'Clay Thompson Is Not the Solution to the Dallas Problem' U.S. media shock claims. "Doncic-Irving-Thompson. What about the defense

Jul 04, 2024

The Dallas Mavericks have made it to the championship game for the first time since 2011. It proved that Dallas can be the strongest team in the West only by exquisitely coexisting with Luca Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

However, it is still 2% short of the championship ring. Doncic and Irving's one-two punch is at the top of the league, but it is also difficult to break through the final with just that.

In the end, Dallas chose to change. It brought in Klay Thompson, a Golden State franchise star and one of the league's best three-point shooter. However, it is also true that there are doubts about Thompson. Thompson's performance at Golden State last season was not good. Thompson had an explosive three-point ability, strong defense, and a fantastic off-the-ball move in his prime. He boasted extreme efficiency, combined with ball handling and sharp under-the-goal breakthrough. Thompson's ability to freely adjust his role regardless of which player or team he meets was not visible, but it was a fatal attraction.

However, after the cruciate ligament injury, the motor ability decreases. Naturally, the extreme defense was downgraded. Shooting efficiency also decreased. Then he moved to Dallas.

CBS Sports in the U.S. claimed on the 4th (Korea time) that Clay Thompson could not solve the problems of the Dallas Mavericks.

have a basis.

Dallas signed Thompson, forward Najee Marshall and young shooting guard Quentin Grimes. On the other hand, Derek Johnson Jr., who had the best defensive ability in the team, was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers, and Josh Green was also traded.

Dallas' top five prospects for next season are Doncic, Irving, Thompson, PJ Washington and Derek Lively Jr. (Daniel Garford).

The media is extremely talented and has many advantages just by starting members. With Doncic's coexistence with Irving, Dallas advanced to the NBA Finals. Lively Jr. spent the quality of being an elite big man in the rookie season. If Thompson goes in, Dallas' starting lineup looks solid on the surface.'

However, the media reported 'Dallas replaced Jones and Green in the offseason with Marshall, Thompson, and Grimes. It doesn't feel like a very big upgrade. Why did he make this argument.

CBS Sports said 'Dallas failed to effectively stop Final Boston's outside attack. There were Washington and Jones (well-defended), but still were. Thompson effectively missed two seasons with serious injuries. Since then, he has not been able to show the level of defense during the Golden State era. He's still a good defender, but he's not a strong defender. Doncic and Irving Duo's defense is not strong. If Thompson joins, Dallas can cause a big problem in defense.

In the final, Boston ran an indiscriminate three-point game. Made a lot of options around Brown and Tatum, and targeted the outskirts of Dallas with delicate pattern adjustments. In other words, for Dallas, not only one-on-one defense, but also the amount of defensive activity that can keep up with Boston's activity is important, and if Thompson comes in, the defensive activity problem that Irving and Doncic have could intensify.

There was also talk of an attack system. Dallas is an offensive system that makes the most of Irving and Doncic. In the United States, the "heliocentric system" is described as the "offensive system" in Dallas. It is a system in which Irving and Doncic become the Sun, and the rest of the players take on the correct role according to that 'Sun'. It's the most efficient system a team with two of the best ball handlers in the league can take.

The problem is, Thompson is a player who doesn't fit into this system. There are advantages and disadvantages to this.

CBS Sports says Dallas' offensive system centered on Doncic and Irving means Thompson is positioned in the corner. Thompson, who is familiar with motion offense at Golden State, does not enjoy this kind of play. In other words, Thompson and Dallas' play must have compromise and change.

2 vs. 2 centered on Doncic and Irving. As a result, two or more opposing defense players are affected. A.C.E Gravity will be created. Therefore, there is a chance to open three points naturally. The most widely available way to use the court in basketball is to place two three-point shooter in the corner. This means that there is a strong probability that Thompson will be one of them in the Dallas system. However, Thompson is not the type to wait static in the corner, although the off-the-ball move is still efficient.

Of course, there are advantages.

This medium can change the attack system even with 'Dallas. Dallas often used off-ball screens to offer Tim Hardaway Jr. a three-point shot chance. In addition, there was a limitation of Doncic's double ball handler system in the final. The two players' shooting creative abilities are strong, but their dependence is too high. Blocked by Boston defense, needs a third shot creator. Thompson could play this role.

sfryu@sportschosun.com