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Will Jason Kidd Change the Dallas Mavericks’ Late Game Rotations?

Published

11 months ago

April 30, 2024

Will Jason Kidd Change the Dallas Mavericks’ Late Game Rotations?

There’s been a lot of questions surrounding Jason Kidd’s decision to play small down the stretch of Game 4 against the Clippers, a game in which the Mavericks lost 116-111. James Harden had his floater looking like it was 2017 again, hitting 6 such shots in the 4th quarter, taking advantage of no real shot-blocking threat patrolling the paint as Maxi Kleber was playing center.

Even Bill Simmons wondered on his podcast Sunday night “Both teams have matchups against the other team that they really like… if you’re Dallas you could go ‘you know what, maybe we shouldn’t have had Kleber down the stretch, maybe we should play our bigs.’”

This brings up the question, will Jason Kidd change his late-game rotations?

From February 1st to the end of the regular season, a stretch of 34 games, the Mavericks’ most-played lineup in the fourth quarter was Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, PJ Washington, and Maxi Kleber. That lineup played just 23 minutes in that time frame, a small sample size. Coach Kidd has continued to play with different lineups, trying to find 5-man units that work in different situations.

The lineup rolled out at the end of Game 4 was Doncic, Irving, Washington, Derrick Jones Jr., and Kleber; a lineup that played just 14 minutes in the 4th quarters of the regular season. In the 4th quarter of Game 4 alone, that second lineup played 10 minutes (all rotation data courtesy of the NBA).

In those 10 minutes, the Mavericks were +5, but a lot of that was that stretch from the 8-minute mark to when Kyrie Irving hit that impossible layup to put the Mavericks ahead with 2:15 remaining; a stretch where the Mavs outscored LA 19-5. The lineup was clearly working then, getting stops on one end and hitting shots on the other.

Over the last two minutes of Game 4, the Clippers outscored the Mavericks 12-6, with Harden hitting two of his floaters in that timeframe. The last one put Kleber in a tough situation if he stepped up to defend the shot, as Harden likely would’ve hit the lob pass over Kleber to Ivica Zubac, who was waiting in the dunker spot.

With two minutes left in the game, it can be hard to make that decision to change a lineup that had just outscored the Clippers by 14, even if playing Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford makes sense in hindsight. And yet, the Mavericks haven’t adjusted well all series to certain things, as former Maverick and current ESPN commentator JJ Redick talks about below.

JJ on Mavs lack of adjustments is 🎯🎯🎯 pic.twitter.com/MjAIK4MJMS
— Jason Gallagher (@jga41agher) April 29, 2024
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Here is what Coach Kidd said after the game to reporters regarding the decision to stay small: “Understanding offensively, we needed to space the floor. Maxi (Kleber) did a really good job
there. Understanding the options we have of being able to play Maxi, being able to stretch the
floor was the option we went with. Living with 2s in this league doesn’t hurt you but 3s kill you
– and 3s killed us this afternoon. We’ve got to be better. When (James) Harden is taking 2s, it’s
better than him shooting the 3. Understanding what they were shooting from 3 in the first half,
you’ve got to give up something. They’re talented. We gave up the 2s – but contested 2s – and
they made them. They gave us a chance to get back in the game and actually take the lead.”

The quote reads that they were so scarred defensively from the 3-point barrage the Clippers displayed in the first half that Coach Kidd wanted to be more versatile on the perimeter and rolled with Kleber, willing to let Harden shoot 2s. It makes sense, as the Clippers shot 18/29 from 3 for the game, many of those heavily contested. Coach Tyronn Lue and the Clippers made a great adjustment by allowing Harden to create offense for himself in the paint and that changed the game down the stretch and the Mavericks couldn’t respond in time. They’ll have to be better.

So will Coach Kidd change his clutch-time lineups moving forward? The rotation data from the season certainly suggests he will, but this series will come down to more than just changing lineups.

Game 5 will be Wednesday at 9 p.m. CST from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, as the series is tied 2-2.

READ MORE: Kyrie Irving Remains Highly Confident in Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic Against Clippers

Stick with MavericksGameday for more coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the NBA Playoffs

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Dallas Cowboys still looking at QB options in NFL free agency

Published

3 hours ago

March 31, 2025

Press Room

Dallas Cowboys still looking at QB options in NFL free agency

The Dallas Cowboys will enter April with a number of positions of need remaining on the roster, but there is still time to dip into the NFL free agency pool to find some answers before bringing in a new group of talented players in the NFL Draft.

When speaking to the media on Sunday afternoon ahead of the NFL’s annual league meetings in Florida, Cowboys COO Stephen Jones shed some light on the team’s plans for the coming weeks.

Jones made it clear that the team is not done making moves, and their search for a much-needed backup quarterback could come sooner than anyone thinks.

MORE: Cowboys still looking at trade options, considering ‘several things’

According to Jones, adding a veteran quarterback in free agency is “still an option.”

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals. / Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

One interesting option for the Cowboys would be Desmond Ridder, who despite the early struggles in his career could benefit from a fresh start. The team rolled the dice on Trey Lance, and while that didn’t work out, Ridder could be a low-risk option while also adding a quarterback.

MORE: Dallas Cowboys named in NFL-altering trade idea for 4-time All-Pro

Another option is a player like Jeff Driskel, who brings the added threat of the run.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jeff Driskel against the Arizona Cardinals. / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Whether the Cowboys add a quarterback before the draft remains to be seen, but even if they do, the team is still expected to add a signal-caller in the NFL Draft.

The 2025 NFL Draft will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the first round on Thursday, April 24. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held on Friday, April 25, while the final rounds will play out on Saturday, April 26.

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Hundreds march in Dallas to call for immigration reform

Published

15 hours ago

March 30, 2025

Press Room

Hundreds march in Dallas to call for immigration reform

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DALLAS – The League of United Latin American Citizens, LULAC, organized the 2025 Mega March Sunday in Dallas, calling for immigration reform.

What we know:

About a thousand people marched from Cathedral Guadalupe in Downtown Dallas to Dallas City Hall. The area outside city hall was packed with people who participated in the march and others who came out just to support the rally.

Once the marchers arrived, there was live music followed by a rally with different speakers, including LULAC leaders, local leaders, and state representatives.

The March 30 march and rally were centered around immigration reform as the Trump administration continues to make immigration a top priority and ICE arrests are still happening across the country.

Among the marchers was Congressman Al Green (D-Houston) who was removed from President Trump’s address to Congress on March 4 for causing a disruption.

The rally did see a bit of tension for a moment, while protesters against the rally were in the crowd throughout the afternoon.

There was a Dallas Police presence and fencing around Dallas City Hall for the rally.

What they’re saying:

“Well, it’s important to be here to show my support for this movement. It is a movement that is national in scope and this movement is about letting the president know that the people of this country, we the people, will not tolerate much of what’s taking place,” said Rep. Al Green (D-Houston). “I want the world to know that the United States of America is the United States of America because Latinos have been here to build this country.”

“The answer is clear: we must demand immigration reform that is fair, humane, and just. We must demand that our leaders speak up, act, and stop using fear as a political tool,” said Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, Adam Bazaldua.

“We march for the mothers that are afraid to drop their children off at school. We march for the fathers who work two jobs but are still living in fear of being in fear of being taken from their family. We’re here today because we refuse to let their voices go unheard,” said LULAC National Chief of Staff, Roman Palomares.

LULAC organizers energized those in the crown to not be afraid and unite in this fight against Trump’s “anti-immigration” reform.

“It feels empowering, it almost makes me feel emotional because I wasn’t sure how many people would come out, but I knew that I needed to stand up and that I needed to be here,” said march participant, Andrea Sanchez.

“I’m out here for those who may not have a voice right now, I’m here for my community, for friends, family, that’s what brings me out here,” said another march participant, Rene Cedillo.

The Source: Information in this article is provided by LULAC and interviews conducted at the march/rally.

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