As the Dallas Mavericks steamroll towards the beginning of the NBA season, it’s time to start imagining what this team will look like on opening night and beyond. The Mavs are in an interesting place with
their roster and the lineups simply due to the lack of guards on the roster and the excess number of forwards.
Heading into game one, it seems like the starting lineup will be comprised of D’Angelo Russell, Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively. That means the $90 million man, PJ Washington, seems poised to come off the bench. Is that the correct way for Dallas to handle this? If things start to go downhill with that group, what are some of the options Jason Kidd has at his disposal to pivot to in the frontcourt?
Start Flagg and Thompson, bring Washington off the bench
This is the option that Dallas seems to be going with to start the season. Excluding Flagg, who obviously will have some impact on the lineup, the two man group with Davis and Thompson on the floor and Washington off had a net rating of -3.6 per 100 possessions last season, with an offensive rating that was in the 4th percentile at just 104.0.
Bring Thompson off the bench, starting Washington alongside Flagg
Flipping it around, the two-man group with Washington and Davis on floor, with Thompson off saw a net rating of +37.3 per 100 possessions (just 67 total possessions). They had an offensive rating of 140.3 and had an effective field goal percentage of 67.3%! That is absolutely humming offensively with an elite defense to boot. The issue with this comes via Klay Thompson, who left the Warriors in part to being demoted from the starting lineup. Would that cause issues in Dallas as well?
Slide Davis to the five, start all three with no Lively
The option that goes against Davis’ will to play the four would be a last ditch either due to injury or the need to shake things up. Last season in 113 possessions in this configuration, the Mavericks had a net rating of -35.3, mostly due to a paltry defensive rating of 137.0! I’d want to see a larger sample of this group when everyone is healthy to see if it was just small sample size, or if they truly can’t play together.
Bring Flagg off the bench, starting Thompson, Washington and Davis with a center
I find it hard to believe that the Mavericks would actually do this, considering the optics of everything that’s happened since February. However, if it were to be done there is reason to believe this lineup could work. Last season, lineups with Thompson, Washington, Davis and a center were +5.4 per 100 possessions, buoyed by a 108.0 defensive rating. The lack of guard play could limit creation in these groups, but it could be done I suppose.
What are some groups you’d like to see the Mavericks try out? Let us know in the comments!
