee or Mejri but Rick for whatever reason decides to play our PFs at center over two very good shot blockers.

DevinHarriswillstart · 02-10-2016, 03:45 PM

Zaza is definitely being overexposed and teams are planning for it. I bet Rick's thinking is that his rebounding is so desperately needed that the flaws have to take a back seat. Definitely still puzzled why McGee or Mejri didn't get in the game vs Utah especially against Gobert.

rimrocker · 02-10-2016, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Zaza is definitely being overexposed and teams are planning for it. I bet Rick's thinking is that his rebounding is so desperately needed that the flaws have to take a back seat. Definitely still puzzled why McGee or Mejri didn't get in the game vs Utah especially against Gobert.

I almost felt this would be the type of game to somewhat rest Zaza.
Seems like the combination of McGee and Mejri could somewhat nullify Gobert.
I simply do not understand DNPs for some of these guys at times...would be interesting to understand Rick's reasoning.

Bryan_Wilson · 02-10-2016, 05:50 PM

Wish that RC would put McGee in almost every time Parsons is going to the 4. I like Powell playing with Zaza, not so much when it's Powell and Dirk together. Been confused with lineups all season long really. Same can be said with the guards.

DGM · 02-10-2016, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Wish that RC would put McGee in almost every time Parsons is going to the 4. I like Powell playing with Zaza, not so much when it's Powell and Dirk together. Been confused with lineups all season long really. Same can be said with the guards.

I agree. Powell at the four makes him a more efficient player. McGee with Parsons is good. McGee should be at center with JJ and Harris because they can get him the ball better than the other guards.

There is obviously a problem between RC and McGee. When Zaza sat out he started Salah and used Powell for a lot of the backup minutes. In the first Memphis game he shut down Randolph. Last week he played McGee 7 minutes vs. Memphis. Guys get in RC's dog house and he hurts the team to keep them there.

Underdog · 02-10-2016, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGM

There is obviously a problem between RC and McGee. When Zaza sat out he started Salah and used Powell for a lot of the backup minutes. In the first Memphis game he shut down Randolph. Last week he played McGee 7 minutes vs. Memphis. Guys get in RC's dog house and he hurts the team to keep them there.

Maybe McGee is in the doghouse for the same reason he's spent most of his NBA career in the doghouse -- because he's a knucklehead... Seriously, he'll give you a highlight reel moment on one possession, then he'll do something completely boneheaded on the next three. This isn't news, and it hasn't changed.

Giving more playtime to a zero-sum player isn't going to fix anything that's wrong with this team.

EricaLubarsky · 02-10-2016, 07:30 PM

We knew this roster was going to be bad defensively and on the boards. Zaza may work hard, but he is a merely average rebounder. When he plays next to Dirk and Parsons? Not even Bill Russel couldn't make us an even passable rebounding team.

Powell is a 4 who can't shoot so he's played at the 5.
McGee is athletic and big, but he makes as many bone-headed plays as good ones. That drives. Rick crazy
Mejri is solid, but needs strength and is raw.

It's a roster issue whose only solution is a trade or free agency.

DGM · 02-10-2016, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

Maybe McGee is in the doghouse for the same reason he's spent most of his NBA career in the doghouse -- because he's a knucklehead... Seriously, he'll give you a highlight reel moment on one possession, then he'll do something completely boneheaded on the next three. This isn't news, and it hasn't changed.

Giving more playtime to a zero-sum player isn't going to fix anything that's wrong with this team.

Guy has not been an end of bench player. He's been injured the last two years. Mavs cannot beat good teams over the long run without the ability to protect the rim. Bash McGee and watch more losses like Atlanta and Utah.

RC can't possibly have culpability according to many on this board. Hands up. Don't shoot.

spreedom · 02-10-2016, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

We knew this roster was going to be bad defensively and on the boards. Zaza may work hard, but he is a merely average rebounder. When he plays next to Dirk and Parsons? Not even Bill Russel couldn't make us an even passable rebounding team.

Powell is a 4 who can't shoot so he's played at the 5.
McGee is athletic and big, but he makes as many bone-headed plays as good ones. That drives. Rick crazy
Mejri is solid, but needs strength and is raw.

It's a roster issue whose only solution is a trade or free agency.

Zaza is currently 7th in the entire NBA in RPG.

DGM · 02-10-2016, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spreedom

Zaza is currently 7th in the entire NBA in RPG.

It's not rebounding from Zaza that's the issue. He's playing lots of minutes to get his stats and all of his minutes leave the Mavs vulnerable at the rim. I'm not concerned about Zaza. He is doing good work. My issue is Powell or Dirk at the five weakens the team. Watch closely, Mavs lose points during the minutes that Powell plays the five.

EricaLubarsky · 02-10-2016, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spreedom

Zaza is currently 7th in the entire NBA in RPG.

Pretty easy when you have literally no competition from other Mavs players. Dirk and Parsons sure aren't gobbling them up. He's the leading rebounder and backbone of a team that is in the bottom half of the league in rebounds

By rebound rate (based on percentage of available)
McGee 9th among centers (20.2)
Pachulia 11th among centers (19.8)
Powell 15.5 (14th among PFs but plays C)
Charlie 12.3 (44th among PFs)
Dirk 11.8 (46th among PFs)

Melonhead · 02-10-2016, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan_Wilson

Wish that RC would put McGee in almost every time Parsons is going to the 4. I like Powell playing with Zaza, not so much when it's Powell and Dirk together. Been confused with lineups all season long really. Same can be said with the guards.

Parsons is like Harris in that he works great with getting the centers alley oops, and since Parsons is driving much more into the paint now that he's healthy, it almost seems like a no brainer.

Love Zaza but hes being played too much to the point where its hurting him and the team on the floor

10AMGareDuNord · 02-11-2016, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Pretty easy when you have literally no competition from other Mavs players. Dirk and Parsons sure aren't gobbling them up. He's the leading rebounder and backbone of a team that is in the bottom half of the league in rebounds

By rebound rate (based on percentage of available)
McGee 9th among centers (20.2)
Pachulia 11th among centers (19.8)
Powell 15.5 (14th among PFs but plays C)
Charlie 12.3 (44th among PFs)
Dirk 11.8 (46th among PFs)

The Mavs don't go for offensive rebounds, tactically. Posting their total RB% doesn't make much sense (especially when you're bemoaning their defensive rebounding -- which is in reality not bad).

Dirk, for example, is 24th among PFs in DRB%, including being ahead of Millsap, Gordon, Favors, Scola, Amir Johnson, Taj Gibson, etc.

EricaLubarsky · 02-11-2016, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10AMGareDuNord

The Mavs don't go for offensive rebounds, tactically. Posting their total RB% doesn't make much sense (especially when you're bemoaning their defensive rebounding -- which is in reality not bad).

Dirk, for example, is 24th among PFs in DRB%, including being ahead of Millsap, Gordon, Favors, Scola, Amir Johnson, Taj Gibson, etc.

Being killed on the boards is being killed on the boards. You can split hairs all you want but our starting PF is 24th in even defensive boards, putting him firmly in the bottom half of starting PFs.

Also, the idea that Rick doesn't want O Boards helps my point. We have a flawed roster. Rick worries about guys like Dirk getting back on defense so we don't get boards, but that makes no sense when we are 23rd in offensive efficiency. You can't be near the bottom in scoring efficiency and not try to maximize rebounds.