The Dallas Mavericks continue to be one of the most inconsistent teams in the league, losing an incredibly frustrating game to the Warriors. This performance comes just two nights after a statement victory
over the Denver Nuggets. While the loss certainly stings, the main story leaving this game is the injury that Anthony Davis suffered in the 2nd quarter . With all that being said, let’s get into the grades.
Cooper Flagg: A
27 PTS / 6 REB / 5 AST / 0 STL / 1 BLK – 36 MIN
Another night, another 25 point performance from Cooper Flagg, though it was not enough to propel the Mavericks to a win. While Cooper is receiving heaps of praise for his play, I don’t think that people quite understand how special Cooper has been playing. The simple truth is that Flagg is already a top 25 player in Basketball, and he will only keep getting better.
Anthony Davis: F
4 PTS / 3 REB / 0 AST / 0 STL / 2 BLK – 11 MIN
If there was any real opposition to trading Anthony Davis, this game should have silenced those laughable arguments. Davis left this game midway through the second quarter with a groin injury, and did not return to action, out of an abundance of caution. While this grade could seem unfair, AD is the most unreliable “superstar” in the NBA, and today’s disaster only proves it.
Brandon Williams: A
26 PTS / 3 REB / 3 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 3o MIN
Brandon Williams is a very limited player, as the lack of shooting and passing can often hold him back. But this game showed his one elite skill: Speed. While the Warriors do have big defensive wings, they lack truly elite defenders for uber quick guards such as Williams.
Max Christie: B+
13 PTS / 6 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK -34 MIN
Another day, another solid performance from Max Christie. While this game was nothing special, as he was relatively uninvolved, his consistent offensive production still remains crucial for this team. My overarching takeaway is that the Mavericks must work harder to generate more 3 point looks for Christie.
Klay Thompson: C-
7 PTS / 2 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK – 26 MIN
In his return to the bay, Klay had a forgettable night. This especially hurt in a game where the Mavericks desperately needed more shooting, as they only attempted 14 threes. While Klay might not be on the team much longer, they will need him to be better right now.
Daniel Gafford: D
6 PTS / 5 REB / 0 AST / 0 BLK / 0 STL – 15 MIN
Coming into this season, many would have assumed the center position would be the strength of this Mavericks team. But 2 months in, it has become a weakness, in large part due to Daniel Gafford’s struggles. Whether injury or effort is the issue, this level of play is simply unacceptable, as Gafford has been a non factor in almost every phase of the game this season.
