Nick Angstadt here, the host of the daily Locked On Mavericks podcast, with your daily Locked On Mavericks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Mavericks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Are the Mavericks Ready to Dominate the West?
Today, we’re tackling whether the Mavericks should be favorites in the West and how the top of the conference might shake out after all the summer moves.
- The Mavericks’ Preseason Woes: The Mavs are winless so far, but let’s not freak out. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving haven’t played much, so it’s too early to make any big judgments. Preseason is all about shaking off the rust.
- Klay Thompson’s Role: There’s a lot of chatter about Klay Thompson’s performance, but it’s way too early to panic. He’s here to complement Luka and Kyrie, and we need to give him time to find his rhythm.
- Western Conference Favorites: We’re looking at the Mavericks and the Thunder as the top contenders. OKC has a young and exciting roster, but don’t count out Dallas. With Luka, Kyrie, and some solid additions, the Mavs are built for playoff success.
- Offseason Moves Impact: The Timberwolves’ trade involving Julius Randle might shake things up, but we’re not too worried. The Mavs still match up well against them, especially since the lineups that troubled us are no longer there.
- Nuggets’ Title Window: It’s not closed yet. They’ve still got Jokic, and while they’ve faced some challenges, they’re still a formidable team. The Nuggets are one of those teams that could surprise us this season.
- Suns and Other Contenders: The Suns are in the mix too, but we’re not sure they’ll break into the top tier. The Grizzlies might be another team to watch, but they have a lot to prove.
- FanDuel Odds: According to FanDuel, the Thunder are the favorites to win the West, followed by the Timberwolves and the Mavs. It’s interesting to see how the odds stack up, but we’re confident in the Mavs’ chances.
- Looking Ahead: We’re keeping an eye on all these moves and how they’ll impact the season. The Thunder might win a bunch of games, but we’re confident the Mavs are ready to take on the West.
Thanks for hanging out with us on Locked On Mavericks. Peace Out. Boom.
Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.
Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.
This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.
Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Injury Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II was a late scratch due to injury, impacting team performance against the Pacers. (Sports Illustrated)
Replay The Mavericks fell to the Pacers in a high-scoring game, struggling defensively against Myles Turner’s dominant performance. (Sports Illustrated)
Feel Good The Pistons had to take the subway to their game in Brooklyn because of the NYC marathon (ESPN)
Analysis Will the NBA pinpoint its 3 point problem? (TSA, Substack)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
Join Nick Angstadt and Slightly Biased as they break down the game, discussing key players like Dereck Lively II, PJ Washington, and Naji Marshall. The episode also touches on the challenges faced by the Pelicans, who were missing several key players. Tune in to hear insights on the Mavs’ strategy and how they can maintain their momentum in upcoming games.
The Dallas Mavericks secured a significant victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder, showcasing their potential even without Luka Doncic. This episode explores the dynamics of the Mavs’ gameplay, focusing on key players like Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and the overall NBA landscape.
Join Nick Angstadt and his co-host as they break down the game, discussing the impact of players like Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and Naji Marshall. The episode delves into the strategies that led to the Mavs’ success and highlights the challenges faced the Thunder. Tune in to hear insights on how the Dallas Mavericks managed to pull off this impressive win.
