Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson’s perspective of the NBA’s two-player race for Rookie of the Year admittedly was one-sided.
Entering Friday night, the Cavaliers had faced Charlotte’s Kon Kneuppel four times and were about to finally face Dallas’ Cooper Flagg. Two times in three days, as a matter of fact.
“Knueppel, he’s killed us,” Atkinson said.
Friday night was Flagg’s chance to make a first impression on most Cavs. He delivered 25 points and a highlight dunk, but like many Dallas games these days, those and other Flagg qualities had to be gleaned amid the rubble of a one-sided loss, this one a 138-105 defeat in American Airlines Center.
Mavericks
“I really feel I hadn’t come back with my pop, like my athleticism has kind of been lacking since I got hurt and came back,” Flagg said. “I finally felt like I was getting my pop back a little tonight.”
Entering Friday, in five games since his return from a left foot sprain, Flagg averaged 15.6 points on 35% shooting.
Yes, he got his pop back, especially with the third quarter windmill dunk coming straight down the lane, but it came in the Mavericks’ 19th defeat in their last 22 games.
This also was Dallas’ ninth straight home defeat, the franchise’s longest such drought since a 12-loss stretch during the 13-win season of 1993-94.
Did we say drought? It’s more like famine. Dallas hasn’t won at home since Jan. 22, a 51-day dearth, compounded by the fact the Mavericks scarcely have been here of late.
Friday was Dallas’ seventh game in seven different cities in a span of 11 days. After the Mavericks play at Cleveland Sunday and at New Orleans Monday to complete a four-games-in-five-day stretch, they will have played nine games in nine cities in 14 days – and 14 of 18 games on the road.
“It’s the schedule, and we have to play it,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said, “but to be home is always a good thing.”
Even if it’s for less than 48 hours. It seemed helpful for Flagg, despite coming on the second game of a back-to-back, following Thursday’s win at Memphis. He only scored 6 first-half points Friday on 2-of-8 first-half, but he had 13 points in the third. The dunk with 7:38 left brought Dallas within 79-63.
“I thought you could see Cooper, he had a step tonight, in the sense of having played last night,” Kidd said. “I thought that effort was there. I thought his game picked up after his dunk. He started to be a little more aggressive.”
The Cavaliers and Atkinson noticed. Atkinson said it was clear that Flagg’s dunk got the crowd into the game, but the Cavaliers (41-26) responded and carried a 25-point lead into the fourth. Not that it affected Atkinson’s first impression of Flagg.
“Big-time player,” Atkinson said. “One of the top players in the league. You just feel it, how he moves, poise, confidence.
“Obviously the shooting will come with more reps and as he gets his body better. But how old is he? Nineteen? I’m looking at it like he’s 26 or 27. He’ll be a great player in this league. It’s easy to see.”
Kneuppel, in four games against Cleveland, averaged 25.2 points. On Sunday, Flagg has a chance to improve his 25-point average against the Cavs. Which rookie would get Atkinson’s vote?
“Half a vote for each,” he said with a smile. “That’s a tough one. They’re both having great years.”
If it’s hard for Atkinson, imagine the 100 media voters who will decide the Rookie of the Year race, which clearly has come down with Flagg and his ex-Duke teammate Knueppel.
Nowhere is it said that team performance is supposed to factor into ROY voting, but it will be hard for voters to ignore Charlotte’s 34-33 record and reeling Dallas’ 22-45 mark.
That’s why it’s imperative that Flagg in the Mavericks’ last 15 games plays more like he did on Friday – and for most of this season prior to his foot injury.
Flagg leads all rookies in scoring average (19.9), is seventh in rebounding (6.7) and second in assists (4.3).
Knueppel is second among rookies in scoring (19.2), 11th in rebounding (5.3) and his 3-point percentage (.440) is far superior to Flagg’s .294. Statistically, it’s a dead heat.
“I’ve just got to keep getting back into the swing,” Flagg said. “It’s hard to play so much basketball, and then to miss three weeks like that was tough. It was different for me.
“I’m going to just keep getting my body back into the rhythm and finish out these last 15 games.”
Is it a good sign that he got his pop back on the second game of a back-to-back?
“Yeah,” Flagg said with a smile. “Because it gives me a good idea that I’m taking care of myself in the right way. I’ve just got to stay at it and stay hungry and keep getting better.”
Flagg is flying! See photos from the Mavericks’ Friday night matchup with the Cavaliers
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