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.
Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving Have the Dallas Mavericks Rolling
Jun 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) and guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrate during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics in game four of the 2024 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports | Jerome Miron/Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mavericks’ Dominance: Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving Lead the Charge
The Dallas Mavericks are on a roll, having secured 10 wins out of their last 11 games. This impressive streak is a testament to the team’s resilience and the dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Doncic, fresh off an injury, is back to his MVP-level performance, showcasing his ability to lead the team with a triple-double against the Washington Wizards. Meanwhile, Irving’s scoring prowess was on full display, with a remarkable 25 points in just 24 minutes. When these two are in sync, the Mavericks operate on a different level, making them a formidable force in the Western Conference.
Mavericks’ Defense and Role Players Shine
The Mavericks’ success isn’t solely due to their star players. Their defense has been a cornerstone of their recent victories, providing a solid foundation that allows the team to thrive even against tougher opponents. The role players, particularly P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall, have been empowered to step up, contributing significantly to the team’s defensive strength. Washington’s versatility and defensive prowess have been crucial, earning him consideration for an All-Defensive Team spot. His ability to adapt and perform various roles on the court has been invaluable, especially in games where the Mavericks needed to lock down their opponents.
Marshall, although out with a cold recently, has also been a key player in the Mavericks’ lineup. His energy and effort on the court set a standard that even the star players follow, ensuring that the team maintains a high level of intensity throughout the game. This empowerment of role players has allowed the Mavericks to navigate through games without relying solely on Doncic and Irving, providing a balanced approach that has been instrumental in their winning streak.
Taking Care of Business Against the Wizards
The recent game against the Wizards highlighted the Mavericks’ ability to take care of business against weaker teams. Despite the Wizards’ struggles, the Mavericks didn’t let their guard down, building a substantial lead and ensuring a comfortable victory. This ability to dominate lesser opponents is a hallmark of great teams, and the Mavericks are proving they belong in that category.
The Wizards, on the other hand, are in a rebuilding phase, with hopes pinned on future draft picks and the development of young talents like Bilal Coulibaly. While the Wizards’ current state is challenging, their fans can look forward to potential growth and improvement in the coming seasons.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Mavericks’ strategies and performances, tune into the Locked On Mavericks podcast for this and much more.
Dec 1, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick calls a play against the Utah Jazz during the first half at the Delta Center. | Christopher Creveling/Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
If JJ Redick had approached the season signalling a measure of outward self-awareness that he, a former player with no head coaching experience and cohost of a podcast with LeBron James, was now head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, things might be different. If Redick had acknowledged that very obvious, and unique to our contemporary basketball moment of athlete-driven media elephant in the room, things might be different. If Redick had at any point, when asked about his new role in scrums wherein he knows the clips and audio of his answers will be immediately and robustly aggregated, balanced out his self-aggrandizing basketball sicko-hood, or answers where he likened head coaching to nothing short of personal destiny, with something like, It’s a learning curve, really anything a hair more measured, things might be different.
Things would not look different. The Lakers made no real structural changes to their roster in the offseason, so the team playing bad basketball now is the same team that was playing bad basketball last season under Darvin Ham (Redick is one game off the 13-9 pace set by Ham last season), but things might be interpreted, or reasoned with, differently. That kind of grace, for a struggling franchise with major conflicting timelines and high-stakes notions like legacy on the line, goes a long way.
There is such a fine line in coaching between collaborative and domineering, confident and arrogant, and many first-time head NBA coaches have learned the hard way what it is to lose a team, and lose them quickly. Nate Bjorkgren went into the Pacers organization not just hot but by many accounts scorching, and was expeditiously fired at the end of his lone year in Indiana. Jason Kidd may have traded in his string of short-lived head coaching appointments (Nets, Bucks — and surprise! — Lakers) for his current and seemingly steady job with the Mavs, but there is no doubt a type afforded the leniency of multiple failures in the NBA, and it tends to be white, male and abidingly faultless.
To Redick’s credit, he has vocally shouldered the blame of the Lakers recent, bad losses. When the team fell to the Timberwolves 109-80 to start the month, Redick noted their lacklustre effort was “looking more and more like it’s not an aberration”, correcting himself from a late-November blown effort against the Nuggets he said was. This week’s impressive loss to the Heat resulted in a two minute explanation from Redick that skimmed the existential and was anchored in the heavy weight of realization.
What’s difficult from here — beyond how the Lakers improve when their offensive energy is sporadic at best and their approach to defence has been to literally stand back and watch — is how to move forward into the long season still ahead, with the base level of competency and pride necessary for a cohesive team to function.
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
Biz The NBA will return to China in 2025; The first time since team executive Daryl Morey’s 2019 tweet signalled support for Hong Kong independence. (ESPN)
Feel Good Four Raptors rookies make history by playing in two games in one day. (SportsNet)
Replay The Mavericks demolished the Wizards 137-101. Check out the player grades from this dominant performance.
Stat Dive into the key 3 numbers that defined the Mavericks’ 137-101 victory over the Wizards. (Mavs Moneyball)
Milestone Luka Doncic ties James Harden and Wilt Chamberlain on the career triple-double list during the Mavs’ blowout win over the Wizards. (Dallas News)
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Ayo Dosunmu’s Big Fantasy Basketball Night
Dec 5, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) looks to pass the ball while defended by San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) and forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter/Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks dominated the Washington Wizards, with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving leading the charge. Doncic’s 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, alongside Irving’s 25 points, highlighted their commanding performance. Despite a lackluster showing from P.J. Washington, Quentin Grimes and Spencer Dinwiddie delivered solid contributions. The Wizards’ decision to start Marvin Bagley over Jonas Valančiūnas was puzzling, given Bagley’s inconsistent play. Bilal Coulibaly’s struggles continue, and Jordan Poole’s shooting woes persist, though his minutes remain encouraging.
In another matchup, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured a significant win over the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic’s 27 points, 20 rebounds, and 11 assists underscored his dominance, despite heavy minutes. Michael Porter Jr.'s defensive contributions were notable, with four steals and two blocks. On the Cavaliers’ side, Caris LeVert’s 21 points and Donovan Mitchell’s 28 points, six assists, and six triples were key to their victory.
The Oklahoma City Thunder overwhelmed the Toronto Raptors, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the charge with 30 points, five assists, and two steals. Cason Wallace’s defensive prowess was on display, contributing two steals and four blocks. The Raptors struggled without Jakob Poeltl, highlighting their lack of depth at the center position.
The Dallas Mavericks are making waves in the NBA with standout performances from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. As the Mavs continue to empower players like Naji Marshall, Dereck Lively II, and PJ Washington, they are becoming a formidable force in the league.
The Dallas Mavericks pulled off an unexpected victory against the Memphis Grizzlies in a game filled with challenges. Despite a tough third quarter, the Mavs, led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, found a way to win, showcasing their resilience. Key players like PJ Washington and Dereck Lively II contributed significantly, while the team’s performance in the NBA Cup remains a hot topic.
Explore the latest NBA trade rumors and how they could impact the Dallas Mavericks, featuring stars like Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson. Discover which players might join the Mavs and how these moves could shape their season. Dive into the potential trades and strategies that could redefine the team’s dynamics.
