The Dallas Mavericks (7-4) notched their second win of the young season, 125-122, over the Indiana Pacers (3-8) on Monday, and on the second night of a back-to-back set, no less. Heady stuff for the fifth-youngest roster in the NBA this year.
Cooper Flagg was sensational once again, finishing with 43 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, while Kyrie Irving added 35 points on seven made 3-pointers.
Let’s see what the two superstars, and their coach, Dusty May, had to say in the postgame presser.
Dusty May
Opening statement
Very good win for us in the homestand. Our two guys, superstars, obviously made play after play after play. I thought, especially in the fourth quarter, we sat down and were able to contain the basketball a little bit better than we did the first three. Indiana, they’re a tough cover. They rarely let you get your defense set. They put so much pressure on the paint, and then they play well together and spray it out. I thought their bench was incredible tonight for them. Just a good win against a great organization, a well-coached team, and a bunch of guys that we have a lot of respect for.
On the Mavericks’ execution down the stretch:
I mean, we got it to the guys in their money spots and they made plays. The Ky-Naji pick-and-roll, short roll — that short roll actually was really clicking in the first half with Caleb. When Caleb would go out, we weren’t able to get to it as well. I thought Naji created the window. Ky made an excellent pass. Even the two possessions prior to that, we got to the rim. Coop got to the rim. Naji got to the rim. They both got there and made really good plays, and the ball just didn’t drop. At that point, you try not to … overthink it. At that point, we were thinking about spreading the floor again and just trying to open up the driving lanes. We ran very simple actions to get Coop on the left side of the floor. Obviously, he just made it — did his thing.
What makes Cooper Flagg unique as a scorer?
He gets to the rim. I think him almost being a left-handed player in the paint certainly helps. He’s a great left-footed jumper, left-handed finisher. Then he’s able to square in the air from 15, 17 feet. He can just get to his spots. If there’s a smaller guy, he can jump and just square in the air over them. The last couple of games, he’s made some threes, and he’s making all of his free throws. That’s how you put up the 43 points, where you do a little bit of everything. He finished at the mid-range. He finished at the rim. He got to the line. He’s getting to the line more than he has. He affects the game in so many ways, and he makes the right plays as far as passing. Thank goodness he’s on our team. It’s unbelievable that he’s a 19-year-old doing this.
How important is Kyrie Irving’s ability to make tough shots?
Yeah, sometimes I think the plus-minus in a one-game sample size is a little bit overblown. His plus-29 tonight was very indicative of how important he is. When we were struggling to make shots in the first half. We thought we were generating really good looks. We just looked a little bit flat. I thought Kyrie’s shot-making just kind of righted the ship for us. We came out in the third quarter and were able to get over the hump a little bit. He makes tough shots. He’s able to hang in the paint and finish. The same, just like Coop, they’re so unselfish. They’re such good teammates that winning is the priority over everything.
On defending Pascal Siakam better in second half (just three points):
I thought our gap presentation was much better in his isolations. In the first half, it felt like we were close enough, but we weren’t impacting the shot line. He was able just to raise up and shoot without us impacting the line of the shot. In the second half, I felt like we got underneath him, and we had much better gap help. Then really the guy on the ball did a good job, but also the other four. Then he was able to get into the mid-post. I thought our rotations were clean. We had doubled him from the baseline side early in the game, and he picked us apart. We came from the top side, and our rotations, other than one time, were pretty clean, and it worked out well for us.
On Flagg’s energy on the second night of a back-to-back set:
You just see a guy that just continues to evolve and get better. He looks stronger. He looks more determined. When it’s winning time, you just see he’s impacting every possession, rebounding-wise. He made a couple defensive errors. I’m sure he’ll be disappointed in that, and he’s going to clean up. Just the way he impacts every possession. I think probably the mental fatigue of being so engaged is probably tougher than the physical fatigue for the 19-year-old. Those guys have to fight for every catch. They’re at the top of every scouting report. For them to do that against a team like Indiana and have the cumulative effort that they did, it’s impressive.
On outscoring the Pacers 16-3 in second-chance points:
We got 10 [offensive rebounds] tonight, and that’s actually much less than — I think we had 51 in the three games prior. Our offensive rebounding’s really improved. Tonight, it didn’t seem like — because we were playing a little bit different when we were trying to tackle some matchups and we were trying to get in the short roll, we didn’t quite have our same rhythm and flow. Late in the game, we were just getting the ball to certain players. We didn’t have cutting. Obviously, when Gaff plays less than 20 minutes, that’s a big part of our offensive rebounding. And Rez, another one being out — that’s probably the difference in us averaging 16 and getting 10. It’s probably just a personnel deal.
What makes Flagg and Irving fit together so seamlessly?
How well they complement each other and how committed they are to simply trying to find a way to win, whatever this game needs. It’s a unique deal. We’re coming out of a timeout, we may draw up a play for one of them just because the other one might have an All-League defender on him, or whatever the case, and they never roll their eyes. They know when we’re going to one of the two, the other one’s very, very supportive because they have that much respect for each other. They’re both just such good guys and great teammates.
Cooper Flagg
On both he and Irving firing on all cylinders:
Yeah, I think that’s something I’ve talked a lot about, but just having him out there, his gravity opening the floor for everybody else — it makes my life so much easier. That’s that, but I think it speaks to our team as well. The other night, PJ had 21 in the first half. He had it going. Gaff had it going the other night. Every night is going to be somebody else’s night. We know that that’s our identity, that we’re making the right plays, no matter what, we’re trusting each other. Tonight, me and Kyrie had it going. There’s hopefully going to be a lot of nights like that where we’re able to do our thing. It’s a next-man-up mentality. No Rez tonight. I thought Santi stepped up —played really, really well. I think it’s just the identity of our team — just making the right plays and everybody having that trust in each other.
On the style of play with he and Irving sharing the floor:
I think just the unselfishness of everybody out there. Having someone like Walt [Clayton Jr.] out there too — the way he’s able to get downhill and help us initiate offense. Naji. We get lineups out there, and we just get the ball moving at a fast level. We have guys who know where they should shoot their shots — where the other people are involved. It clicks at a really high level. I just thought it looked really good tonight, moving around, swinging, finding the right shots.
On getting through tough early schedule stretch with a 7-4 record:
Obviously, we feel good. I think even some of the losses, we felt like we learned a lot from. Something we talked about after our last loss is that we’re not always going to be able to learn from the wins. Games like tonight, where you’re able to execute down the stretch — every experience, good or bad, win or loss, I think just learning from everything. We have a younger group, still with some really good older veterans. I think just being able to learn on the fly and take a lot and dissect from each and every one of these games is going to be big for us.
On his improved shot creation and getting to his spots in the offense:
I think just being able to get to my spots at a higher level and being more comfortable with that has allowed me to take a little bit of load off my body. Just kind of stopping short, raising up over people. It’s taxing going downhill all the way to the rim and trying to finish over seven-footers all night, every night. I think just adding that in there definitely allows me to pace myself a little bit, steal some easy ones. Then again, just trusting the work, trusting the spot work that I put in all summer long. Just being so comfortable with those shots. I think it goes back to my teammates, who are just trusting me with make or miss, getting to those spots. When I’m in that mindset that no matter what, as long as I’m getting the shot that I’m comfortable with, that is going to be a good outcome for our team.
On his comfort level taking tough, contested shots from the left elbow late:
Like I said, just all the work all summer long. Just preparing myself to be in those moments down the stretch. Limited space, limited dribbles. Being able to come out with a bucket and a good, comfortable shot.
On making an impact in the NBA as a teen:
Yeah, I think it just speaks to the type of basketball that I’ve always played and how I was raised, just being a true competitor. I think whenever I get out there on the court, it just goes back to being a competitor and trying to make as many possible winning plays as I can, and trying to make the easy, right basketball play out there. Just speaks to that. My teammates are putting me in good positions. My coaches are trusting me through make or miss.
Kyrie Irving
On Flagg’s play to start the year and how they fit together in the offense:
Yeah, we definitely are having a lot of fun, including with all our teammates and just the support we give each other. I think, like you said, I played with a few other great players in the league. I had the luxury of watching them up close, being in workouts, being in some high-level games, winning a lot of games, losing a lot of games. So just learning on the fly, I think that’s key, and just enjoying the process. I feel like that’s what we’re doing. We keep calling him a teenager, but he plays way beyond his years. We’ve got to give him his flowers. Just the way he’s always in attack mode, or the way he sees the game, and he’s always getting others involved — very selfless. I think it helps out our team a lot, including myself, just seeing him be able to make plays for others. But also when he’s calling his own number, he’s getting in that paint and trying to get the most efficient shot possible. Most young guys will probably move away from that contact, but it seems like this newer generation that’s coming into our league, they fear nothing. And I think he falls right in line with that. So grateful to have him on the wing with me, and just consistently telling each other that there’s another level we can get to and we can keep pushing and keep getting better. So that’s a great, great thing that we have going right now.
On playing both legs of the back-to-back set:
I won’t divulge too much information on the injury management plan because I could get my words twisted. But I would say that just in terms of our medical staff and the connection that we have, and just the build-up process over the last month — the minutes restriction, just trying to get in better conditioning, better shape, basketball shape, playing against the best players in the world. When you’re in a combative sport such as basketball, some days are going to feel good, some days aren’t, especially coming off an injury or a long period of time. So I just had to get my body back used to being in the flow of the game, and just after games, what does my recovery look like? And I was just really excited after last night’s game. We handled business in the first half. We came out in the second half, handled business again. I played 29 minutes. And I was just feeling great, and just coming into today — last night, I keep jumping around — but last night, just letting the guys know in the locker room right after the game, like, I plan on playing. So it was just telling our team, and just being prepared for whatever the Indiana Pacers were going to throw at us, and we’re going to be there together. So obviously we didn’t have Rez tonight. We still have a few guys out, but we have guys returning. And I think it’s very important for me to be prepared whether I’m playing or not in the back-to-back, but I feel like my attitude was just in the right place to be able to be prepared for this game tonight. So grateful.
On building chemistry with other stars on the court through his career:
I mean, everybody’s different. You know, everybody’s greatness looks different. Everybody’s attitude kind of looks different. But I think, you know, the telltale sign is just when you have the mutual respect of the guy that’s next to you, or the guys that are on your team — you want to see them do well. And I think that’s a trait that I’ve seen in playing with a lot of great players — the selflessness we talk about, of letting someone else go get it, or letting someone else get in their rhythm, or celebrating your teammates’ success as well, or sacrificing yourself in the possession to be able to get someone else a better shot. This is very important. And when someone exudes those types of traits, especially when they’re an offensive, all-world talent, it just does something for the group. And then also when we’re able to do it on the defensive end, where we’re making our identity, trying to limit teams to one possession and one shot, and crash the offensive glass, and just do the little things that get us wins — you know, probably not the prettiest team. You know what I mean? We need to make sure that we’re doing all of the little things. And I feel like we’re trending in the right direction. So me playing with Cooper, you know, playing with other superstars, playing with other guys, I don’t really like to compare them. It’s just the unique [unclear], or just the greatness that they try to display, that I try to complement, and vice versa.
What impresses you most about Flagg’s scoring ability?
I think it’s a multitude of things. I think last year we saw signs of it. You know, had a few high-scoring games down the stretch. The ball was in his hands. We came up short a few times, but we did win a few games down the stretch. And I think me watching from the sideline, I saw where I can implement myself to help him out, and then also seeing the positions where he naturally puts himself in, where he can help me out. And he’s definitely a hard worker. He puts in the time, and you deserve to be rewarded for that. And just coming off Rookie of the Year, a lot of pressure on him. And my goal as a veteran is to alleviate a lot of that pressure that he feels and just be ready to give what the game needs. So I think you heard Dusty say it, as well as Coop say it over the last few weeks — you know, I think the onus is on us, and, you know, eyes are on us all the time. The gravity’s always coming towards us. But for us, we all understand that we’re not going to be as successful unless all of us are galvanizing each other. And it starts with me and Coop, but obviously it leads into other avenues that other guys can take advantage of. So we’re just trying to put ourselves in the right positions out there and have fun playing basketball. And I think when you see us displaying that, it’s us having fun, and it starts on the defensive end. And then when you see us getting out in transition, it’s just a beautiful game to watch, because he makes the game easy, I make the game easy. Had a few turnovers, you know, over the past few games that we can definitely avoid. And even I think back to just the San Antonio game — you know, these past few games, just the way that we’re finishing strong and we’re able to make a lot of nonverbal cues, get in the right position down the stretch, I think we’ll be better prepared moving forward. So we needed that San Antonio game to learn a lot of lessons. I took a lot of bad shots in that game as well down the stretch, where I felt like I settled, and rewatched a lot of the film, see where I can get better, and try to vocalize that to my teammates as well. So they trust me with the ball in my hands, but also when I give them the ball. And I’m going to keep saying it starts with me and Coop, but obviously we’re nothing without our group and our coaching staff and everybody believing in what we have going on here.
On Santi Aldama getting acclimated to the team:
Santi’s a growing veteran in this league. And anytime you’re coming back from injury — I think his first basket was a layup, I believe — you know, so just anytime you can get yourself going and getting back into the rhythm, and you’re coming back in the beginning of the season, it could feel a little awkward — your body could feel a little bit out of rhythm. But it’s our job to make the game easy. And he can use our gravity to his advantage. And he’s done such a great job of being a spacer for the previous team he played on, Memphis, and being able to be available as a four-five mix, but also play the three spot. And if we do go small, it’s just diversifying, I feel like, the lineups that we can have out there. And he’s very complementary to what we’re doing and what we’re building. So I’m grateful that we can have him out there. But it also starts with our pace and our point of attack, and being able to get downhill, being able to create other opportunities when we know defenses are geared towards us.
On the team’s start through a tough schedule stretch:
I think we’re smart about our motivation and what motivates us in the locker room. I think we heard a lot of the noise before the season and some of the predictions, and I’m not going to say anybody wrote us off, because it’s not that serious. I just think because of the roster that we had, and no one really sure about where I was going to be or where our team was going to be, or some of the trade rumors that continue to circle around our team or circle me — just distractions. And I think we just laid it right there, and I let the team know out of my own mouth that these trade rumors, anything that’s going on with me, do not let this infiltrate our locker room. Don’t let this get in the way of what we have building here. We have a lot of depth, we have a lot of youth, and we should use that to our advantage, but we should not allow any external distractions or any external voices that don’t support us unconditionally or want to see us do well to infiltrate our locker room. So I think that’s one of the contributing factors. But I think another one is Dusty’s doing a great job of confronting us when we’re not doing things right, where we’re not living up to our standards, and he knows that we’re better when we’re hunting, and that’s what we are. We haven’t earned anything in this league yet. We consistently do it every night, and that’s how you build your identity in this league and you earn your respect. We try not to put the cart before the horse, in a sense, and we just try to take it slow, and when we’re preparing for games, prepare for it as though we’re getting ready for the playoffs or a great team, and give everybody the same respect and go out there and play our best basketball.
