This season is the first time the Dallas Mavericks have made it to the championship game since 2011. After losing to the Celtics and missing the Gold Cup, they have been active in the free market and ready to go. Currently, the Mavericks have signed forward Naji Marshall and sent Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Pistons for young guard Quentin Grimes. Then, they reached an agreement with the Warriors through a sign-and-trade, bringing in Klay, who helped the Warriors win four championships. Thompson.
The Mavericks’ starting lineup next season following acquiring Thompson should consist of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II.
On paper, this starting duo is loaded with talent and there’s a lot to like regarding it — we’ve seen Doncic and Irving work well together and lead the team to the Finals; Lively’s rookie season may be enough to put him in the mix. Next season’s starting lineup; in the playoffs, Washington has performed well on both ends of the floor, and with a player of Thompson’s caliber, this is undoubtedly a lineup you want to choose every game.
But there are gains and losses in the free market. The Mavericks lost their best defensive player last season, Derrick Jones Jr., to the Clippers and Josh Green in the Thompson trade. The loss of Green may not be a huge loss, but trading Jones and Green for Marshall and Thompson doesn’t feel like the strong upgrade expected.
I say this not to knock Thompson’s abilities, but because he may not be able to completely solve the Mavericks’ problems. Against the Celtics, the Mavericks’ defense was unable to cope with the multiple offensive threats on the perimeter. Even with Washington and Jones in the lineup, the Mavericks still lacked a player to defend the opponent’s main scoring force, disrupt Boston’s perimeter attack, and Block their 5-out strategy.
Obviously Thompson doesn’t quite fit this narrative. At the same time, following missing two seasons due to major injuries, his defensive level is no longer what he was at the peak of the Warriors dynasty in the past. He is likely to be no longer the best defensive team in the 2018-19 season. exist.
He’s still a good defender, but not particularly good. In a lineup like the Mavericks with two main players who are weak defensively, the team will need Thompson’s defensive performance to become more excellent, but Thompson’s defensive ability may be past his peak, coupled with several weak defenders around him players, just not causing more problems seems to be a difficult task,
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However, from an offensive point of view, the addition of Thompson is a significant upgrade compared to any shooter on the team’s roster. Even at the low point of the previous season, he still averaged 38.7% of 9 shots per game from the outside. Field goal percentage, which ranked second among Mavericks players who averaged more than five three-pointers per game last season. But even then, he still had to adjust as Thompson’s old team’s offense was geared toward moving the ball and creating gaps with off-ball moves, the exact opposite of what Dallas did.
The Mavericks’ system, which relies on Doncic and Irving to deal with multiple defenders, means Thompson’s role may be limited to waiting for passes in the corner to shoot three-pointers. It’s not easy to survive in the league, and not everyone likes this style of play. However, maybe the Mavericks gave him some explanation to make him willing to pay the price before being sent to Dallas, or perhaps Nico Harrison assured him that the Mavericks’ style of play would change or compromise.
It’s not impossible for the Mavericks to change their style. We’ve seen them use off-ball screens to create gaps, which is exactly what Hardaway Jr. has been for the past few years, and Thompson can definitely be an upgrade on him. However, Even if Doncic is one of the best players in the league at creating open shots for his teammates, Thompson will need to make drastic adjustments.
On the other hand, Thompson is not just a three-point shooter. Although this may be his greatest strength, his ability to score off the dribble is undoubtedly what the Mavericks lacked once morest the Celtics. Irving and Doncic shoulder too much responsibility for creating offensive opportunities, and Thompson should be able to alleviate this problem, but this is not to say that he often shouldered such a task when he was with the Warriors, so he will have the opportunity to expand his ability in this area, but this It will also be another adjustment for him and Dallas.
Overall, the problems on the offensive end of the Mavericks are not as important as the problems on the defensive end. The defensive end is the part that the Mavericks need to upgrade. Although Thompson is a major reinforcement on the offensive end, his ability is still difficult to deal with the Mavericks’ defensive problems. .
Unless the Mavericks make another trade, they will rely heavily on Thompson’s defensive ability next season, which will undoubtedly be a gamble. In the future, we may look back and think regarding keeping Jones Jr. and another. Would it be a better option to find a way to get Marshall? But we’ve also seen the Mavericks’ desperate gambles pay off, like the trade for Irving. At the same time, considering that the price paid by the Mavericks for Thompson is not high, this transaction may be a risk worth taking.
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This season marks the first time the Dallas Mavericks have reached the championship game since 2011. After falling short once morest the Celtics and missing the Gold Cup, they’ve been active in the free market, ready to make a run. The Mavericks have signed forward Naji Marshall and traded Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Pistons for young guard Quentin Grimes. They also reached an agreement with the Warriors through a sign-and-trade, bringing in Klay Thompson, a four-time champion with Golden State.
The Mavericks’ projected starting lineup next season, following acquiring Thompson, should include Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II.
On paper, this starting lineup is overflowing with talent, and there’s much to be excited regarding. We witnessed Doncic and Irving work effectively together and guide the team to the Finals. Lively’s rookie season might be enough to make him a key contributor. Washington has proven his worth on both ends of the floor in the playoffs. With a player of Thompson’s caliber, this is undoubtedly a lineup you’d want on your side in every game.
However, there are gains and losses in the free market. The Mavericks lost their best defensive player from last season, Derrick Jones Jr., to the Clippers, and Josh Green in the Thompson trade. The loss of Green may not be a significant setback, but trading Jones and Green for Marshall and Thompson doesn’t feel like the substantial upgrade one might have expected.
This isn’t to diminish Thompson’s abilities, but he might not be the complete solution to the Mavericks’ problems. Against the Celtics, the Mavericks’ defense struggled to contain the multiple offensive threats on the perimeter. Even with Washington and Jones in the lineup, the Mavericks lacked a player to defend the opponent’s primary scoring force, disrupt Boston’s perimeter attack, and shut down their five-out strategy.
Thompson doesn’t entirely fit this mold. After missing two seasons due to significant injuries, his defensive level isn’t at the peak we saw during the Warriors’ dynasty. He’s unlikely to be the elite defender he was in the 2018-19 season.
He’s still a good defender, but not exceptional. In a lineup like the Mavericks’ with two main players who are defensively weak, the team needs Thompson’s defense to improve significantly. However, considering Thompson’s past his peak defensive abilities alongside several other defensively challenged players, it seems a daunting task to solve their defensive woes.
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However, from an offensive perspective, the addition of Thompson represents a significant upgrade compared to any shooter on the team’s roster. Even at his lowest point last season, he averaged 38.7% on 9 three-point attempts per game, ranking second among Mavericks players who averaged over five threes per game last season. However, he’ll need to adapt as Thompson’s former team’s offense revolved around ball movement and creating spacing with off-ball actions – the exact opposite of Dallas’ style.
The Mavericks’ system, which relies on Doncic and Irving to handle double teams, means Thompson’s role might be limited to waiting for passes in the corner for three-point attempts. It’s not an easy way to make a living in the league, and not everyone enjoys this style of play. Perhaps the Mavericks presented him with some explanations to incentivize him to accept this role before joining Dallas, or maybe Nico Harrison reassured him that the Mavericks’ style of play would change or compromise.
It’s not impossible for the Mavericks to change their approach. We’ve seen them utilize off-ball screens to create separation, something Hardaway Jr. excelled at in recent years, and Thompson can definitely be an upgrade in this regard. However, even with Doncic being one of the league’s best creators of open shots for teammates, Thompson will require significant adjustments.
On the other hand, Thompson is more than just a three-point shooter. While that may be his most notable skill, his ability to score off the dribble is precisely what the Mavericks lacked once morest the Celtics. Irving and Doncic carry too much responsibility for creating offensive opportunities, and Thompson should alleviate this burden. However, this doesn’t mean he frequently shouldered such responsibilities with the Warriors, so he’ll have the chance to expand his skillset in this area. But this will also be another adjustment for him and Dallas.
Overall, the Mavericks’ offensive issues aren’t as pressing as their defensive struggles. Their defense is the area that demands improvement. While Thompson is a significant addition on offense, his abilities may not be enough to address the Mavericks’ defensive woes.
Unless the Mavericks make another trade, they’ll heavily rely on Thompson’s defensive performance next season, which will undoubtedly be a gamble. In the future, we might look back and wonder if keeping Jones Jr. and finding a way to retain Marshall would have been a better option. But we’ve also witnessed the Mavericks’ risky gambles pay off, like the trade for Irving. Considering the relatively low price the Mavericks paid for Thompson, this transaction might be a risk worth taking.
Can Klay Thompson Solve the Dallas Mavericks’ Defensive Woes?
The Dallas Mavericks made a splash in the free agency market this offseason, aiming to bolster their roster following their Finals loss to the Boston Celtics. They’ve assembled a formidable starting lineup on paper, featuring Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II. However, amidst the excitement, a crucial question lingers: can Klay Thompson truly address the team’s glaring defensive weaknesses?
Thompson’s Arrival: A Defensive Gamble?
While Thompson’s offensive prowess is undeniable, his defensive capabilities have diminished since his injury-plagued seasons. Although he remains a solid defender, his peak form may be behind him. This begs the question: can he effectively contribute to a Mavericks team that struggled mightily on defense once morest the Celtics?
The Mavericks lost their best defender, Derrick Jones Jr., to the Clippers and also parted ways with Josh Green in the Thompson trade. While Thompson’s addition strengthens the offensive side, some fans argue that the team’s defensive woes might worsen. Adding a scorer like Thompson does not directly solve the problem of stopping opponents’ offensive threats, especially in a league now defined by perimeter-oriented offenses.
Klay Thompson’s Offensive Impact
While defense remains a concern, Thompson’s offensive contributions are undeniable. He’s a proven three-point shooter and a capable scorer off the dribble. His presence, especially in a system heavily reliant on Dončić and Irving, can provide much-needed relief and open up more scoring opportunities for the Mavericks. However, there are concerns, as Thompson’s old team’s offense revolved around ball movement and creating space with off-ball actions. The Mavericks’ system is heavily reliant on Dončić and Irving creating for their teammates. This means Thompson’s role may be more limited to spotting up for open three-pointers.
Beyond the Three-Pointer
Thompson’s ability to create his own shot is a valuable asset the Mavericks lacked once morest the Celtics. If he can effectively adapt to their system, he can take some pressure off of Dončić and Irving. The Mavericks’ offensive system heavily relies on the two superstars creating scoring opportunities. Thompson can potentially elevate the team’s offense by creating his own shot, effectively reducing the burden on Dončić and Irving. His ability to score without relying solely on teammates will be pivotal for the Mavericks’ success.
The Need for Adjustments
The Mavericks might need to tweak their offensive playbook to accommodate Thompson’s strengths. Even though they’ve shown glimpses of utilizing off-ball screens to generate space, a more consistent approach might benefit both Thompson and the team. The Mavericks must ensure that Thompson doesn’t become a static presence, waiting for passes in the corner. He has proven to be a dynamic scorer, and the Mavericks need to utilize this aspect effectively. The challenge lies in finding the right balance between their established system and Thompson’s scoring capabilities.
A Risky, But Potentially Rewarding Gamble
Whether Thompson’s acquisition proves to be a wise move remains to be seen. The Mavericks’ gamble on his defensive improvement might pay dividends, but they also face potential risks in this transaction. The defense is the primary area where the Mavericks need to improve, so it will be fascinating to monitor how Thompson’s presence influences the team’s defensive effectiveness in the upcoming season. Only time will tell if Thompson’s arrival will lead to a championship run or if it’ll result in another offseason of roster adjustments.
