Assigning Grades for each of the Mavericks’ players in their 119 – 99 win over Chicago
The Dallas Mavericks were in the midst of a shaky homestand entering the day, having lost two of the first three games in the five-game set. With tonight’s game against the Chicago Bulls and a Friday night rematch against the Phoenix Suns still remaining, things were not made any easier due to key contributors Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington sitting out. Despite an atypical lineup, the Mavericks came out ready, led by Kyrie Irving in the early going. They built a healthy lead that only got healthier as the game went on. There was little to feel bad about in this one as the Mavs got back in the win column. Let’s get to the grades!
Luka Doncic: A
27 points 7 rebounds, 13 assists, 4 steals
Luka looked good from the get in this one. Checking out with 7:24 remaining in the game, he logged almost exactly 32 minutes in which he caused all sorts of damage. His shooting percentages were made a bit uglier with some fourth quarter misses that may very well have been non-called fouls, and he had a garish five turnovers, yet every one of his 13 assists seemed special, he had an astounding 4 steals — each one earned with alertness and quick hands – and a ridiculous plus/minus of plus-35 to lead all players. He just looked completely at ease and controlled every aspect of the game.
Kyrie Irving: B+
17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
It was obvious from the tip-off that Irving was intent on setting the tone. In the first quarter alone, he dropped in 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting. Two of those buckets came off pretty steals he took the other way for layups. He only scored 2 points the rest of the game, but shot a blistering 7-for-11 (63.6%) overall and really wasn’t needed much thereafter.
Klay Thompson: A
13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist
Thompson had a very nice game, albeit a quiet one of sorts. He shot 5-for-10 from the field and 3-for-7 from three for a crisp 42.9% clip. He did his damage in just under 25 minutes, making his totals and efficiency all the more noteworthy.
Naji Marshall: B+
8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Marshall didn’t have the type of game he had in the previous outing, but he was solid and also gets some bonus points for the things that don’t show in the box score. His ball handling continues to impress, as does his passing. For a team just a few years removed from wing players that were ineffective dribblers, Marshall is a very welcome sight. He was 4-for-7 from the floor, but missed his only three of the night.
Quentin Grimes: A-
7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Grimes gave exactly what you would hope for from him in only 15 minutes of play. He was in the right spots, had a nice dunk, hit half of his shots and was very active on defense. His stat line may not show all he brought to the game, but this is solidly in line with the production level the team wants to see, buoyed by tying for the second most rebounds on the team in this one.
Daniel Gafford: A-
17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks
Gafford had a well-rounded game even without Lively to spell him. You probably can’t ask for much more than dropping 17 on 77.8% from the floor in only 23 minutes of action. Opposing center Nikola Vucevic put up hot shooting numbers while collecting a double-double, but Gafford generally held his own even when getting pulled out to the three-point line. He also turned away three shots.
Spencer Dinwiddie: C+
3 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists
Dinwiddie had a forgettable one tonight in most respects, bricking all six of his three point attempts on a 1-for-8 shooting night overall. He gets the “plus” on his letter grade for staying the course like a pro, collecting a couple rebounds and finding his teammates rather than forcing the issue beyond the generally good looks he couldn’t convert.
Dwight Powell: A
5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Powell played just shy of 20 minutes and it wasn’t just garbage time. With Dereck Lively out, he got meaningful time in this one and put a number in each of the five primary stat categories. He was the typical high-energy intelligent player we’ve seen for years now. He didn’t convert on too many shots, but drew fouls and converted 3-of-4 free throws.
Jaden Hardy: B
11 points, 2 assists
Hardy matched Klay Thompson’s three-point performance (3-for-7) and did it in 11 fewer minutes. His 40% overall from the floor needs to come up, as he still struggles to finish at the rim, and literally air-balling a layup in the second quarter was not pretty. Overall, he gave some microwave scoring and also had a couple nice passes for finishes.
Bench Mob: N/A
Everyone played in this one, so everyone is getting their name mentioned. O-Max (six points, one board), Markieff Morris (two boards, two assists), Brandon Williams (two points, two boards), Jazian Gortman (his first three NBA points) and Kessler Edwards all saw action in this one. O-Max was a bit inefficient but you could see a lot of potential and a lot of hustle. Gortman got his first NBA points and overall the bench mob maintained the majority of the lead they inherited.
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