Halfway through, the struggling lone ranger got better.
Doncic was not selected as an All-Star starter, taking the old rival Clippers out of the air, taking away a 51-point performance, and then scoring 45 and 49 points respectively, and in the last 10 games, they have only lost 2 games.
Luka Doncic is the number one wonder, similar to Jokic, who is more focused on all-around and winning in the game, and often does not do his best in the scoring field. Once the mode is switched and the firepower is fully fired, it is often possible to harvest surprises that exceed expectations.
Like Doncic, there are also loners. After the coach was transferred from Carlisle to Kidd, he was not favored by most people. Kidd, whether as a teaching assistant or a bishop, doesn't have much of a resume. But from two sides of the matter, the older the older the old player, there may be a little unique insight into how to use the team's resources.
While in the Bucks, Kidd began to let Brother Alphabet watch the point guard's videotape to learn how to play, a strategy that produced championships and MVPs. When it comes to the Lone Ranger, Kidd's first thing after taking office is "decentralization":
Stop sticking to the usual "big core" style of play and give the ball to more players. This reduces the dependence on Doncic, the tactical system is more diverse and three-dimensional, and at the same time, in a more thoroughly studied playoff, it is also conducive to cracking the defense and not easily letting the opponent predict the way to the end.
So far, what aspects of the Lone Ranger's progress have come from?
Boost the intensity, defensively all-forward lineup
By the standards of a strong team, the sooner you hold the opponent's offensive, the more likely you are to take the initiative.
After trading Porzingis, the Mavericks lacked a real core of the inner pillars. In the past, they often faced similar situations due to injuries.
The Lone Ranger's solution is relatively simple: since there is no reliable and easy center, it is directly on the field to drop the high point. The combination of Powell, Finney Smith, Doncic, Brunson and Bullock is only Brentson's height loss point, but it is also unambiguous in strength.
In this starting lineup, Powell is the team's first high. After that, Klebert topped the fifth position, and the forward combination of Finney Smith, Bullock and Josh Green became the Lone Ranger's strong code on the defensive end.
They once played the defensive efficiency (107.4) to the ninth place in the league, relying on the high level of cover to change the defense, this set of change policies, emphasizing athleticism, the front players use high-frequency, high-speed movement to cover the defense, while taking care of the basket and three-point ball defense, the protection of the penalty area depends on the player to receive the basket, the basket defense and rebounding piece to take down.
New bottles of old wine to create a one-star upgraded version of the "old lineup"
Top athletes like Doncic, partnering with a tall interior lineman is not a necessary condition for success.
What's more, When Cuban was trading platinum, he was betting on the health status of platinum to 100%. But it turned out to be a failed bet.
In this transaction, they chose Dinwiddie, who made the whole team very unpleasant because he was a "ball bully" for the Wizards, and achieved miraculous results in Dallas. The problem of the second and third possession points that the Lone Ranger has been seeking before is solved, and compared to platinum, which has a star shelf and is eager to get more independent offensive opportunities, Dinwiddie is completely positioned as a role player here, and at this point, the Lone Ranger finally completely takes Doncic as the core.
The other teammates who share the ball with Doncic are more "shooting" players.
Hardaway Jr., Finney Smith, Brunson and new additions to Bertans were able to receive Doncic's pass in time and attack in the bottom corner or at 45 degrees.
In addition to projection, the current lineup of Brunson + Dinwiddie can also help Doncic complete the work of organization and second pass, in key moments, do not have to rely on Doncic's pass control, and the opponent will not go to Pinch Doncic and boldly let go of the lone ranger's teammates who are in a bad position.
Next, go back to the original point and continue to reinforce
Tweaking and adjusting, Kidd, who excelled at surprise wins, came up with a set of pre-2010 tactics, but they worked wonders under Doncic's personal ability.
The Lone Ranger has faced the Bitter Clippers in the playoffs, and Doncic, who used to lead a little in terms of individual ability, has been pulled apart by Trae Young in terms of leadership height.
This time, Doncic is in the playoffs, and the biggest advantage should be that the two cores of the Clippers may not be able to fully return, and they will not repeat the past two series wars this time.
If more stringent standards are required, they still lack an insider star who can stand up at a critical moment.
After abandoning his unrealistic fantasies about platinum, the Lone Ranger also realized that the role of platinum was not so difficult to replace. The most precious part is the ability to protect the basket on the defensive end, but there are also many less expensive options, and it is not without such candidates among the centers around the tens of millions of levels.
Similarly, in this deal, the addition of Dinwiddie gives the Lone Ranger a little more room to operate. Brunson's tactical importance to the Lone Ranger need not be said, but if Brunson opens his mouth, it will not make the team hurt, or sign first and then trade a starting level of the inside line is the choice.
This time, the lone ranger has filled in the hole of platinum. The days that followed were better days.