Showdown in Dallas as Raptors greet rookie Cooper Flagg

SB Nation

Canada’s team begins its Texas road trip today in Dallas, facing off against the less-than-lucky Dallas Mavericks. The Raptors are getting their first taste of the Western Conference today, and the thought-to-be

powerhouse Mavs may be a chance for a Toronto road win.

The Mavericks have had an ugly start to the season, dropping their first two games against the Spurs and the Wizards, victims of a Victor Wembanyama 40 point and 15 board masterclass in the former case, and a Kyshawn George 34 point-career-high in the latter. Cooper Flagg, listed at forward throughout all of college, has been thrust into the role of point guard with Kyrie Irving out. All things considered, the Raptors have the opportunity to strike while the iron is hot, and take advantage of the Mavs’ slow start to steal a game on the road in Dallas.

What to make of the Maine Event?

Everything is bigger in Texas, however, and the Raptors’ need to be conscious of both the Mavericks’ star power forward, and the team’s massive size overall. Cooper Flagg, as aforementioned, is playing out of position at the 1, and the 6’9 point-forward may prove both an offensive and defensive challenge for 6’3 Immanuel Quickley to manage. Flagg’s ability to facilitate has had its ups and downs in his first two NBA games, but a six inch size difference can mean everything when it comes to offensive success on the interior and the contesting of shots on the perimeter. Quickley is a seasoned point guard, and his shooting ability and skill at distributing the ball may overcome the rookie’s physical prowess on the defensive end. Nevertheless, contending with the athletic forward will be no easy task when the Mavericks are on offense, and will require solid team planning to mitigate an explosive night from the Maine Event.

Big man things

The size woes do not stop at point guard, as Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl will need to be on top of their game against Anthony Davis. Davis, after years of being forced to play center, has been unleashed at power forward this season, and has been wreaking havoc, averaging 24.5 points and 13 rebounds throughout the past few games. While Barnes is no slouch defensively, at 6’7, matching up against the “6’10” Brow means that careful defensive schemes must be used to avoid Davis bullying his smaller defender in the paint, or leaving center Dereck Lively open during double-teams or mismatches. The twin-tower tandem that the Mavericks are employing has not yet won them a game this season, but Toronto should still be cautious against the All-NBA forward now playing at his natural position.

Nevertheless, the Raptors outclass the Mavericks on the wings, and Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett may end up with big games. Klay Thompson is not the defender he once was, and Barrett may be able to take advantage of his matchup at shooting guard for plenty of buckets. With Collin Murray-Boyles still out, the rookie will not have a chance to lend his rebounding ability to the Raptors in a game against a premier big-man glass cleaner, nor an opportunity to match up against his fellow-2025-draftee, Flagg.

If the Raptors are able to withstand an onslaught on the interior and avoid getting outmuscled, Toronto’s wing scoring poses a serious threat to the floundering Mavericks, who without a real starting point guard, may end up biting the dust at home in Dallas.