Connect with us

Dallas, TX

NBA Free Agency 2023: Where the Dallas Mavericks currently stand in Free Agency

Published

on

NBA Free Agency 2023: Where the Dallas Mavericks currently stand in Free Agency


We are now deep into NBA Free Agency, and like always; several players have found new homes and high price contracts.

The Dallas Mavericks have been busy this free agency, or at least they’ve tried to be. The team wasted no time retaining one of their All-Star players in guard Kyrie Irving. The Mavs also resigned center Dwight Powell for the third time, the organization welcomes back guard Seth Curry on a two-year deal, and the most recent signing is Dante Exum, who was last playing in Serbia.

With several free agents available, the Mavs may not be finished. Any chance the front office can get to better the roster and put the right pieces around their All-Star backcourt, they will do it. However, let’s, for now, evaluate certain areas of the team after the recent moves made.

Back Court

The Mavericks accomplished their number one goal in retaining Kyrie Irving. The team acquired Irving back in February in a trade with Brooklyn that saw the Mavericks send Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and several future draft picks.

Advertisement

Irving was retained on a three-year deal worth $126 million. The 31-year-old, as we know, is a highly skilled player. In his career, Irving has averaged 23.4 points and 5.7 assists. Last season the 12-year veteran averaged 27.1 points and 5.5 assists as a member of the Nets and Mavericks.

A trade like this came with high expectations as the fans were hoping the duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving could help fuel a playoff run similar to the one in the previous season.

Instead, Dallas stumbled as Irving went 8-12 with the team, and the Mavericks would be forced to watch the playoffs from home.

The good news is Irving will have his first full offseason as a Maverick, which can allow him to be fully prepared for next season distraction-free. Let’s hope he doesn’t take games off.

Bringing back Seth Curry is a good move. The Mavericks know all too well that he is a valuable role player and a reliable shooter.

Advertisement

Offense

The offense was not an issue for the Mavericks last season. According to statmuse, the Mavericks had the highest offensive rating last season at 108.5, the 12th highest scoring offense with 103.6 points per, and the 11th highest 3-point percentage at 35.5%.

Retaining Irving and the stellar play of Doncic should continue to allow the Mavericks to be effective on offense. However, what stands out the most and where the Mavericks should dominate next season is 3-point shooting

The addition of veteran guard Seth Curry now gives the Mavericks eight players who shot 34% or higher from 3-point range in the 2022-2023 season.

Defense

Every team has at least one weakness. For the Mavericks, it was clear last season’s defense was the problem. Having a bad defense tends to be more frustrating than having a bad offense.

The biggest issue is defending the paint. Let’s return to February when the Mavericks faced off against the Lakers. The team allowed 62 points in the paint as the Lakers would complete a historic comeback.

That same month they played the Nuggets just before the all-star break and allowed 64 points in the paint.

It is clear the Mavericks are lacking a big and have been since the days of Tyson Chandler. Fans hoped Porzingis could have been that guy, but he struggled with health. While the team did retain Dwight Powell. The Mavericks need more help inside that could help limit how badly they were defending inside. The problem is they have done a poor job addressing the need.

Advertisement

The Mavericks did bring in Dante Exum, who spent the first part of his career (2014-2019) with the Utah Jazz and (2019-2021) with the Cleveland Cavaliers. A good defensive player, his versatility could help the Mavericks’ defense. However, he has not played in the league since 2021 and has been in Serbia.

Center

As I mentioned above, the Mavericks need help at the Center position. Re-signing Dwight Powell may have fans losing their mind, Richaun Holmes could be a nice addition if he can stay on the court, and JaVale McGee is no more than a depth option assuming he remains on the roster.

The team, of course, did select Dereck Lively II with the 12th overall pick. It will certainly change every perspective if Lively turns into what the team hopes he can be, but I don’t see the team fully relying on a 19-year-old who averaged just over 20 minutes per game last year at Duke.





Source link

Advertisement

Dallas, TX

New York Giants Fall to Dallas Cowboys, 27-20 on Thanksgiving

Published

on

New York Giants Fall to Dallas Cowboys, 27-20 on Thanksgiving


The New York Giants’ dreadful 2024 season continued with a 27-20 to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. It was the Giants’ seventh-straight loss this season and their eighth-consecutive defeat at the hands of the Cowboys, dating back to the 2020 season.

The Cowboys benefitted from two Giants turnovers, including a pick-6 by DeMarvion Overshown in the second quarter he returned 23 yards to give the Cowboys a 13-7 lead, the Cowboys at that point never relinquishing the lead.

The other came following a Giants fumble in the second half, which the Cowboys converted into another touchdown to cap a six-play scoring drive. 

The game started well, as the Giants held the Cowboys to just a field goal after their first possession. The Giants offense took the field with Drew Lock under center for the injured Tommy DeVito. 

Advertisement

Lock was under pressure practically half the game, the Cowboys hitting him 14 times and sacking him six. The Giants also had just as many penalties in this game (13) as they did first downs (17), and their defense once again couldn’t stop the run if they tried, with missed tackles–at least 10 of them in the first half alone–an ongoing problem.

Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle captured his first career 100+ yard rushing game, going for 112 yards and one touchdown against the Giants, who saw three defensive linemen–D.J. Davidson (shoulder), Rakeem Nunez-Roches (stinger) and Dexter Lawrence II (elbow)–leave the game with injuries.  

Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush finished 21 of 36 for 195 yards and one touchdown, his leading receiver being tight end Luke Schoonmaker (five catches on six pass targets).

Lock and running back Tyrone Tracy, Jr. scored the Giants’ two touchdowns, TRacy’s coming on a 1-yard run on the Giants’ opening drive to give them their first lead in a game since Week 6, and then Lock scoring a fourth-quarter garbage time touchdown on an 8-yard rush to make it 27-20 with 2:18 left.

The Giants got the rest of their scoring from kicker Graham Gano, who hit field goals of 46 and 47 yards. 

Advertisement

Giants receiver Malik Nabers caught 13 pass targets for 69 yards, but he also dropped two balls. Rookie tight end Theo Johnson displayed toughness on a few of his receptions, hauling in five catches for 54 yards.

This is the Giants’ ninth time in the last 11 seasons that they’ve lost at least ten games. This loss eliminated them from playoff contention and currently slots them into the No.1 pick in April’s draft. 

The Giants will have 10 days to prepare for their next matchup, a home meeting with the New Orleans Saints. They’re now the only team in the NFL to win a game at home still not this season, and they currently have the league’s longest losing streak.

Tom Brady Criticizes Daniel Jones for How He Handled Final Days with Giants . dark. Next. Brady Criticizes Daniel Jones



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Dallas, TX

Sources: Giants’ DeVito expected out vs. Dallas

Published

on

Sources: Giants’ DeVito expected out vs. Dallas


New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito is expected to be out for Thursday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys because of his forearm injury and Drew Lock is expected to start in his place, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jordan Raanan.

DeVito is listed as questionable for the Thanksgiving Day game, but a source told ESPN on Wednesday that DeVito was considered a long shot to play.

He did not travel with the team to Dallas on Wednesday as he was undergoing further evaluation, the Giants said. The team, however, said it expected him to travel to Dallas later Wednesday.

DeVito took several big hits in Sunday’s 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was making his first start of the season after the Giants released former starter Daniel Jones late last week.

Advertisement

The Giants turn to Lock after bypassing him following the benching of Jones for DeVito. Lock spent the first 10 weeks as the backup, with DeVito as the third string/emergency quarterback.

Lock has a short week and no real practices to get ready for the matchup of NFC East rivals. He also will be playing behind an offensive line without its starting tackles. Andrew Thomas (foot) is on injured reserve and Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) was ruled out Wednesday.



Source link

Continue Reading

Dallas, TX

Colorado visits Dallas after shootout victory

Published

on

Flagg, No. 11 Duke Blue Devils to host Moncrieffe and the Seattle U Redhawks


Associated Press

Colorado Avalanche (13-10, in the Central Division) vs. Dallas Stars (13-8, in the Central Division)

Dallas; Friday, 9 p.m. EST

Advertisement

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Stars -140, Avalanche +116; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars host the Colorado Avalanche after the Avalanche took down the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in a shootout.

Dallas is 13-8 overall and 4-2-0 against the Central Division. The Stars have a 4-2-0 record in games they score at least one power-play goal.

Colorado is 13-10 overall and 2-3-0 against the Central Division. The Avalanche have a 2-5-0 record in games their opponents serve fewer penalty minutes.

The teams meet Friday for the first time this season.

Advertisement

TOP PERFORMERS: Matt Duchene has 12 goals and 14 assists for the Stars. Mason Marchment has five goals and seven assists over the last 10 games.

Cale Makar has eight goals and 22 assists for the Avalanche. Mikko Rantanen has eight goals and seven assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Stars: 6-4-0, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.4 assists, 3.1 penalties and 8.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game.

Avalanche: 7-3-0, averaging three goals, 4.8 assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.2 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game.

INJURIES: Stars: None listed.

Advertisement

Avalanche: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending