DHJ Quick Take: Testing the Blueprint<\/p>\n
The Defensive Mandate: To upset the Clippers at Intuit Dome, Marvin Bagley III told Dallas Hoops Journal that the team must \u201ctake them out of the game and force the other guys to make plays.\u201d This strategy specifically targets Kawhi Leonard (54 straight games with 20+ points) and Darius Garland, who scorched Dallas for 41 points in their last meeting.<\/p>\n
Flagg vs. The Klaw: Coming off a historic 96-point two-game stretch, Cooper Flagg faces his toughest defensive test yet. Jason Kidd noted that the Clippers will likely utilize Kawhi Leonard and Derrick Jones Jr. to disrupt Flagg\u2019s rhythm, much like they did in their March 21 overtime victory.<\/p>\n
Shorthanded Hurdles: Dallas opens this three-game road trip severely depleted. With P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Caleb Martin all sidelined, the Mavericks will rely heavily on the return of Marvin Bagley III and the \u201corganized\u201d offensive pace Flagg has established during his record-breaking week.<\/p>\n
INGLEWOOD, Calif. \u2014 The last two nights at American Airlines Center have felt like a glimpse of what the Dallas Mavericks are building toward. Now they take that energy on the road, and the task gets considerably harder.<\/p>\n
Cooper Flagg<\/a> followed his 51-point outburst against Orlando on Friday with 45 more against the Lakers on Sunday, becoming the first rookie to post back-to-back 40-point games since Allen Iverson<\/a> in 1996-97. His 96 combined points over the two-game stretch tie Wilt Chamberlain<\/a> for the fifth-most by a rookie in any two-game span in NBA history \u2014 with Chamberlain owning every spot above them. Dallas snapped a 14-game home losing streak in the process, winning 134-128 to improve to 25-53.<\/p>\n Now the Mavericks open a three-game season-ending road trip Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome, with tip-off scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT on MavsTV.<\/p>\n Flagg\u2019s Rookie of the Year case against Charlotte\u2019s Kon Knueppel<\/a> \u2014 his former Duke teammate \u2014 has never been stronger, but Tuesday presents a different kind of challenge. The Clippers are a team playing for playoff seeding at home, with two of the better individual defenders in the league capable of being assigned to Flagg in Kawhi Leonard<\/a> and Derrick Jones Jr.<\/a> \u2014 the same two who gave him the most trouble in the overtime loss on March 21. Dallas will also be without several key contributors, making Flagg\u2019s efficiency and early rhythm all the more critical.<\/p>\n Over the two-game stretch, Flagg is shooting 33-of-57 (57.9 percent) from the field, 8-of-13 (61.5 percent) from 3-point range, and 22-of-24 (91.7 percent) from the free throw line while averaging 48.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.5 steals.<\/p>\n Jason Kidd on Cooper Flagg, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Path Forward<\/p>\n Head coach Jason Kidd<\/a> was clear-eyed about the defensive challenges ahead when speaking with reporters before Tuesday\u2019s game, acknowledging specifically that Jones disrupted Flagg\u2019s rhythm the last time these teams met and that Leonard presents a different but equally difficult problem on that end.<\/p>\n \u201cI think when you look at the shots he\u2019s taking, it\u2019s just a rhythm,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cWe talked about the Clippers \u2014 Derrick Jones Jr., we know him well from his time with us, and the last time he gave Cooper some fits. You\u2019ve also got Kawhi, another strong defender. So it\u2019s about setting good screens, making sure Cooper isn\u2019t rushing or taking bad shots, and getting him touches early so he can get into a rhythm.\u201d<\/p>\n Flagg\u2019s own defensive impact has been equally notable during this stretch. In the March 21 overtime loss at American Airlines Center, he recorded a chase-down block on Leonard in the fourth quarter that briefly swung the momentum \u2014 an example of the kind of two-way engagement Kidd has come to rely on from his rookie forward.<\/p>\n \u201cAnytime you look at Cooper, he\u2019s playing both sides at a very high level,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s a turnover or a long outlet, he\u2019s always hustling to get the ball back \u2014 whether that\u2019s a steal or a block. He\u2019s come up with some chase-down blocks, but that\u2019s just him playing hard and trying to help his teammates on the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue<\/a> recently called Flagg a star in the making, a level of recognition from a peer that Kidd addressed directly when asked about it Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it means a lot coming from someone like Ty, who has seen stars and has them on his team,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cFor other coaches and peers around the league to recognize how well Cooper is playing \u2014 that says a lot. His numbers speak for themselves, but to see it in person and hear that kind of respect is big.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked about the most significant area of growth from Flagg since training camp, Kidd pointed to something less visible in the box score but fundamental to how Dallas has been using him down the stretch.<\/p>\n \u201cHis pace,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cThe rhythm of his shots \u2014 he\u2019s not rushing anymore, he\u2019s getting to his spots. Coming back from injury, he\u2019s playing with great pace in the open court, which is one of his strengths. He\u2019s not just scoring \u2014 he\u2019s finding teammates and creating looks for shooters.\u201d<\/p>\n The tactical challenge of containing the Clippers\u2019 two primary creators was not lost on Kidd. On Darius Garland<\/a>, whose 41-point, eight-3-pointer performance in the March 21 overtime game remains the blueprint for how to beat Dallas, Kidd emphasized keeping him behind the arc as the primary objective.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last time we saw him, he made a lot of threes,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cSo we\u2019ve got to take him off the three-point line. He can shoot it, but he can also get to the rim and create. Those two complement each other really well.\u201d<\/p>\n On Leonard \u2014 who has scored at least 20 points in 54 consecutive games and whose midrange game and physicality make him uniquely difficult to scheme against \u2014 Kidd acknowledged the limitations of any defensive plan.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you talk about stars, Kawhi is one of them,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cHis midrange game, getting to the free-throw line, shooting the three \u2014 he understands time and score. He\u2019s seen everything. It\u2019s hard to keep him from catching the ball, but you try to make him do something different. Defensively, he\u2019s also elite \u2014 his hands can force you into making other decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Los Angeles has won 34 of its last 57 games after opening the season 6-21, a turnaround Kidd attributed largely to Lue\u2019s steadiness and adaptability.<\/p>\n \u201cTy\u2019s won in this league. He understands it\u2019s a marathon,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cIt\u2019s not always how you start, but how you adjust. They made some moves, and Ty doesn\u2019t complain \u2014 he comes to work every day to find a way to win. He\u2019s gotten that group to believe, and they\u2019re playing really good basketball right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Marvin Bagley III and John Poulakidas Preview the Matchup<\/p>\n Marvin Bagley III<\/a> has seen this Clippers team up close twice already this season, including the March 21 overtime game in Dallas where he shot 7-of-8 from the field for 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Asked what the keys are for Dallas to stay competitive against a Los Angeles team playing its most meaningful basketball of the year, Bagley kept his scouting report direct.<\/p>\n \u201cWe played a pretty close game in Dallas,\u201d Bagley told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cJust doing what we do \u2014 making it tough on Kawhi and Garland, making it as tough as possible for those guys. Try to take them out of the game and force the other guys to make plays and do things to help them win. Just sticking to what we do. I think that\u2019s our best bet to come out, compete, and put ourselves in a position to win.\u201d<\/p>\n With Dallas coming off one of its more efficient offensive performances of the season \u2014 a 134-point win over the Lakers on Sunday \u2014 Bagley was asked what the Mavericks can carry into Tuesday\u2019s road environment from that effort.<\/p>\n \u201cJust locking into things that we either tweaked in the game plan or kept the same and just going out there and competing,\u201d Bagley told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cWe\u2019ve just got to keep that same mindset that we had coming into the last game with these guys and try to do it again \u2014 and be even better at it tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Bagley also addressed the challenge of facing a Clippers team whose two primary contributors have both played in high-stakes basketball before, with Leonard winning multiple championships and Garland logging significant playoff minutes in Cleveland.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re both talented. We know what Kawhi has done in his career \u2014 winning championships and playing in high-level games. Garland has played in a lot of playoff games in Cleveland and been in those situations as well,\u201d Bagley told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cSo we know what they can bring. Like I said, we\u2019ve got to try our best to take those guys out of the game early and make their other guys make plays. It should be fun though.\u201d<\/p>\n John Poulakidas<\/a>, signed to a two-way contract March 1 and appearing in nine games this season, has studied the film closely on a Clippers offense that generates a significant portion of its damage from Garland\u2019s left-hand step-back 3-pointer \u2014 a shot that burned Dallas repeatedly in the March 21 matchup. Poulakidas zeroed in on the specific adjustments he expects Dallas to prioritize.<\/p>\n \u201cJust making sure we\u2019re paying attention to the scouting report, knowing guys\u2019 tendencies, knowing that Garland wants to get to that left-hand step-back,\u201d Poulakidas told Dallas Hoops Journal<\/a>. \u201cHe hit a lot of threes on us the last game, so try to make him play inside the line. And obviously Kawhi has had an incredible season this year, so just trying to limit him, keep him off his right hand as much as we can, and just knowing everyone else\u2019s tendencies.\u201d<\/p>\n The Last Matchup<\/p>\n The most recent meeting between these teams ended 138-131 in overtime on March 21 in Dallas. The Mavericks led by nine at halftime before the Clippers went on a 25-5 run to open the third quarter. Garland scored a season-high 41 points on 15-of-24 shooting with eight made 3-pointers and 11 assists. Leonard added 34, including the tying bucket with 19 seconds remaining in regulation. Derrick Jones Jr. then drilled back-to-back 3-pointers in overtime to put the game away.<\/p>\n Flagg had 18 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, and four blocked shots in that game. Naji Marshall<\/a> scored 28 off the bench and P.J. Washington<\/a> added 21. Ryan Nembhard<\/a> contributed 13 points and nine assists without a turnover. Dallas is 1-2 in the season series.<\/p>\n The Clippers\u2019 Situation<\/p>\n Los Angeles enters Tuesday at 40-38, tied with Portland for eighth in the Western Conference but holding the better tiebreaker. The week ahead is consequential: the Clippers face Oklahoma City on Wednesday before traveling to Portland on Friday in a matchup that could effectively determine who goes directly into the playoff bracket versus who faces an elimination play-in game. Tuesday\u2019s game against a shorthanded Dallas team is one they will be expected to handle before the more pivotal tests that follow.<\/p>\n Leonard has been the engine of the Clippers\u2019 turnaround, averaging 28 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 steals while shooting 50.5 percent from the field. His 54 consecutive games with at least 20 points is one of the more underrated individual streaks in the league. Garland is averaging 20.3 points, Bennedict Mathurin<\/a> 18.8, and John Collins<\/a> 13.7 to provide depth behind Leonard.<\/p>\n Injury Report<\/p>\n Dallas will be without P.J. Washington (left elbow soreness), Brandon Williams<\/a> (illness), Daniel Gafford<\/a> (right shoulder impingement), Caleb Martin<\/a> (right plantar fascia strain), Kyrie Irving<\/a> (left knee surgery), and Dereck Lively II<\/a> (right foot surgery). Moussa Ciss\u00e9 is also out on a G League assignment. Marvin Bagley III (available after missing three games with a left shoulder impingement), John Poulakidas, and Tyler Smith<\/a> are available on two-way contracts.<\/p>\n For the Clippers, Bradley Beal<\/a> (left hip fracture), Isaiah Jackson<\/a> (right ankle sprain), and Yanic Konan Niederhauser<\/a> (right Lisfranc ligament tear) are out.<\/p>\n Season Series<\/p>\n Dallas is 1-2 against Los Angeles this season. The Clippers won 133-127 in double overtime at American Airlines Center on Nov. 14, the Mavericks won 114-110 at Intuit Dome on Nov. 29, and the Clippers took the most recent meeting 138-131 in overtime in Dallas on March 21.<\/p>\n Up Next<\/p>\n Following Tuesday\u2019s game, Dallas travels to Phoenix to face the Suns on Wednesday at 9 p.m. CT, then closes the road trip in San Antonio on Friday at 7 p.m. CT. The Mavericks close the regular season at home against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, April 12.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"DHJ Quick Take: Testing the Blueprint The Defensive Mandate: To upset the Clippers at Intuit Dome, Marvin Bagley…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":704442,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3793],"tags":[7,686,149,4057,166,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-704441","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dallas-mavericks","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-dallas","10":"tag-dallas-mavericks","11":"tag-dallasmavericks","12":"tag-mavericks","13":"tag-nba"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116366841231203924","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/704441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=704441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/704441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/704442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=704441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=704441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=704441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}