News Mavericks Team Notes

[Dallas Mavericks]

Grading the Mavericks: Dallas has to find easier offense

The Mavericks were 1-3 this past week and sit at 14th place in the West. They got beat by San Antonio (125-92) in the home opener and followed that up with a loss to Washington (117-107). They got on the board with a win against Toronto (139-129), but a late comeback fell short, and they lost a dog fight to Oklahoma City (101-94). Anthony Davis led the team in scoring over this stretch with 25 points per game. Daniel Gafford (ankle), Dante Exum (knee), and Kyrie Irving (knee) have yet to make their season debuts. Dereck Lively played three games before injuring his knee and missed Monday’s game against the Thunder. Brandon Williams missed two games due to personal reasons.

Grade: D​

The Mavericks have had an interesting start to the season, to say the least. The first two contests were baffling, both in how porous the defense looked and how much Jason Kidd bought into the idea of a guardless lineup. Getting pounded by the Spurs looks a lot less egregious in hindsight, given how dominant they look with Victor Wembanyama. But losing to a young, weird Wizards team with little to no fight until the fourth quarter was incredibly disheartening.

One not-so-small reason the Mavericks turned things around in some way was Anthony Davis’ shot-making. In the first two games, Davis was just 16-of-41 from the floor. If you break it down, he shot 2-of-8 from three, 14-of-33 from two, and just 11-of-25 in the paint. When your starting big man is shooting 44 percent in the paint, you cannot win games. To his credit, he cleaned it up and posted two excellent shooting performances (11-of-14 and 10-of-16) after two stinkers.

The vision of what this team can be was present against the Thunder. That was the type of rock fight that we expected going into the season. The first three games were defensive atrocities, but it looked a lot more cohesive against Oklahoma City. They held the Thunder to just two points over a seven-and-a-half-minute stretch, fueling a comeback that gave Dallas a shot at the tie with 34 seconds left.

The shot-making is what it is. It is going to be as volatile as can be until they figure out the lead guard role. But there are building blocks in place for the success of this team. They have to play consistent defense. They have to make their inside shots. They have to utilize the offense to create open looks, or scoring will come at a premium. There have been flashes, but they have yet to put together a full game of the basketball they want to play.

Straight A’s: Cooper Flagg​

One thing that stood out in the team’s first four games is that Cooper Flagg is far and away the team’s best offensive engine. He is poised under pressure (for the most part), his jump shot looks fluid, and he has flashed some playmaking that displays his progress as a ball-handler. At some point this season, they are going to have to hand him the keys to the offense. Sure, he is only 18 years old. But when guys have it, it is obvious. And Cooper Flagg has it. Plus, we need more highlights like this:

COOPER FLAGG AND-1 POSTER SLAM

NBA League Pass
https://t.co/cRUBKOfvP4 pic.twitter.com/o1aeTb93i9

— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2025

Currently Failing: The opening unit​

Jason Kidd has to switch up the starting lineup. The lack of a point guard kills the ability to get off to a hot start. On Monday night, they went down 11-2 before D’Angelo Russell was subbed in and the Mavericks scored 10 of the next 15 points. That is a nine-point deficit they surrendered because Kidd is stubborn in a seven-point loss. The team needs a steady ball-handler to be successful. Kidd even said this after their loss to Washington. Given that he likes to experiment for the first month or so, the “Flagg at point guard” test will likely continue for some time. But the Mavericks’ best lineups will continue to be the ones where an actual point guard is initiating the offense.

Extra Credit: A new tradition​

If you have ever been to a Dallas Stars game, you’ll know that the National Anthem before the game sounds a bit different. That’s because whenever the song mentions the word “star”, a loud “Stars!” yell can be heard from every fan in attendance, as a tribute to the hometown team. Mavericks fans have picked up on this, and as a clever counter, have started to yell “Flagg!” when the word “flag” is sung in the anthem. It is a cool tradition to help embrace the Mavericks’ next young star:

It’s a tradition at American Airlines Center for fans to yell “Stars” during the Star Spangled Banner to acknowledge the Dallas Stars.

Ahead of tonight’s opener, they added one more wrinkle to that tradition. The yelled “Flag” to acknowledge #Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg. pic.twitter.com/9AJcrQtsqR

— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) October 23, 2025

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...ericks-nba-2025-26-anthony-davis-cooper-flagg

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

SB Reacts: Are Mavericks fans concerned?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mavericks fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

This one should get some fun results. It’s posting BEFORE the Pacers game and I have a feeling that game will make most of us feel a lot better about how Dallas has looked and played.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/general/51654/sb-reacts-are-mavericks-fans-concerned

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

Player Grades – Recapping the Mavericks vs. the Pacers

The Dallas Mavericks played host to former head coach Rick Carlisle and the Indiana Pacers, grabbing a 107-105 win in a relatively ugly affair. Unexpected players stepped up in a big way to eek out the win, but the injury list grew when Anthony Davis checked out midway through the first quarter.

Let’s get to the grades!

COOPER FLAGG: A-

15 PTS / 10 REB / 4 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 35 MIN

Coming into the grading, not many “A” rankings were on my mind. The game was relatively ugly and something of a futility match. That said, a double-double in his fifth ever NBA game, on 6-for-11 shooting and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line gets you there in this one. Despite a negative plus/minus, Flagg had a very solid game with only two turnovers and two fouls.

MAX CHRISTIE: C

10 PTS / 2 REB / 4 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 33 MIN

Christie put on a generally uneventful show, missing more shots than he made to the tune of 43% shooting, a percentage brought low by his 1-for-4 from beyond the arc.

KLAY THOMPSON: D

5 PTS / 1 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 22 MIN

At the expense of possibly jinxing it and finding a new low in the future, this is about as bad a game as you can get out of Thompson. 2-for-10 from the floor and 1-for-6 from three just can’t happen when your primary objective is to shoot. It’s getting to be like a kicker in the NFL who makes 50% of his field goals. We all know the narrative that Thompson finds his form a month or two into the season, but the Mavs are going to struggle enduring nights like this if that’s the case.

P.J. WASHINGTON: C

9 PTS / 11 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK – 28 MIN

Washington put up decent numbers in a near double-double, adding a couple of nice blocks on the defensive end, but his shooting was nearly horrendous at every level. 2-for-8 from the floor (0-for-2 on threes) and 5-for-8 on free throws. It was nice he earned trips to the line, but even one more in the made column would have been helpful in such a close game.

ANTHONY DAVIS: N/A

4 PTS / 4 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 7 MIN

Davis was trending toward a monster game, though two turnovers in just under seven minutes is far too many. The unfortunate story here though, is that Davis made it through only four game this season before enduring another injury, this time a mysterious lower leg… something (the in-game details given from the team were murky at best).

D’ANGELO RUSSELL: C

14 PTS / 2 REB / 5 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 20 MIN

The overall shooting was better than the prior game, but that is largely because it couldn’t have been much worse. Even still, from beyond the arc, Russell was but 1-for-5. That poor shooting along with an almost inexplicable for turnovers drove his grade down, just not quite to the basement.

NAJI MARSHALL: D

3 PTS / 2 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 22 MIN

You’re probably noticing a theme that there just isn’t much to say about a number of these performances. Like Thompson, Marshall barely contributed anything, though he at least brought intangibles on defense. Three points, all by way of free throws, and only two rebounds is well below what Marshall can bring, even on ho-hum night. This was something worse than that.

DWIGHT POWELL: A+

18 PTS / 6 REB / 0 AST / 1 STL / 2 BLK – 29 MIN

Powell might not be in consideration for an A+ again this season, so he’s getting while he can. It’s not just a frivolous gift thought. Powell’s performance was a huge part in the Mavs actually winning, and while the grade may seem intentionally provocative, I can’t imagine anyone would have this performance on their bingo card, especially for a guy who certainly came into the game thinking he’d get spot minutes at best. Instead, he had to take over for Davis, who himself was playing center for the injured Dereck Lively. Kudos to Powerll for 4-for-6 shooting and a ridiculous 10-for-12 on free throws. He racked up too many fouls (four), but brought it in ways none of us would have really banked on.

BRANDON WILLIAMS: A-

20 PTS / 7 REB / 2 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 22 MIN

Williams was easily the best player on the Mavs from a stat-stuffing standpoint, and all 20 of his points (to lead the team off the bench) were massive in a two-point game. His low assist total and an astonishingly awful three attempt late in the fourth quarter (it was surprising it didn’t go straight through the backboard) ding the grade a bit, but scoring nearly a point a minute for a dysfunctional offense that lost its best player in the first six minutes is something noteworthy, especially coming off a difficult few days on the personal side of things.

This game was pure ugly. If you missed it, enjoy the grades and our other game coverage, and be happy you were otherwise occupied. The inability or lack of urgency in covering the three point line has been a massive annoyance for years now. Holding a 12-point lead with just minutes to go, and then allowing the Pacers to can three-pointer after three-pointer was frustrating to say the least. Indiana missing the game winning three when no one secured the rebound on a missed free throw was a gift. Still, a win is a win, and the Mavs need as many as they can get, especially against a team that is as inured as Indiana (who has yet to get a W).

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

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Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...-grades-recapping-the-mavericks-vs-the-pacers

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

The start to Cooper Flagg’s rookie season looks eerily similar to his year at Duke. That’s a good thing for the Mavericks

The date is Tuesday, November 12, 2024. College basketball season is just eight days old, and you’re watching perhaps the biggest matchup of the season to date. The Kentucky Wildcats are playing the Duke Blue Devils on ESPN, and it’s a tight game coming down the stretch. In fact, the game is tied at 72 with just 20 seconds left, and Duke is about to do something for the first time this season: Put the ball in true freshman Cooper Flagg’s hands and let him go win a ball game for them. However, this was no storybook ending for Flagg and the Dukies, as Cooper committed turnovers on back-to-back possessions in a five-point loss.

Cooper Flagg turned the ball over two possessions in a row late in regulation.

No. 19 Kentucky takes down No. 6 Duke 77-72 pic.twitter.com/11fiwuov61

— ESPN (@espn) November 13, 2024

In that first marquee game against the Wildcats, Flagg had just two assists and three turnovers. In Duke’s first game against Arizona in Tucson, Cooper had three assists and four turnovers. And in their last marquee out of conference game against Kansas, Cooper Flagg had three assists to five turnovers. It all bore out in the eye test, too. While Flagg certainly had his moments in all of those games, for the most part it looked like he was uncomfortable trying to be the engine for a team’s offense in the early stages of the season. Sounds familiar, right?

Once Duke got into conference play, Flagg blossomed in his role. Sure, his first ten games last year at Duke (as a 17-year-old, mind you) were a bit clunky. Those next 20 games? How does 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists on 53% shooting from the field and 45% from deep sound? Bear in mind that during this stretch, he had thirteen games with at least five assists.

This included the NCAA Tournament, where he played arguably his best game against the Arizona Wildcats. Remember how earlier in the season, Cooper had three assists to four turnovers against Arizona? Well, the second time out he totaled seven assists to just one turnover while having total control of the ball game. It was so good that I wrote a whole breakdown on his performance in the game. That’s the type of player this guy is.

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Cooper Flagg's start feels a lot like it did at Duke where he had some shaky starts against top competition despite some of the numbers he was putting up. In those games, he looked like he was overthinking things, trying to do too much, and was figuring out the speed of the game.…

— Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) October 28, 2025

There are already people who are ready to give up on the point-Flagg experience with the Mavericks, mostly due to the struggle that he and the team are having. However, giving up on this now would be the equivalent of breaking a butterfly out of its cocoon before it can naturally get out of it. Sure, the butterfly gets the instant gratification of getting out. But in the long run, the butterfly’s wings are too weak to fly on its own because it didn’t endure the struggle.

Cooper Flagg is going to break out of the cocoon in the NBA. He’s only done it everywhere he’s been, from high school in Maine, to Montverde and Duke. Flagg has proven to be an elite problem solver and one who grows into the best version of himself. Go look at what Cooper Flagg’s shot looked like at Montverde Academy, and then go watch what it’s looked like so far in the NBA. Imagine telling that guy to stay confined to any given box you want to place him in.

Growing pains happen in this league, folks, especially for a guy who should be playing his freshman year at Duke this season. Flagg is a special talent who thrives off the challenges he’s presented. You don’t put elite competitors like him in a box and tell them to stay there. Instead of complaining about how this team shouldn’t put Cooper in these spots, enjoy the fight; There’s beauty in the struggle. And with a player of Cooper Flagg’s caliber, you’ll see why it was all worth it sooner rather than later. After all, he’s only been working for this his whole life.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...e-thats-a-good-thing-for-the-dallas-mavericks

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

After five games, the numbers are making a case for changes

The Dallas Mavericks hold a 2-3 record after five games, good for the 12 Seed in the Western Conference as of Thursday morning. Although it is a small sample size, there is enough behind the numbers to begin identifying trends.

There was no question coming into the season that head coach Jason Kidd would have some creative decisions to make regarding his lineups. He ultimately elected to go without a traditional point guard in the starting rotation, opting instead for a squad of Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively. The immediate question was how the team would fare without a true point guard leading the way, and the results have been somewhat mixed. In the opener, the team looked like a turnover machine of total strangers. Since then, they’ve taken better care of the ball and picked up their pace and passing.

The other glaring question was where the shooting would come from. With the starting lineup set, there was little outside shooting aside from Thompson, with playing time for players off the bench somewhat uncertain. Aside from a few individual hot stretches, the overall shooting has left something to be desired, with last night’s win over the Pacers putting a dark shade on ugly.

With five games in the books, the stats are beginning to reveal two realities that speak to these questions.

The Case for a Point guard​

D’Angelo Russell has been a mixed bag so far. He didn’t break the 20 minute mark until the third game (playing as few as 8:30 in the loss to the Wizards), and is shooting only 32.7%. Despite this, there is a case to be made for having a true point guard on the floor to start. In fact, the Mavs have been their most successful in recent years when they have two capable ball handlers on the court at the same time. Despite some of his personal struggles, having someone who can orchestrate and pass allows other players to get to their spots and play at their best, which can result in a better overall outcome. Case in point is the team plus/minus with and without Russell. These numbers are the difference between maybe being 4-1 or even 5-0 at this point, rather than sitting in 12th place.

Through 5 games, Mavs are a +36 with D'Angelo Russell on the court and a -74 with him off. He's shot the ball poorly (43.5 TS%) but 27 assists compared to 9 turnovers.

— Christian Clark (@christianpclark) October 30, 2025

The Case for Shooting​

The Mavs are stacked at the forward and center positions (notwithstanding health), so much so that they are starting one of them at point guard. The only obvious shooter in the starting rotation is Klay Thompson. The only problem is that he can’t find his groove. Impossibly, Thompson is shooting worse than Russell at 31.3% overall and just nearly 26% from three. Meanwhile, Max Christie is shooting a blazing 51.9% from three, good for fourth on the league leaders list (minimum 25 attempts).

League leaders in three-point percentage (min. 25 attempts):

1) Kyshawn George – 53.8%
2) Kon Knueppel – 53.3%
3) Malik Monk – 52%
4) MAX CHRISTIE – 51.9%
5) Sam Merrill – 51.4% #MFFL pic.twitter.com/voOJOXBOBk

— All Things Mavs (@All_Things_Mavs) October 30, 2025

The Case for Change​

The solution isn’t quite as simple as starting Russell and Christie, as that would raise questions of whom between Washington, Davis and Lively moves to the bench (and it certainly won’t be Davis). Still, if both can’t happen, one of the two should. Russell getting more minutes than his current 21 per game would at least solve some of the problem, even if he wasn’t starting. Christie is a different story though. If Thompson can’t find his form quickly, the Mavs are going to have to give serious consideration to Christie starting in his place. It would give the Mavs more youth and athleticism, and much better comparative shooting at this point. It may even serve Thompson well to come in and microwave score in the second unit.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/maver...mes-the-numbers-are-making-a-case-for-changes

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

3 things to note as Dallas travels to Mexico City to face Detroit

The Dallas Mavericks are heading south of the border for an international showcase in Mexico City, where they’ll face a Detroit Pistons team that’s finding its rhythm early this season

After being one of last season’s great success stories, the Pistons have gotten out of the starting blocks a little slow this season

Both teams enter this matchup with records hovering around .500 – Dallas at 2-3, Detroit at 3-2 – but they’re trending in different directions. While the Pistons are coming off a dominant 135-116 victory over Orlando and have won three of their last five, the Mavericks have been a bit Jekyll and Hyde, following up a 101-94 beat down against the Thunder with a narrow win against an injury-riddle Pacers team, that was nearly a loss had Aaron Nesmith hit his open three as time expired.

Dallas does have a two-game win streak in Mexico based on their wins in 2017 and 2019, so maybe the Mexico Boost can get Dallas back to .500.

Shut up, we’re a small ball team now​

Yeah, yeah, Dallas started the season with dreams of running two-big lineups, forwards at every position, and stuffing every player shorter than 6’5” in a locker. Well, forget all that, we’re going back to small ball.

This season started with fans and general NBA observers wondering how in the world Dallas was going to get Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, and Anthony Davis enough minutes on the floor.

A pre-season injury to Gafford simplified that issue, but then additional injuries to Lively and then Davis mean that the Mavs have gone from overloaded in the front court to potentially having to lean entirely on Dwight Powell and Moussa Cisse.

That said, Dwight “The Eternal Maverick” Powell was Dallas’ second-leading scorer against Indiana with 18, behind only Brandon Williams’ 20. If nothing else, the injuries give leeway to head coach Jason Kidd to devise some of the dumbest, nonsensical lineups you can imagine, and that no opposing team could have possibly planned for.

Welcome to the Brick Show​

So far this season Dallas is managing just 107.8 PPG on 44.5% shooting. That’s good for second to last in the league in terms of offensive rating. Detroit hasn’t done much better, shooting an even worse 44.1% from the field. Still, they’ve managed to score in excess of 110 points in every game except for their 116-95 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

These are two teams that rank near the bottom of the league in nearly every offensive category. Though, even on the defensive side, things are murky. Detroit is holding opponents to 43.5% shooting from the floor — fifth best in the league. Dallas has the league’s eighth-best defensive rating, but their sixth-worst Net rating shows just how bad their offense has been at the same time.

Dallas may have found an offensive spark in Brandon Williams, who stands to receive an increase in playing time considering Dallas’ injuries. His impressive end to last season and team-leading 20 points indicate that he’s capable of being a regular contributor.

Neither team is clicking offensively, so it might come down to who manages to eke out the most possessions. And with how both of these teams have struggled with turnovers so far this year (both averaging nearly 17 a game) there will be ample opportunity for one team or the other to generate looks.

The end of October Klay​

For his career, Klay Thompson has shot 41% from three. Peaking as high as 44% in the 2017-18 season. It’s notable, then, that with a 13-year sample size, Klay is shooting under 35% from three in the month of October across his whole career. It’s the only month where he’s consistently shot the three-ball below 40%. This year, that number is even worse, as he’s shooting just a shade under 26% from deep so far.

The good news is that this will be the final game Dallas plays in October. The better news is that Klay’s shot has always found its way back to him, as he’s shot 40+% in every non-October month in his career. The thought of a 40% three-point shooter would be a godsend for this team offensively, but Dallas would likely settle for even league average instead of de facto turnover when Klay gets his hands on the ball.

How to Watch​

You can broadcast or stream the game on Peacock or Telemundo at 9:00 pm.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...dallas-travels-to-mexico-city-to-face-detroit

 

[Dallas Mavericks]

MMBets: How to Wager the Mavericks and Pistons in Mexico City

MMBets: How to Wager the Mavericks and Pistons in Mexico City

Can the Mavs snap Detroit’s early-season momentum south of the border?

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The Dallas Mavericks (2–3) face off against the Detroit Pistons (3–2) tonight in Mexico City, tipping off at 9:00 PM CT. While the neutral-court setup adds some intrigue, this game also presents a test of depth: both teams enter with key rotation players either out or listed as game-time decisions.

Dallas is coming off a win but still sits near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Detroit, meanwhile, has won three of its last four and is looking to keep pace in the Central Division. The Pistons are currently 7.5-point favorites, and ESPN’s matchup predictor gives them a 72.8% chance to win.

Will the altitude matter? Will the Mavs’ patchwork guard rotation hold up? And is there any value on this board? Let’s scan the lines and find out.

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Game Fixtures​

November 1, 2025 — Dallas Mavericks (2–3) vs. Detroit Pistons (3–2)
Tipoff: 9:00 PM CT — Arena CDMX, Mexico City
How To Watch: Peacock / Tele

Odds via Draft Kings Sportsbook as of 4:45 AM CST​

Spread: Detroit -7.5
Total: 225.5
Moneyline: DET -305 / DAL +245

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Game Sides​

SGP +122
Leg 1: Detroit Pistons Moneyline
Leg 2: Cade Cunningham 9+ Assists

The Mavericks are missing Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Anthony Davis, leaving their interior defense in the hands of Dwight Powell and P.J. Washington. Against the athleticism and interior strength of Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, that’s a mismatch from tip-off. Cade Cunningham should thrive as a facilitator, racking up assists as Detroit dominates the paint.

Dallas’ only wins so far? A blowout over a shaky Toronto squad and a home squeaker against Indiana’s second unit. Between the altitude, the travel, and the injuries, this is a tough setup for a shorthanded team still finding its rhythm.

Detroit rolls here.

Source: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/dalla...ager-the-mavericks-and-pistons-in-mexico-city