We’re moments from the real deal. Before we get there let’s take a lay of the land.
We’re moments away from another Dallas Mavericks season, and the team is carrying more momentum into the fall than they have in over a decade. Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and a large portion of the NBA Finals team from last summer are back. GM Nico Harrison has added a few new pieces to the fold, including Klay Thompson.
Much like the team has used training camp and four preseason games as a warm-up we’re firing up the ol’ writing machine and bringing back The Good and the Bad — a series where we can look at segments of the season, looking at both the big and small picture, on and off the floor, about the story of this campaign as the Mavericks attempt to defend their Western Conference crown and perhaps win a title along the way. So we’re dipping our toe back in, glancing at a few things that have jumped out the last few weeks.
GOOD: a season with expectations
The Dallas Mavericks haven’t entered a season with true expectations since they won the title. Some fans may disagree here and there about rosters that surprised or were cobbled together to compete on the back of Dirk Nowitzki since he hoisted the Larry O, but in truth the Mavericks have outperformed low to mid expectations.
You’ll recall that is what happened last year, as Harrison pulled some levers midseason and turned the roster into a threat, and Doncic and Irving made good on those threats. The front office has doubled down, adding bench depth in Quentin Grimes and Naji Marshall, and recruited Klay Thompson.
No matter the outcome it is wildly exciting to have a team enter a year with those goals and that pressure. Maybe it doesn’t develop, and we’ll have to remind ourselves of this excitement somewhere down the road. But knowing your team is taken seriously inject new energy into the team and fanbase.
BAD: chemistry concerns
On the flip side, this team has new pieces to fold in and blend. And unfortunately they haven’t played any game action together. Luka Doncic sat out all four preseason games with a report leg contusion. Both Irving and Thompson took rest, and projected fellow starter PJ Washington was in and out of the lineup.
Head coach Jason Kidd loves to tinker, so even with a healthy roster he would have likely messed with lineups and rotations long into the regular season. But it is disappointing that some of the team building and on-court chemistry during game action will have to develop on the fly.
GOOD: Jazian Gortman
Ask anyone that tuned into preseason ball and they likely brought up Gortman, the undersized scoring guard who was added to the Summer League roster and brought into camp. Watch him for just a few minutes and his feel for the game, especially as a scoring threat, is evident.
The 21-year old didn’t go to college, instead opting to play for Overtime Elite before signing with the Wisconsin Herd — the Milwaukee Bucks’ G-league affiliate. After impressing over the summer Gortman carried that momentum into training camp. He showed signs as a spark plug scorer in preseason, averaging 10.75 points and two assists, while shooting 57-percent from three in a little over 20 minutes per game.
Gortman will likely not be featured much in games this season. His undersized frame (listed at 6’2 and 185 pounds) is not ideal. But he is a project worth keeping tabs on this season.
GOOD: Klay as a multi-threat
Thompson’s game thrives coming off set or spontaneous actions that work within the flow of an offense. He is great shooting off the move, but isn’t confined to being a sharpshooter. Possessing some ball handling and high IQ play, Klay causes a variety of problems for defenses. The Mavericks in the Luka-era haven’t run motion-heavy offenses, and for sound reasons. But they do have built within their game plan actions that were previously called for Tim Hardaway Jr., who for long stretches in Dallas was the only one comfortable shooting off screens.
Taking those same actions but using them for one of the best shooters ever, who is also capable of making decisions off the response by the defense is going to unlock a different layer to the Mavericks’ offense. Particularly in these clips from his debut where he attacks closeouts with passes to Dereck Lively.