soxperry wrote:I think if we are committed to Dame, the answer might be Giannis going all out on defense and giving Dame the Portland keys on offense with Giannis doing his thing when Dame sits
This sounds beautiful in theory but will Giannis buy into that? This is not questioning Giannis heart, selflessness or desire to win. I think he plays with his most killer instinct when he is asserting himself with urgency. This good comes with some bad when he forces it. But on a mission Giannis is the best Giannis and damn fun to watch.
I can't put my finger on what exactly it is, but it just feels like we don't see the best versions of both Dame and Giannis when they play together. It feels like they're both bashfully not trying to step on the others toes and it limits both of their opportunities to go on heaters that can carry a team for a quarter, or a half, or a game.
If we're committed to making this pairing work, part of me feels like they should just segment off quarters where one is Batman and the other is Robin. One clear focal point for stretches, if that guy is absolutely cooking you ride it. Start the game with Giannis as the go man and Dame is primarily a glorified decoy, Dame takes over when Giannis gets his first breather.
In a perfect world this is way more fluid than that and maybe with time it gets there. We have two guys that I believe are best when they are the clear cut focal point. Both capable of going on extended stretches that win games single handedly. Splitting this duty reduces the chances off either to really get cooking but gives the added benefit of having two dudes capable of carrying the bulk an entire game and lowers the likelihood of running one into the ground having them do it every night.
I don't know man, I see two great players not playing at their peak together and it just feels clunky far too often.
