Connect with us

Dallas, TX

How The Dallas Mavericks Built A Dynamic Defense At A Bargain

Published

on

How The Dallas Mavericks Built A Dynamic Defense At A Bargain


The Dallas Mavericks have officially eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers and are now advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals, where they will face the Oklahoma City Thunder.

As a five seed playing against a four seed, their triumph in this series isn’t all that bizarre. What is weird, though, is how they have achieved their success. The Mavericks, a team headlined by their star duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, aren’t winning with only their offense (7th in offensive rating in these playoffs). They are doing it with their defense (6th in defensive rating), too.

Advertisement

Even more impressive than their overall defensive rating, the Mavericks are first in the entire playoffs in opponent rim accuracy (50.0%) by a landslide (the Thunder are second with an opponent rim accuracy of 53.2%, per Cleaning the Glass).

Winning with defense isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel. Throughout NBA history, teams have used their elite defenses to fuel deep playoff runs. The thing that makes what Dallas is doing unique (and worth writing an article about) is their roster construction.

Advertisement

One of the elements that makes the NBA so intriguing is that the teams participating in it are restricted by a salary cap. That means that teams are limited in how much money they can spend (before getting penalized).

This year, the Mavericks have 56.7% of their salary cap tied to Doncic and Irving (per Spotrac) — two players who are known in many circles as defensive liabilities. So, how has Dallas managed to build a strong playoff defense when over half their cap space is tied to poor defensive players?

Part #1: A Smart Offseason

The Mavericks knew they were set on offense with Doncic (100th percentile in Offensive Estimated Plus-Minus, per Dunks & Threes) and Irving (98th percentile) on their payroll. So, they prioritized adding defensively-slanted players for cheap in the 2023 offseason.

During this period, they made three key acquisitions. The first one came in the 2023 NBA Draft, where the Mavericks traded back (with the Thunder, coincidentally) in order to acquire Dereck Lively II. Since Lively is a rookie, he’s only making about 4.8 million dollars this year (3.5% of the cap). To his credit, though, Lively has been worth every penny. Despite his inexperience, Lively has been one of the better rim protectors in basketball (94th percentile in block rate).

The second deal they made was a three-team sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs to nab Grant Williams (more on this in a second).

Advertisement

The last piece of the offseason puzzle was a seemingly inconsequential mid-August signing (one that we predicted wouldn’t be so inconsequential). The player in question was Derrick Jones Jr., who they got at the veteran minimum. Since Jones had seven years of work experience coming into 2023-24, the Mavericks were able to sign him for a little over two million dollars (1.48% of the salary cap). Jones has turned out to be Dallas’ best perimeter defender (92nd percentile in Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus), and he’s had a massive positive impact on the team’s overall defense (80th percentile in defensive rating on/off).

Part #2: An Active Trade Deadline

After a diligent offseason, Dallas established itself as one of the most aggressive teams of the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline, using their draft capital to acquire more size and defense.

We mentioned the Williams trade earlier. Unfortunately, his time in Dallas wasn’t the most pleasant. However, the Mavericks were able to flip him, Seth Curry, and a 2027 first round pick for PJ Washington. Washington is a rangy defender (80th percentile in DEF EPM) with a 7’2.5 wingspan. Plus, he’s only making 16.8 million dollars this year (12.4% of the salary cap), which is both a good price for a starting caliber forward and a relatively easy number to match in a trade.

The other medium-sized swing they took at the deadline was their trade to land Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards (in exchange for Richaun Holmes and a 2024 first round pick). Gafford also gives them more length (6’10 with a 7’2.25 wingspan) and a rim protector to man the paint when Lively isn’t on the floor (97th percentile in block rate).

Part #3: Team-Wide Buy-In And A Creative Coach

The beautiful thing about defense is that a lot of it comes down to effort (from the players) and scheme (from the coaches), and neither of those variables costs any money (well, coaches cost money, but it doesn’t count against the salary cap).

Advertisement

Everyone on the Mavericks is completely bought into the defensive side of the ball, even the notorious turnstiles Doncic and Irving.

A great way to measure defensive effort is to look at how many deflections a player is accruing during their time on the court. Of the 102 players who have logged at least 100 minutes in these playoffs, Doncic and Irving are both in the top 20 (per NBA.com).

Irving, in particular, has really risen to the occasion. In Games 5 and 6, he spent large portions of the game defending James Harden so that Washington could stay off-ball and provide secondary rim protection (Washington was in the 71st percentile in block rate this year, by the way).

Head Coach Jason Kidd has also done a good job coming up with creative ways to maximize his players’ strengths (like keeping Washington off-ball). For instance, he’s had Doncic do more defending in isolation because that is one of the better facets of his defensive arsenal. Most coaches would do anything to hide their worst defenders. But not Kidd. Kidd understands that Dallas’ defense is better with Doncic and Irving in the heat of the action because it allows their better defenders (Washington, Jones, Gafford, etc.) to clean up their messes on the backline.

Part #4: A Change In Officiating

Do you know what else is free? Officiating that lets players be more physical on defense. It’s no secret that games have been called different since after the All-Star break, leading to a league-wide scoring decline.

Advertisement

This has helped a team like Dallas — who touts a lot of defensive-first wings/forwards/center — because they can put more defense on the floor without paying a huge tax on offense (it also helps that Doncic/Irving are such prolific offensive players).

Putting It All Together

Between Lively, Jones, Gafford, Washington, Josh Green (3.5% of the salary cap), and the now-healthy Maxi Kleber (8.1%), Dallas has a ton of affordable length and athleticism to help them safeguard the paint (the most important part of defense). They have also maximized the features of defense that don’t count against the salary cap (effort and coaching), along with getting some help from the NBA’s decision to prioritize defense.

When you put that all together, you have a recipe for building a great playoff defense on a budget.



Source link

Advertisement

Dallas, TX

San Antonio vs. Dallas, Final Score: Wembanyama dominates as Spurs win 125-92

Published

on

San Antonio vs. Dallas, Final Score: Wembanyama dominates as Spurs win 125-92


Victor Wembanyama has gotten hype from just about everyone in the basketball world leading up to the opening night of the NBA season. He backed it up on opening night by dominating the Dallas Mavericks with 40 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks on 15-21 shooting in the San Antonio Spurs’ 125-92 victory. The superstar’s performance led the Spurs to their first opening-night victory since the 2019-20 season.

The Mavericks hung around for about 20 minutes, until the Spurs started to pull away at the end of the second quarter. San Antonio never looked back after establishing a 20-point lead in the third quarter.

They built their lead with stout defense that led to easy buckets on the offensive end. The Spurs held the Mavs to 37.3% shooting. They stole the ball 10 times and scored 19 points off turnovers. They owned the paint, outscoring Dallas 68-26 inside.

Wembanyama will get all of the attention with his stellar play, but his running mate, Stephon Castle, should get a lot of credit as well. The former Rookie of the Year was disruptive defensively, holding first-overall pick Cooper Flagg to just 10 points in his NBA debut. Castle had 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals in the win. Anthony Davis led the way for the Mavericks, putting up 22 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.

Advertisement

The Spurs will look to improve to 2-0 in New Orleans against the Pelicans on Friday night.



Source link

Continue Reading

Dallas, TX

Dallas has 5 cultural centers. Here’s what you need to know about them

Published

on

Dallas has 5 cultural centers. Here’s what you need to know about them


Dallas has five cultural venues that are funded by the city of Dallas’ Office of Arts and Culture. These centers celebrate the city’s diversity through art, history and community and provide artistic programming year round. Here’s everything you need to know about each of the centers.

Bath House Cultural Center

Built in 1930 on the shores of White Rock Lake, the Bath House Cultural Center is one of the earliest art deco buildings in Texas. The 10,640 square foot facility once known as the “Old Bath House” was a popular social and recreational hub before closing in 1953.

News Roundups

Advertisement

Catch up on the day’s news you need to know.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

In 1981, it reopened as the city’s first neighborhood cultural center in East Dallas. Today, the Bath House is used for all things visual and performing arts. The center houses a “black box” theater, an indoor and outdoor lake level stage, two gallery spaces and a classroom space. The galleries host about eight exhibitions throughout the year and the center hosts art lectures, workshops and summer camps.

The Latino Cultural Center on Thursday, June 29, 2017 in Dallas (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer

Advertisement

Latino Cultural Center

Opened in 2003, the Latino Cultural Center was founded with a mission to prioritize the preservation and development of Latino and Hispanic arts and culture. The 27,000-square-foot center serves as a platform for local artists and arts organizations.

The center features a visual arts gallery, an outdoor plaza and courtyards, and the 300-seat Oak Farms Dairy Performance Hall. Throughout the year, it presents exhibitions, bilingual public programs and festivals highlighting the traditions of Dallas’ Latino communities. Cara Mía Theatre operates out of the Cultural Center, producing four to five plays a year.

The Oak Cliff Cultural Center on Thursday, June 29, 2017 in Dallas (Ashley Landis/The Dallas...

The Oak Cliff Cultural Center on Thursday, June 29, 2017 in Dallas (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

Ashley Landis / Staff Photographer

Oak Cliff Cultural Center

Advertisement

Located on Jefferson Boulevard, the Oak Cliff Cultural Center (OC3) opened in August 2010 next to the historic Texas Theater. Dedicated to enriching and empowering the community through arts and culture programming, the 5,000-square-foot center features an art gallery and a multipurpose studio.

OC3’s art gallery presents about 10 exhibitions each year and regularly hosts artist-led workshops and guest lectures that highlights a range of artistic approaches, mediums and voices. The multipurpose studio features workshops, art, music and dance classes, summer camps and cultural festivals for all ages.

Related

Clockwise from top, Alex Organ, Christina Austin Lopez, Esteban Vilchez and Liz Mikel are...

South Dallas Cultural Center

The South Dallas Cultural Center first opened in 1988.The 34,000-square-foot facility sits across from Fair Park. The center’s mission is to foster performing, literary and visual arts that allows the public to engage with art and cultural experiences influenced by the African Diaspora.

The SDCC features a 120-seat “black box” theater, a visual arts gallery, a multi-arts studio for dance, two-dimensional arts, ceramics, printmaking and photography, and a full-service audio recording studio. Groups like the African Village Drummers, Dallas Malandros Capoeira and Beckles Dance Company utilize the center for community gatherings.

Advertisement
The exterior of the Juanita Craft Civil Rights House and Museum in Dallas on Saturday, May...

The exterior of the Juanita Craft Civil Rights House and Museum in Dallas on Saturday, May 20, 2023.

Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer

Juanita Craft Civil Rights House

Coordinated by the South Dallas Cultural Center, the Juanita Craft Civil Rights House housed one of Dallas´ most significant Civil Rights figures and the second Black woman to serve on the Dallas City Council. Juanita Craft lived in the 1300-square-foot house for 50 years, inviting fellow historical figures such as Lyndon B. Johnson and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to discuss the Civil Rights movement.

In honor of her activism, the house opened as a museum in 2023. The mission focuses on their 2168 Project, which encourages guests to make positive lifestyle changes to improve the quality of their life. The free project offers programming including a book club, craft community club, food club and a music of the Civil Rights listening and discussion series.

Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and KERA.

Advertisement

This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, Communities Foundation of Texas, The University of Texas at Dallas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and KERA retain full editorial control of Arts Access’ journalism.



Source link

Continue Reading

Dallas, TX

Mavericks hope has them high in NBA power rankings

Published

on

Mavericks hope has them high in NBA power rankings


The Dallas Mavericks are entering the season with a lot of hope as No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg embarks on his rookie campaign.

CBS Sports writer Colin Ward-Henninger conducted his final power rankings before the start of the regular season, where the Mavs finished at No. 13.

“The theoretical Mavericks are a problem. The real-world Mavericks, with a rookie forward (albeit an incredible one) as the primary playmaker and a double-big frontcourt, have to prove how this is all going to work. Kyrie Irving’s eventual return obviously makes the pieces fit much better, but that’s a ways off. For now, Dallas remains an enigma until we see how it unfolds,” Ward-Henninger wrote.

READ MORE: Mavericks don’t know what to do with Cooper Flagg, and that’s okay

Advertisement
Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell and guard Jaden Hardy react to a play against the Los Angeles Lakers

Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell and guard Jaden Hardy react to a play against the Los Angeles Lakers. / Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

The Mavs are four spots higher on Ward-Henninger’s power rankings than the previous edition. The only teams ahead of the Mavs are the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Mavs have a lot of hope for when Irving comes back, but there is still a good chunk of the season that will take place without him on the floor. While he is on the sidelines, the Mavericks will have to do their best to keep things afloat.

If the Mavs can keep their record at .500 or better by the time Irving returns in January or so, the team will be in a good position to make an impact in the Western Conference playoff picture for the upcoming season. In the meantime, the Mavs will do their best with what they have and hope Flagg can be a huge get as a No. 1 overall pick.

The Mavs will begin the Flagg era with a matchup against No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. CT.

READ MORE: Undrafted free agent already pushing for playing time on Mavericks

Advertisement

Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2025-26 season

Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending