NBA Analysts Predict Significant Things for the Redesigned Mavericks: “Best Team Luka Doncic’s Had” The Mismatch’s After the Dallas Mavericks acquired P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline, Kevin O’Conner and Chris Vernon have been really pleased, and they think Luka Doncic and company might be something special this season.
“Winning cures everything,” as the adage goes, and the Dallas Mavericks are presently living proof of that as they are riding a season-high seven-game winning streak.
Due to their lack of frontcourt depth, the Mavs led by Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic were not taken seriously by many members of the national media prior to the trade deadline. But with the acquisitions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, many are suddenly praising Dallas.
NBA experts Kevin O’Conner and Chris Vernon talked about the Mavericks’ overhaul and how much more adaptable they are now following the trade deadline on the most recent edition of The Mismatch.
When O’Conner stated, “Now you look at this Mavericks roster,” “You consider Dallas’s previous seasons and the lack of wings, variety, and depth they had behind Luka. They now have wings, Josh Green, Derrick Jones [Jr.], Tim Hardaway [Jr.], bigs, [Dereck] Lively, and [Daniel] Gafford, as well as versatile forwards like P.J. Washington and Maxi Kleber. Kyrie Irving, his co-star, obviously. Jason Kidd is using a variety of lineups because they simply have so many different kinds of components right now.”
O’Conner is particularly pleased that the Mavs are able to field “small-ball” lineups without truly having too few players. Head coach Jason Kidd demonstrated this on Thursday night as Dallas defeated the Phoenix Suns 123-113. After Phoenix went small, Kidd closed with Dwyane Washington at the four and Maxi Kleber at the five.
“They’re using Gafford or Lively almost all of the time on the floor, except – and they did this against the Suns – when they go with a small-ball lineup with P.J. Washington and Maxi Kleber in the frontcourt,” O’Conner stated.
The Mavericks appear to be coming together as a cohesive unit. Not simply Luka is involved. Kyrie is playing with his two-man moves in unison. It’s P.J. Washington, but with defenses that change. Daniel Gafford or Lively is the one with the large rolling five. They seem to be in charge no matter what they’re doing and may assume a variety of forms.”
The 2021–22 squad that advanced to the Western Conference Finals was the greatest club Doncic has played for prior to the trade deadline, yet that group lacked the frontcourt depth that this current squad possesses.
