We’re poised to get our first taste of the New-look Mavs
There was a lot to like from the Mavericks’ opening pre-season game. They lost, sure, but the final outcome isn’t all that meaningful. If you couldn’t walk away from that game feeling pumped about Jaz Gortman going off or Jaden Hardy leading the team in scoring, then you simply might not have the palette for pre-season basketball.
Let’s hope more tasty nuggets are coming up in game 2. Here are a couple of things to look for.
Main Course
With so many starters sidelined for game 1, head coach Jason Kidd used his second unit as the starting five. It’s a good idea to get that unit gelling as much as possible leading up to the season, but if we’re being real, the people want to see the big names. Who can blame them? It’s been months since Dallas’ run to the NBA finals, and the Mavs made some exciting offseason moves.
After missing game 1, Kidd said Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson will likely play in games 2 through 4. While Luka Doncic’s absence on account of a calf contusion will prevent us from seeing the new-look lineup at full strength, Klay’s first action in a Dallas uniform is reason enough to tune in.
Keep it coming
After a breakout game 1, eyes will be on Gortman to see if he can replicate some of the scoring pop he displayed in the opener. Since then, Dallas has waived one of their two-way signings in AJ Lawson, so it’s pretty clear that there’s an opening there worth playing for.
He was taking four three-point shots per game during the Summer League and shot 50% from deep, so his scoring prowess seems like no fluke.
Drunk on potential
Dereck Lively has nothing else to prove in terms of just how valuable of a pickup he was for Dallas. His play as a rookie, contributing big minutes to a Finals team speaks volumes. And then he went to work on his game in the offseason and showed up in game 1 of the pre-season and carried the ball the length of the court, hit a Giannis-esque spin move in the lane, drew a foul, made the and-1, and then hit the free throw. The ceiling on this guy just keeps getting higher. In game 2, maybe he’ll bust out that three-point shot he unveiled against Boston in the Finals.
How to watch
You can stream the game on Mavs.com at 7:00 CST.