Kyrie Irving: The Calm Amongst Luka's Storm

As the Dallas Mavericks prepare for their Western Semi-Finals matchup with the 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, it seems as good a time as ever to reflect on the Mavericks’ journey here.

While the avid followers of the Mavericks majority-wise did NOT have these worries, the 

broader scope of NBA fans, followers, haters & national media had one giant question about this iteration of the Luka era: How are Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving going to work together? No one ever questioned either’s individual basketball abilities, but the meshing of the two dynamic forces in a cohesive, championship contending manner was in question. Would Luka learn to defer in a healthy way? Would Kyrie welcome the season-long effort of being the clear #2? Would the team’s defense be good enough with two average, below-average if you ask some, defenders as the co-stars?

Those questions were answered, with resounding positivity, over the 82-game stretch from mid-October thru early-April. They each showed a concerted effort and willingness to change how they play their individual games to enhance the other and the team. When healthy, the duo is arguably the most lethal in the NBA. The team, when healthy and post-trade deadline, showed to also be one of the most lethal threats to the defending champion Denver Nuggets to hoist this seasons’ Larry O’Brien trophy. All of this is fantastic. It has produced Dallas’ best odds at a championship since 2011. But why, truly, does this pairing of Luka & Kyrie work so well?

The answer is, flatly, Kyrie.

When Dallas traded for Kyrie, the outside-looking-in vantage point saw this as a significant talent upgrade for the franchise. But a vibes & leadership upgrade? Far from it. How could the masses be so wrong about something they were so sure of? That’s another question for another day.

What can be answered today is that the entire organization feels the impact of the calm that is Kyrie. His calmness in the locker room, at practice, in press conferences, and on the court. It seems as if every individual who has media availability in the franchise has touted his leadership. And that, amongst all the other positives, is the key to the Mavericks machine.

Luka Doncic is a thunderstorm of emotion. He is a thunderous force on the court in all ways. Whether it’s the elite post-up ability, proving to his opponent 99% of the time to be weaker than he.

Or his sensational one-man in-game takeovers where you blink twice and he has a 15-0 run on his own.

Or how his presence rumbles throughout a 48-minute game. Sometimes doesn’t seem like it’s there, but it’s there. The thunder is there.

(Or how he is thunderous in his emotions towards officials but we won’t stay on that topic.)

You may think the analogy goes a step further as to say Kyrie is the lightning to Luka’s thunder. In another universe you may be right.

In this universe, Kyrie is not the lightning.

For the Mavericks, he is the calm amongst Luka’s storm. The steady force that balances the ferociousness of Luka’s game. Just as smooth and aesthetically pleasing as it is to watch Kyrie take on the challenge of a 1-on-3 fast break and glide on the court, it’s also that same grace that has encaptured this team to stay ferocious, but calm in the same light.

The Dallas Mavericks now face the task that is the Oklahoma City Thunder, and that task will be lofty. The serenity that comes with Kyrie’s role on this team will be key to a successful outcome for Dallas.

Now, let’s all watch the storm roll-in together.

Dallas Mavericks Playoff Preview Round 1

Dallas Can't Keep Pace with Indiana

The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday by a final score of 137-120.

Mavericks fans are baffled by what is causing the slump the Mavericks seem to find themselves in. However, Tuesday night's game showed a glaring problem. The Dallas Mavericks are going to have to get better on the defensive side of the ball.

The Indiana Pacers finished the game with nine players scoring in double figures. Moreover, they allowed 18 made threes as well. This shows a massive area that needs improvement. This was a focal point that the Mavericks needed to focus on at the trade deadline, according to their fanbase. They have got to improve their perimeter defense. 

Players like Josh Green and PJ Washington Jr have definitely stepped up in a big way defensively. Green is an impact player on defense with his energy level, and his ability to read the passing lanes. Washington Jr has been tasked several times with guarding the opposing team's best players, such as Victor Wembenyama and Kevin Durant. He showed what he can do Tuesday night by guarding Pascal Siakam, and holding him to only 13 points. He even had a very impressive sequence in the second quarter where he showed signs of why they went after him.

Dallas was led in scoring last night by none other than their superstar point guard Luka Doncic, who ended with a 39 point triple-double. PJ Washington Jr also contributed 20 points, along with 23 from Kyrie Irving.

The Mavericks have shown their ability to score with the best teams in the league. However, they are going to have to continue to improve defensively if they are going to make a run down the stretch.

Playoff Push Pressure Cooker

Now that the Dallas Mavericks are past the All-Star break, it is time to begin solidifying a few things. Here are the biggest areas to focus on to ensure playoff success.

Playoff Rotation

Most of the teams that make the NBA playoffs play a 7-8 player rotation on a consistent basis during the postseason. The beauty of the Dallas Mavericks is that they have a very deep team that can contribute down the stretch. The addition of PJ Washington Jr and Daniel Gafford provide some much needed depth on both sides of the ball. They have added some great rebounders and defensive-minded players that they’ve sorely needed in past postseason series. 

However, they are going to have to determine the roles of a few players to make sure they are maximizing their potential moving forward. One of those players is Tim Hardaway Jr. Before the acquisition of the two previously mentioned players, and during the Kyrie Irving injury period, Hardaway Jr. was relied on heavily on offense. Unfortunately, in the last 5 games, he has only scored in double figures twice, and twice has shot less than 15 percent from 3. For a player who is not known as a great defensive player, he is going to have to improve his perimeter shooting to be a consistent piece.

Another player to figure out where he fits into this rotation is Dante Exum. During the last ten games, while Exum recovered from injury, the Dallas Mavericks have gone 7-3. Exum has shown several things he can bring to the team, such as attacking the rim and competing on the defensive end. However, with two ball-dominant players in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Exum is going to have to prove himself every chance he gets to crack a tight playoff rotation.

Appreciating Josh Green

In a recent interview Head Coach Jason Kidd spoke on a question around what Jaden Hardy had to do to earn playing time. He responded essentially saying that Hardy should remain ready and do what is needed from him when his time is called.

To me, there is no one on this team that has done that more than Josh Green. When Green was first drafted, his shooting stroke was a massive concern. He spent the summer two years ago working hard on his jump shot and shooting technique to help prove his commitment to the team.

There was a lot of talk at the trade deadline that the Mavericks really needed to find a good wing defender. Josh Green has proven that he can be that guy for them moving forward. In his last three games Green has recorded eight steals. His ability to jump into the passing lanes and anticipate when a pass will be made has been an underrated part of his game this season.

He is also contributing on the offensive end. He is shooting right around 41 percent from behind the arc, and almost 50 percent from the floor overall. He has proven himself as a reliable catch-and-shoot player alongside Luka and Kyrie, and could provide some consistent defense to accompany it.

These are just a few areas that the Mavericks really need to focus on to ensure their success moving forward. Having playoff success is about fine tuning the little things to ensure the overall goal is met that they have been fighting for all season.

Issues Solved?

Lengthy teams have been an Achilles heel for the Dallas Mavericks this season. However, now it appears that they may have solved the issue with their acquisitions at the trade deadline.

Daniel Gafford – Gafford is an immediate upgrade to this roster. Dereck Lively II has been a breath of fresh air this season, but once he is off the floor, whether for foul trouble or injury, there is a significant drop off in production from the center position. Gafford at 6’10 and an immense athletic ability helps them maintain a paint presence. Since joining Dallas, he is averaging 13 rebounds per game, including his most recent game against his former team, where he racked up 17 boards. He is an absolute workhorse on the offensive glass, which has been huge in allowing his team to get some key second-chance points.

He also has proven his worth on the defensive end, which also answers a huge need for the Mavericks, as they have been dominated in the points in the paint category by bigger teams. This past game against the Washington Wizards, Gafford tallied 5 blocked shots. While the Wizards still were able to score points in the paint, Gafford still forced them to alter several shots at the rim.

PJ Washington – Washington had a strong debut for the Dallas Mavericks against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and brought several things to the table that will translate well for the Dallas Mavericks. Washington brings something that the team was definitely missing with Grant Williams, who was part of the package Wiliams was traded for. Washington dropped 14 points, and showed the ability to score from all areas of the floor. He drove to the basket, knocked down shots from the outside, and finished lobs at the rim. His physicality is a huge benefit to this team as they make a push toward the playoffs.

PJ Washington also shows his worth on another front for the Dallas Mavericks. He provides versatility to cover multiple positions for this team, and willingly fills the role. Washington and teammate Maxi Kleber played some stifling defense down the stretch against the Wizards to close out the game. He averages approximately one steal and one block for his career. He averaged roughly the same defensive statistics during his time in college for the Kentucky Wildcats.

The Mavericks have ultimately upgraded in the frontcourt, and are poised to make a run, provided the team stays healthy. They should be exciting to watch down the stretch. The next chance to see them in action will be against this year’s number one pick, Victor Wembenyama.

Predicting the Deadline

It is that time of year, where we finished with Christmas cheer and the New Year has given much hope and renewal of confidence as new goals present themselves to us. This isn’t unlike the NBA. There are some teams that have a renewal of hope. However, maybe they’re a contender that is getting a piece back that is healthy,they have a clear vision that they need help that isn't coming or that they need to give coveted pieces away to those in need. It is NBAs most fun time of year. 

In the Mavs case, there are specific targets that have been recently identified by NBA Analyst James Weinbech on the Mavs post-Christmas, pre-Valentines day wish list. Here are their names, numbers, addresses and in most cases there are no trade backs. 

Jerami Grant- Portland Trailblazers 

Age: 29 6’8” 210lbs

Contract

2023/24

$27,586,207

2024/25

$29,793,104

2025/26

$32,000,001

2026/27

$34,206,898

2027/28

$36,413,790

Current Averages

21.7ppg/3.6rpg/2.4apg/.8spg/.7blg 

48.7% from 2 (11.1/g)

40.3% from 3 (5.4/g)

80.3% from FT (5.4/g)

52.5% efg

Jerami Grant represents a player that on paper has everything you want. He has size, versatility. He can shoot the 3, put it on the floor.and in theory, he can play a little bit of defense. Jerami’s defensive chops are more from his reputation when he was playing with Denver. Over the last several years with Detroit and Portland, he has let things on that side of the ball lapse, choosing to instead focus on his offensive skill set. He represents an upgrade to the starting lineup that desperately needs more consistent scoring help for Luka and Kyrie. If he put in the same energy on defense when he was with Denver this would be a great move for the Mavericks. Although, in a recent interview he indicated he would not welcome a change and is happy in Portland. 

Kyle Kuzma- Washington Wizards

Age: 28, 6’9” 220lbs

Contract

2023/24

$25,568,182

2024/25

$23,522,727

2025/26

$21,477,272

2026/27

$19,431,819

Current Averages

21.8ppg/6.4rpg/4.3apg/.5spg/.6bpg

51.7% from 2 (12/g)

34.3% from 3 (6.7/g)

78.7% from FT (3.2/g)

51.6% eFG

Kuzma is a polarizing figure. He is routinely on twitter making controversial statement. Such as, the Mavs don't play winning basketball. He has feuded with former WCF Mav guard, Spencer Dinwiddie. On the court he does a little of everything and some of it not well. Defensively, he is not good. He is not really good off the ball and does not create a lot of turnovers or deflections where he is in the 2nd percentile. OOF. However, as a tertiary playmaker he is really good, he is in the 90th percentile and has a passer rating in the 66th percentile. He is a scorer, albeit not the most efficient scorer. In a tertiary score role perhaps he would become more efficient. It is something that the Maverick will have to weigh. There is upside, he is a good rebounder for his position and has good size.  

Daniel Gafford- Washington Wizards 

Age: 25, 6’10” 235lb

Contract

2023/24

$12,402,000

2024/25

$13,394,160

2025/26

$14,386,320

Current Averages

10.5ppg/7.6rpg/1.6apg/.9spg/2.1bpg

68.5% from 2 (6.3/g)

0.0% from 3 (None Taken)

72.7% from FT (2.4/g)

68.5% eFG

The other Wizard, Gafford AKA “The Landlord” is a long defender that has good instincts to defend the rim. His over 2bpg would be a nice change for when Lively is off the court. He's not tall but has a good wingspan and athleticism. He is great on the boards . His role offensively would a roll man. His current PNR partners are not always the greatest, however he make the most of the opportunities when he gets them. He is in the 98% as a roll man, which would factor in well with Luka. He plays well in space and has the determination to be one of the best big man defenders in the league. A Lively/Gafford duo would provide the Mavs with a dynamic big man duo they have lacked since the 2011 season. 

PJ Washington- Charlotte Hornets

Age 25 6’7” 230lbs

Contract

2023/24

$16,847,826

2024/25

$15,500,000

2025/26

$14,152,174

Current Averages

12.7ppg/5.2rpg/2.1apg/.9spg/.7bpg

52.8% from 2 (5.7/g)

31.7% from 3 (5.5/g)

75.8% from FT (1.9/g)

50.3 eFG

PJ Washington is coming off his best year and was rewarded with a 3yr and $46M contract in his RFA. He wasnt really pursued by many teams so his FA was more like a hostage negotiation than him really wanting to return to the Hornets. I am sure he was grateful, but i think his heart is elsewhere. You can see that in his play this year. He has not been nearly as good. He is down in just about every statistical category. If he resorts to last years player it would create another dynaminc in the Mavs offense and defense. He is not known as a 3 point shooter but he does shoot for his career 36% on 5/g with a career high of 38.6%. He was used as a floor spacer at the 5 position and his 7’2” wingspan allows him to guard 5 positions. This is definitely a buy low candidate that could be very fruitful in Dallas. 

Isaiah Stewart- Detroit Pistons

Age 22, 6’8” 250

Contract

2023/24

$5,266,713

2024/25

$15,000,000

2025/26

$15,000,000

2026/27

$15,000,000

2027/28

$15,000,000

Current Averages

10.8ppg/6.9rpg/1.8apg/.3spg/.7bpg

53.0% from 2 (4.9/g)

38.5% from 3 (3.8/g)

73.6% from FT (1.7/g)

55.0% eFG

Isaiah Stewart, the man known for going crazy to get to Lebron. Stewart is a young and improving player but it is hard to get a read on him as a player or even any Pistion player at the moment. He plays hard on a nightly basis and is very strong big body. His offensive skill set is mostly dunks and 3 point shooting. He does have decent touch from about 16ft but he doesn't shoot from mid range very often. Defensively he competes hard and is solid defensively. He isnt an anchor of a defense but will try hard. He is a good defensive rebounder but offensively he is not around the rim player so he doesnt crash the offenseive glass. His contract may make him a prohibitive option, however he is young and sometimes you pay for the opportunity to see a player grow. 

Chris Boucher

Age 31, 6’9” 200lbs

Contract

2023/24

$11,750,000

2024/25

$10,810,000

Current Averages

6.2ppg/4.0rpg/.4apg/.3spg/.5bpg

58.6% from 2 (2.5/g)

32.9% from 3 (2.0/g)

74.3% from FT (1.8/g)

54.5% eFG% 

Chris Boucher would undoubtedly cost the least to get. He doesn't seem to fit the new Raptors timeline. I do not see him as a huge upgrade over what the Mavs have in place already, but he could help the big man depth. As a player that is not a high minute player but when he is on the court he can be seen as a decent defender and is normally efficient offensively. He will shoot the occasional 3, but he is not great at it. His contract would be a good offseason expirer to use in trade. 

Other names that have been floated around for the Mavs are: 

Deni Adjvia, Quentin Grimes, Buddy Heild, Wendell Carter Jr, Bruce Brown

Trusting Timmy

“Timmy, don’t do that?”

“THJ, where were you passing that ball?”

“What a bad shot, Timmy!!”

These are general comments from Mavs fans on a typical Maverick possession where Tim Hardaway Jr. is involved. You will also find Mavs fans on Twitter say:

“How did THJ get that to go in?”

“Holy crap, Timmy, where did that come from?”

“I can’t believe TImmy got that charge!”

Tim Hardaway Jr. had 41 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 4 maddening turnovers, and at least 6 blow-bys in a game against New Orleans earlier this month.Okay, the last one is unknown, but you can imagine, right?

Over the last several years, it has been hard to trust Hardaway Jr. He is such an up and down player and at age 31, nearly 32, he is not getting any younger. This is who he is as a player and learning to trust him has been hard on me and other Mavs fans. He has broken hearts so many times. Here are some numbers for you:

2021-22- He played in 42  games and shot 39% from the field.. We make the playoffs and go to the WCF.

2022-23- He played in 71 games and shot 40% from the field. We miss the playoffs. He shot below 37% from the field in 34/71 (48%) games. We miss the playoffs. 

2023-24- He played in 41 games this year and shot 42% from the floor. This year though, he has only shot below 37% from the field 10 times or in just 27% of games. 

This is important for me as a fan, in learning to trust a player. This year he has been different. He has been more efficient and more importantly consistent, especially in January where he is shooting 45% from the field which would be a career high. Is this the new Tim Hardaway Jr, adding taking charges to his game? Is this the more consistent TIm Hardaway we have always wanted. I am still not fully there, but the difference this year for me has been moving me. 

Tim has been on the trading block for years now and is still on the trading block. Him moving me more this year, doesn't mean I wouldn't trade him if I could. He is still a very frustrating player to watch for me,  but it means that you have to give me more than what you did 5 months ago to consider it. I have been his harshest critic, but I am learning to trust the untrustable Tim Hardaway Jr. 

Bring Finney-Smith Home

The Dallas Mavericks desperately need an elite wing defender on their roster that can be a consistent starter. As the trade deadline starts to rear its head, it may be time for a homecoming for Dallas.

Dorian Finney-Smith is the exact type of player that the Mavericks could use to hold down the starting forward spot on their roster. That position has been a revolving door with Derrick Jones Jr, Josh Green and Olivier-Maxence Prosper.

While some of them have played well at times, none of them possess the defensive prowess that Finney-Smith brings.

Down the stretch in the Mavericks playoff run two years ago, Finney-Smith gave Dallas everything he had. He consistently played roughly forty minutes a night, and defended the other team’s best player consistently and efficiently. He would match up with players such as Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker and Andrew Wiggins. He brings energy, passion and a winning desire that would fit perfectly with the two main stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. He is averaging almost one steal and one block per game this season as well which would help the Mavericks by adding another player who can rotate over and help in the paint.

Finney-Smith also brings another weapon to this Dallas roster. He hit several clutch shots in that playoff run for Dallas, however is shooting at a much more consistent clip this year. He is shooting 43% from behind the arc this year, which would provide yet another weapon for the Mavericks on the offensive end of the floor. Having a player who can catch and shoot on assists from Irving and Doncic at an efficient rate would make them that much stronger.

They would obviously have to part with someone to bring Finney-Smith back home. The trade would almost certainly have to include Tim Hardaway Jr. At this point, the Mavericks would be trading offense for defense, which would benefit both teams and the needs they have for their teams. This is definitely an option to keep an eye on as the Mavericks try to strengthen this team to make a run down the stretch. Bring him back to Dallas!

Further Along Than You May Think

On Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks played the 1st seed in the West Minnesota Timberwolves, while missing Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Seth Curry & Maxi Kleber. The game was competitive until around the 8-minute mark, where then the Timberwolves would break away and turn the game into a blowout. Not many blowout losses leave a fan base with positive vibes and a clear direction of a team, but this was different. Let’s talk about 3 reasons why Dallas is closer to contention than anyone in Mavs Land may have believed entering this season.

The Stars

The Dallas Mavericks’ beginning, middle & end of being a contender starts with Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving. Much was made of the star duos handful of games played together last season and the negative outcomes in the clutch. The question was asked over & over again by countless observers and outlets: “Can Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving co-exist on a contending team?” The answer was yes, is yes & will continue to be YES. 

• Can they perform in the clutch together? The Mavericks are 9-2 this season in clutch games. Question has been answered.

• Can Luka learn to play off-ball, so Kyrie isn’t only a spot-up offensive player? Luka is 40.4% on spot-up 3-point shots through 23 games on 47 attempts (roughly 2 attempts per game.) Luka was 35.2% last season on just 71 attempts in 66 games (roughly 1 attempt per game.) Question has been answered.

• Can the 2-man Luka/Kyrie lineups produce positive results? In 344 minutes played, Dallas has a 119.6 offensive rating & 113.5 defensive rating with both Luka & Kyrie on the floor. The offense would be the 3rd best offense in the NBA and the defense would be 14th in the NBA. Net rating of 6.1 would be 5th in the NBA. Question has been answered.

The key question for the Luka/Kyrie duo has never been about if they could co-exist. It has always been about could the organization surround the 2 stars with the proper talent to be able to contend. So far, the front-office has done a great job of surrounding them with complementary talent. However, the job is not done. BUT, they are closer to being “done” than some may think. More on this later.

The Newcomers

The work that Nico Harrison has done as the GM of the Dallas Mavericks has been wonderful so far. The retooling he has done through the past 2 ½ years as the head of the Mavs’ front office was needed and his vision gets clearer and clearer each day. Along with Kyrie Irving & Markieff Morris (I still consider them newcomers to this team since they were in Dallas very briefly last season), the draft night moves to draft Dereck Lively II, OMax Prosper & to acquire Richaun Holmes have paid off MAJORLY. Lively’s development as the center the Mavs have needed for the past 6 years is already a success and he seems like a surefire all-Rookie team member. OMax is rough around the edges, but you can already see with a couple development years that Dallas will have a versatile defensive wing-presence from OMax. Holmes has been fine in his time in Dallas, but also a major upgrade from other backup big men of the past. Then you have the signings of Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr & Grant Williams. All have been upgrades over the supporting cast members of last years’ team, and all are YOUNGER. Outside of the on-court positive play from each of the newcomers in Dallas, I believe the biggest factor in Dallas is that the youth injection into this team is the exact thing Dallas needed to be a more competitive regular season squad. 82 game seasons are tough. Injuries happen, off nights happen, wear & tear on aging NBA bodies happen. A remedy to this is having 6 of your top 10 players in minutes played being 26 years old & younger. Compare this to last season, where 8 of the top 10 in minutes played were 27 years old & OLDER. A vital difference in the makeup of this roster. The newcomers are good, the newcomers are (mostly) young, and they are so very vital to fulfilling the vision that Nico Harrison has instilled into this team’s plans.

The Vibes

There are many reason the Vibes in Dallas are great this season. Luka is in shape. Luka has bought into the team’s new direction. Kyrie is a leader on & off the court for the young guys. The newcomers have brought energy, as well as the rookies bringing vibrance. Jason Kidd has even been clamoring for some “Positive Sh*t” to be written about this team. Well, here is something positive for everyone…

The Dallas Mavericks’ vibes are indicative of a team that is one, MAYBE two, and I stress maybe, moves away from being a clear-cut contender. The vibes amongst the team seem great, and the vibes they are provoking of the fanbase are the best since Game 7 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals in 2022 in Phoenix. Why are these vibes so important? Again, it cannot be stressed enough that an 82-game regular season is a GRIND. A grind that a certain level & type of vibes can help win you a few extra games here and there.

Early November game @ Orlando on the 2nd night of a B2B, overcoming a double-digit 2nd half deficit to then win by 15? Vibes win.

Earlier this week at home versus the Lakers, while missing 4 of your top 10 best players? Vibes win.

The power of vibes is something that can make you like the Detroit Pistons who have lost 23 straight games. Or they can make you like the current Dallas Mavericks, battling through injuries and tough travel schedules to a 16-9 record. Talent can only take you so far. Vibes are something that can turn a play-in team into a possible top 4 seed.

Dallas has vibes. They have talent. They just need one more piece to combine the two into an Immaculate feeling that hasn’t been felt in the DFW area for this team since Jalen Brunson departed.

Find the Light

Singer and songwriter David Ramirez, in his song Find The Light, that even in the darkness, you can find the light. The same thing holds true for this season with the Dallas Mavericks.

In their 3 losses (at the time of writing this article), they lost by double digits and in horrible fashion. Against the Toronto Raptors Head Coach Jason Kidd even went so far as to say that the team was soft, giving up north of 70 points in the paint. There was an overall lack of hustle and physicality in this game, as well as their game against the New Orleans Pelicans. It would be easy for Mavericks fans to dwell on these poor performances, but even in the losses, there was a bit of light in the darkness.

One aspect of this has been the play of Derrick Jones Jr. He has given the Mavericks far more then possibly expected when he was signed to his one-year contract this past offseason. He is averaging on the season almost ten points per game, as well as pitching in 3.5 rebounds, and almost one steal and block a game. Jones Jr is also shooting 36.7 from behind the arc. He is shooting a very high percentage on catch-and-shoot three pointers, which is largely due to him playing with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Another bright spot this season that has Mavericks fans excited is the play of Dante Exum. While his numbers of four points, two rebounds and an assist per game may not dazzle anyone, it is the pure energy that he plays with that has given the Mavericks a shot in the arm. A lot of people forget that Exum is a former first round pick, taken fifth overall in the 2014 NBA draft. He has shown an ability to get to the rim with ease. His basketball ability undoubtedly came from his father, Cecil Exum, who was on the 1982 National Champion North Carolina Tar Heels team. Exum was out of the NBA for over two years before signing with Dallas, and is working hard to prove his worth to the team this season. It is the intangible energy that is his biggest contribution at this point.

One final bright spot for this team has absolutely been the play of Dereck Lively II. Lively, whom has been nicknamed a potential baby version of Tyson Chandler. He has provided a consistent presence in the paint. Sure, there is room for improvement, but he has far outplayed expectations up to this point in the season. He is averaging nine points and seven rebounds a game. His energy level and athleticism has also helped him average over one block per game as well. He has shown a little bit of everything in his repertoire this season, whether it is his post-moves and soft touch in the paint, or his willingness to step out of the paint and shoot the occasional three pointer. While he has not made a three so far as a Dallas Maverick, he did knock down a few while donning a similar blue with the Duke Blue Devils.

Even in the dark times of the blowout losses, there is always a little bit of light to be found. Mavericks fans should be excited about this team based on the small sample size of this team so far this season. Fans will continue to monitor the team’s success and failures, but hopefully this will provide a little bright spots even when the team underperforms.

Are the Mavs Good or Not?

Josh and Mike list their pros and cons of the season so far. Which lineups are most effective so far and which players have surprised us for the better or worse. Find out on episode 26 of the 214 The Win Podcast.

Mike Hates Tim...Sometimes

It's a Tuesday Timcast. The guys break down the  pros and cons of Tim Hardaway Jr. this season for the Mavericks so far. Is he a 6th man of the year candidate or is he a basketball black hole? 

Mavs beat Magic 117-107 in Gutsy Back to Back Road Game

The Dallas Mavericks had a tough test on the road against the Orlando Magic, especially on the second night of a back-to-back. Here are a few things that stood out from the game.

The Dallas Mavericks fought hard, and ultimately took care of business against the Magic, with a score of 117-107

Tim Hardaway Jr. had another strong game off of the bench, finishing with 21 points on 8 of 16 shooting. He has not solely relied on his three-point shooting. He has also shown the strong ability to put the ball on the floor and score from the mid-range.

Another thing that stood out was the play of Grant Williams.He has continued to show the ability to do the dirty work that the Mavericks desperately needed to climb back into this game. On several occasions, he would score in the paint and draw the foul to get himself to the free throw line. He would finish with 13 points and 2 rebounds.

Kyrie Irving did what Kyrie has done his whole career. He would come up with several clutch buckets down the stretch in the fourth quarter, as he has been known to do for a large part of his career. He had a very slow start only having three points in the first half, but would ultimately wind up with 21 points.

An area of opportunity for the Mavericks was the fouling that took place. This really was a sloppy game on both sides of the ball from a foul standpoint. Dereck Lively II continues to struggle with limiting his foulding., finishing with 5 fouls. A big part of this was on the defensive end, and due to not going straight vertical on his shot-blocking attempts.

Overall, it was a very strong performance, especially coming off the game against a hyper Charlotte Hornets team the night before. This team continues to be a fun team for Mavericks fans to watch this season.

Mavs take on the Raptors in Dallas on Wednesday.

Got to Keep it Level-Headed

It’s hard to take things one step at a time when you’re as excited as Mavs Fans are to see Luka Doncic back on the hardwood, especially when the good guys keep winning. Even with a hot start there are some flaws in Dallas’ game that should help keep your feet on the ground while the Mavs head into the in-season tournament Friday night.

Mavs defense is still not great, especially in the first quarters. The team has enough defensive minded players to think that eventually they will find their groove on that end of the floor but even then they are probably looking at a mediocre to average defense.

The offense looks great even with some of the guys jacking up shots that should probably be holstered. As frustrating as he is to watch THJ on the bench with the second unit makes sense. He's a huge threat when he heats up. Let him cook early on in the season so teams can look at his PPG stats and want to trade for him. With an expanded role on this team as opposed to his role on Boston, Grant Williams is thriving. Grant is a defensive stopper and better as a spot up shooter than we imagined when he signed as a free agent. It's early but Williams is averaging career highs in ppg, minutes, and shooting percentages.

As predicted Jaden Hardy is having a hard time finding his place so far this season. Even in a game that Kyrie Irving didn't play at all Jason Kidd only played Hardy for 10 minutes. Word is that he's continuing to work on his game, let's hope he's adding some presence on defense.

Derrick Jones Jr. is benefitting from playing with Luka Doncic in a way that he's never seen. Let's all hope that continues head in the direction of him meeting the potential that analysts once saw in him.

The Dereck Lively II situation is giving Mavs fans across DFW a bi-weekly aneurysm. When he's on the court he's a complete game changer - keyword: "when". Through the first 3 games, Lively II has been kept off the court by Kidd's coaching or most recently because of foul trouble. Expect those issues to level out soon, Lively needs to be on the court. There is no question he's the best center on the roster at this point.

Grant Williams is More Than Advertised

For the Dallas Mavericks, the start of the new season brought about many questions as to how the new roster will mesh moving forward. Grant Williams is proving to be piece the Mavericks can rely on.

Grant Williams provided in multiple ways for the Mavericks in game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs. One of those areas of impact came on the defensive end of the floor. For the limited time that Victor Wembanyama was on the floor (foul trouble) Williams would draw the majority of defensive responsibility on him. Williams would provide a physical presence that seemed to disrupt what Wembanyama was trying to do in the paint. Williams would also finish with a blocked shot.

Grant Williams would also provide an offensive lift for Dallas, scoring 17 points, including four out of eight from behind the arc. Williams has always been a player who is not afraid to fire from three if called upon, and with teammates like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, spot shooters like Williams will have their opportunities to contribute.

After only 3 games WIlliams looks even more than advertised when the Mavericks signed him, averaging career high shooting percentages, points, and minutes. He helps to solidify the starting power forward position for Dallas. His offense and defense are both things the Mavericks need to be a consistent factor moving forward if they hope to achieve their dream of getting back to the NBA finals.

We Love You, Dorian Finney-Smith

The Dallas Mavericks began their 2023-2024 season on Wednesday night with a tough win over the now-in-the-spotlight Spurs in San Antonio, playing spoiler to rookie Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut. They now travel back up to Dallas for their season home opener on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. Most home openers are energetic, special, and full of optimism. This year’s opener will be no different, although it will feature another element: Raw Emotion.

This Friday’s game will be headlined by the return of former Maverick, Dorian Finney-Smith, for the first time to play in Dallas NOT as a member of the Mavericks. This man needs no introduction to those of you reading this piece. He has made an impact on any Mavs fan who followed the team at any point from 2017-2023. However, I will delve into my emotional fan connection to Dorian, and I know many of you will empathize. Get your tissues ready, Mavs fans, Friday night is going to be emotional.

Dorian played most of his college career at the University of Florida before going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. Dallas signed Finney-Smith as an undrafted free agent in the 2016 off-season, and he began playing for the franchise immediately. He never averaged under 20 minutes per game during any season in his 6 ½ seasons in Dallas, and he began his career for the Mavs at the perfect time. Dorian was a player who needed time to develop, and the Mavs were a team who had time to develop players such as him. Years removed from their 2011 NBA Championship, Dallas had been middling for the most of the next 5 seasons, and the first few years of Finney-Smith’s career were no different for the team. Dorian is the epitome of a 3&D player in the modern NBA. At least, he eventually developed into one. He developed his jump shot so well with the franchise that he began his career with 3 straight seasons under 32% from the 3pt line, to eventually having 3 seasons straight of better than 37.5% from the 3pt line. Drastic improvement for a drastically lovable guy. As he grew as a player, his role grew with the team, and his impact on the organization and community at large grew even more.

You won’t find a single person with a bad thing to say about Dorian. His teammates love him, his coaches love him, the front office loves him, and the fans adore him. And most importantly, Dorian loved everyone back. There are plenty of professional athletes who do not reciprocate the love and adoration that an organization and fanbase display to the player. Rightfully so. There are no mandates that a player must have undying loyalty to the team, and they have every right to guard themselves from being attached to the community they are in. But it’s the players who love back just as much as they have been loved that make the largest impact.

I don’t have a singular moment that defines my love for Dorian Finney-Smith during his time in Dallas. It’s just an unexplainable vibe that you get when you say the name and observe the guy. The hilarious nickname duo of “Bang Bros” with former Maverick Reggie Bullock. His humorous and galvanizing post-game press conferences with Jeff “Skin” Wade several times every season. His grit and grind style on the court. His subtle way of talking trash to opposing teams every time he made a 3-point shot near the opposing bench. This and many more moments define his on the court time with Dallas and are the epitome of the impact he made for the team. His impact doesn’t stop there, for he loved the Dallas community and gave back many times more than he was given.

When Dorian Finney-Smith was traded in February 2023 to the Brooklyn Nets in part for Kyrie Irving, it was the melancholiest day. I was happy to have Kyrie in Dallas, who would raise the ceiling for contention. But losing Dorian hurt. Really hurt. In the back of my mind, I knew for a couple of years that if Dallas were to contend eventually for a title, then it would be without Dorian on the team. Contracts, age timeline and talent ceilings being the main reasons. Knowing the day was coming didn’t make it any easier when it occurred. But that’s how professional sports go.

One of my favorite Texas Rangers players of all-time was Elvis Andrus, and as we prepare for a Texas Rangers 2023 World Series, it hurts me inside that he is not a part of it. But he will always be in my eyes. Just as Dorian would be if the Mavericks make a championship run in the near future. You can’t ever forget the impact that a player like Dorian has made on a team, even years after they part ways.

In the end, it is not the end of the world. Dorian no longer being a Maverick is not a real-life tragedy. There are hundreds and hundreds of world calamities on a continual basis that require the mental headspace of grief and mourning. But as a sports fan, seeing an impactful person on your sports fanhood like Finney-Smith be in a different team’s jersey, playing in your home stadium… that’s tough.

There will be tears. There will be smiles. And there absolutely will be standing ovations galore. As we prepare for the first time Dorian returns to Dallas, I must say I have zero doubts that he has not played his final games in a Dallas uniform. That’s one of the sweet parts of this bittersweet evening that we encroach upon.

Dorian, Dallas Loves You, and we always will.

Dereck Lively is Instant Impact

On a night where the focus was undoubtedly on first overall pick Victor Wembanyama, it was another rookie that made an eye-opening impact for his team. Here is a look at the breakdown of Dereck Lively II’s first game for the Dallas Mavericks.

Instant Improvement

Lively II, in just his first game in the National Basketball Association notched a very strong double-double. There were several aspects that were an immediate improvement for both the Dallas Mavericks and him.

He finished the game scoring 16 points on an efficient 7 out of 8 shooting. The 16 he scored was more than any game that he recorded while anchoring the paint for the Duke Blue Devils last year. He presented himself at the rim as a lob threat, and also showed his ability to play with his back to the basket and score inside. He has been spending a lot of time learning from and working with Tyson Chandler, and his game is a very similar approach.

Lively finished the game tallying ten rebounds, six of which came on the offensive end of the floor, providing a rebounding presence that they have been sorely missing for some time at the center position. In the third quarter, Lively threw down an emphatic put-back dunk, which surely excited Mavericks fans. We will see if this trend continues Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. He is projected to be the starting center, however, whether starting or off the bench, Lively has proven he is willing to do what is necessary to help the team win.

Area For Improvement

The one main area for improvement for Lively would be to make sure he is in the right places defensively. At times, Lively could be seen out of place, and then having to hurry to get back into the right place on the floor. In a league where the players are as talented as they are in the NBA, this will lead to almost certain foul trouble, especially in the scenario of players driving to the basket. Late rotation will not help him to stay on the floor if he begins to rack up fouls as he did in the preseason. If he continues to focus on this area, he will become a very solid piece for Dallas moving forward.

The excitement for Lively is definitely there in Dallas. Mavericks fans want to see him remain consistent and contribute. Playing with two stars like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will definitely help him evolve and become a strong player in this league.

Game 1 Win 1: Mavericks Steal a Win in San Antonio

Fresh episode of 214 The Win Podcast out now. Mike Sanders and Josh Mazur talk about our pros and cons from the Mavericks first game. Available everywhere:

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hd9teClhN2I9gDlf4ceZT?si=F1EIKSy7Rj-3-gCwvYirgg
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/game-1-win-1-mavs-season-starts-with-a-win/id1638717066?i=1000632682422
Amazon:
https://www.audible.com/pd/B0CLV9BLTJ?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Josh Green Contract Extended

DALLAS - The Dallas Mavericks announced today that they have extended the contract of 4th year guard Josh Green. Details of the extension have not yet been made available to the media.

Dallas Mavericks GM and VP of Basketball Operations Nico Harrison said of Green, “His energy is contagious for our group, and when he’s in the game he pushes his teammates to play at a different speed. Josh is a high-level person and teammate, and we are happy to have him with our program for the long term.”

Green enters into this season having achieved career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and minutes in the 2022-23 season. When called upon to be a starter last season, he averaged 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 31.3 minutes in 21 games.

During what many consider a breakout season Green was able to find his footing in a Dallas Mavericks rotation with many talented and established guards. 

The guard spent his summer contributing to the Australian National team in FIBA competition with whom he won a bronze medal during the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. 

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic Player Profiles 2023-24

Mike Sanders and Josh Mazur conduct their final player profile before the start of the 2023-24 NBA season. There are lots of questions surrounding the Dallas Mavericks and their two stars Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.

Can they work together?

Can Kyrie be happy in Dallas?

Who will take the leadership role?

Do they need another star to lineup beside them?