Mavericks vs Jazz Preview: Utah visits Dallas for the first time this season

The preseason is over, right?

The Dallas Mavericks return home at 1-1 on the young season to square off with the Utah Jazz on Monday night. The tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the American Airlines Center. After Dallas dropped a strange game in Phoenix, they look to get back on track against a beatable opponent.

The Utah Jazz (0-2) are looking for their first win of the year after losing two home games to open the season. A two-point heartbreaker to Memphis and a blowout at the hands of the Warriors leave the Jazz at the start of what may be a very long season.

Will Dallas cruise in this one as the on-paper matchup would dictate or are the issues we saw in Phoenix going to snowball and make this one too close for comfort?

Preseason, Interrupted

Watching Dallas look discombobulated on the road against the Suns was disappointing but should not be shocking in the least. The number of new pieces and the lack of any preseason time with Luka Doncic on the floor showed up in the first half against the Spurs and even more so against the Suns.

Yes, Doncic dropped 40 and Dallas had a chance late to make it a game. However, the game flow was stilted from the start. A first half that ends with Daniel Gafford having more assists (3) than Luka Doncic (1) is a sign of lackluster shooting by role players and a bit of Thanos “I’ll do it myself” scoring from Doncic. He was the NBA scoring leader last season and there will be games when he asserts his will. But this felt like a game where Doncic had to score to keep Dallas in the game rather than simply a scorer going off because it was his night.

How long will the team need to become cohesive amid the new additions and how many games before Doncic can fire on all cylinders as both a scorer and symphony conductor? Playing the Utah Jazz at home should be a chance to iron out some of the issues from Saturday before tougher opponents come to town.

From Trade Rumors to Cornerstone

The most tantalizing trade chatter for many fanbases centered around the possibility that Utah Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen might get traded. Teams looking to extend a window like the Golden State Warriors and teams looking to open a window like the San Antonio Spurs coveted the Finnish sharpshooter.

The trade never materialized – reportedly due to the Danny Ainge signature King’s Ransom level asking price. Another factor appears to be that Markkanen enjoys being in Utah as evidenced by his 5 year, 238 million dollar extension signed this offseason.

The interesting thing about players getting traded to destinations they may never have chosen in free agency is that sometimes those are the best fits. I find it tough to believe Markkanen would opt for Utah in free agency yet here he is – choosing to stay.

The Mavericks benefited from a similar dynamic with Kyrie Irving which then has parlayed into other moves including the decision by Klay Thompson to opt for the Mavs as his new home.

The Mavericks need more from Washington and Marshall

Players have tough shooting nights and the first few games of a new season are magnified out of proportion. With the caveat in place, it is safe to say Dallas needs more production from PJ Washington (6-21 FG) and Naji Marshall (2-11 FG) than they mustered in the first two games of the season.

Both of these players have the size and skill to provide so much on the court outside of scoring. They are both well above-average defenders who can create secondary playmaking chances for their teammates. It is also true that the more the shooting woes continue, the more comfortable teams will be in hiding their defense liabilities on them such as the Spurs sticking ancient car insurance salesman Cliff Paul on PJ Washington. I was begging Washington to punish that insulting move every time down the floor and apparently, my television audio only works in one direction because it never happened.

The spacing created by the shooting of Klay Thompson and the incredible passing of Derrick Lively from the high post are advantages that only translate to points on the board when the players the defense has sagged off of make them pay.

Keep an eye on both Washington and Marshall for signs of life on the offensive end – it is a long season and they are both needed ingredients to help the Mavericks get where they want to go.

How to Watch

KFAA (Channel 29), MavsTV, League Pass, and somehow by using an antenna