Having disputed a Bleacher Report story that indicated the Mavericks have gauged the trade market to get a sense of Kristaps Porzingis‘ value, team owner Mark Cuban also took exception to a specific part of Jake Fischer’s report.
Fischer cited one Western Conference executive who described Porzingis as looking like a “scarecrow” on defense and who added, “I’m not sure the guy can guard anybody.” That quote didn’t sit well with Cuban, who expressed his displeasure to Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
“We are not happy that there is a supposed ‘Western Conference exec’ ripping on one of our players,” Cuban said. “There is no trade discussion. I think they just used it as a way to put out there what they think of KP.”
Here’s more from around the West:
- There’s no exact timeline for the return of the five Spurs players who are sidelined due to the health and safety protocols, head coach Gregg Popovich said on Monday night. “Each one is a little bit different,” Popovich said, per Tom Osborn of The San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link). “It depends on the testing they do. So, I think a few more days, the quarantine period ends, but then there are a couple more days of more tests to see how it has affected them.”
- Lakers assistant Lionel Hollins missed Monday’s game for personal reasons and isn’t traveling to Utah for Wednesday’s game either, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
- The Jazz have recalled Udoka Azubuike from the G League, according to RealGM’s transactions log. The rookie center recently suffered a severe ankle sprain while playing for the Salt Lake City Stars and isn’t expected to be available anytime soon, so it seems he’ll move to the NBA squad while he continues his recovery.
Mavs big problem is no defense. Luka is below average and most of their players are average or below. Teams know they can go inside without much resistance. They need to focus on picking up defensive minded players.
Luka got a vote for 1st All-Defensive team last year… just sayin’, right?
Not sure how when I seen him play the opposing guard is doing great. just like most sports a good offensive player gets their defense portrayed higher than it should be.
Yeah. It was the same idiot who put Drummond on All-Defensive team.
Luka has been fine on D this year, though.
I don’t believe those reports, daily we get in this site reports sayin’ that an anonymous exec from such team says or views somethin’… realistically anythin’ anonymous is by de facto a lie, if you don’t have the guts to attach your name to what you say, don’t say it, if it is anonymous it can just very well be made up… just can’t see the point at all!
Cuban responded with “it’s not accurate”
Example for “it’s not accurate”
Trade DLo for Wiggins and top-3 protected First.
Because there is also a second round pick, which is around 32th pick.
The executive apparently doesn’t believe in advanced metrics. DRPM has KP as a top 10 defender (all positions) among guys playing over 30 mpg in each of 2017-18 (his last year with the Knicks) and last year, 2019-20 (his first with the Mavs). Traditional stats, like blocked shots, would indicate the same. How that ranks vs looking like a scarecrow is something teams have to weigh.
Block shots has little to do with defense. Wiggins is leading all players that are not a center in block shots. Is he better than Leonard? No KP stands in the middle is why they say he is a scare crow. A faster guard can get around him.
Like any stat, it doesn’t tell the entire story, and can be misleading on its own. But to say it has little to do with defense is silly. Players seek to block shots to prevent a score. The best big men defenders are almost always at the top of the shot blocking list.
The point is that in addition to advanced metrics (and DRPM is a popular one among FO types), traditional stats (like blocked shots), are contrary to this executive’s view (if it really is his view).
IMO
Top 3 defensive indicators 60%
Defensive FG %
DRTG – points allowed per 100 possessions
Defensive win shares
Basic defensive stats 30%
Block
Steal
Defensive rebounds
The only way you know if someone plays D. Is if you actually watch him. So using stats doesn’t say much. KP has gotten worse as a defender. Cause of his injuries. I’m pretty sure that’s what the “scarecrow” refers to. He was never a great defender to begin with. He did block shots. More as a help defender. Injuries have affected his gm imo.
Azubuike is and old school center. I think he has a future in this league. He should learn all he can from Rudy. It will help him. Imo he can be a starter one day.
So… Dallas is discussing Zinger. Pretty transparent even by Cuban’s standards.
Yep. A Knicks reporter quoting an anonymous Western exec can’t be disputed.