There’s a notable guard with the Dallas Mavericks who has averaged 28 points and 8.5 rebounds over the past two games. And there’s another notable guard with the Mavs who has averaged 28 points and 7.5 rebounds over the past two games.
The fact that the former statistics belong to Jalen Brunson and the latter statistics belong to Luka Doncic is a primary reason why the Mavs will likely never have issues when it comes to having a trusted person running their offense. And because teams have recently resorted to frequently running two defenders at Doncic and forcing the ball out of his hands, the Mavs have shown that Brunson is also a very capable playmaker.
Coach Jason Kidd said the advantage of having both Doncic and Brunson on the court at the same time is: “The stress level is down, especially for Luka.
“When you have two ballhandlers on the floor – two playmakers – it helps the team and it also helps Luka where he doesn’t have to do it all.”
That stress-free premise for Doncic and the Mavs was on full display during Wednesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. Every time the Spurs would try to cling close to the Mavs, it was Brunson who was there to get help his teammates get some separation.
As the Spurs were busy attempting to deny Doncic the ball, Brunson proceeded to score 13 straight points and helped propel the Mavs to a 109-108 victory over San Antonio. The Mavs (5-3) are hoping for more of the same from Doncic and Brunson on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center when they host the rejuvenated Boston Celtics (4-5).
Brunson normally comes off the bench to provide the Mavs with some steady points, rebounds, assists and minutes. But he started Tuesday’s game against the Miami Heat and finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and three assists, and was 10-of-13 from the field and 2-of-2 from three-point land.
In that same game, Doncic scored a season-high 33 points, snatched three rebounds, and was 10-of-24 from the field, 3-of-9 from beyond the three-point arc, and 10-of-12 from the free throw line.
The next night in San Antonio — which was the Mavs’ fifth game in seven days – Brunson tallied a season-high 31 points, grabbed 10 assists and handed out three assists, and was 9-of-17 from the field and 12-of-15 from the charity stripe. And Doncic collected 23 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, and was 10-of-25 from the floor and 3-of-12 from behind the three-point line.
Brunson gives Doncic the credit for giving him the ball during the late stages of the game and trusting that the ball is in capable hands.
“At any game situation, if he calls for the ball you’re probably going to give it to him,” Brunson said. “He just has that type of respect.
“For him to let me do what I did in those last couple minutes (against the Spurs) just shows that he trusts not just me, but the team. And that’s big time. It gives everyone confidence.”
Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. agrees that having Doncic and Brunson on the court at the same time has enabled the Mavs to not only flourish, but also cultivate a situation that puts defenses in a pickle.
“It doesn’t let 77 (Doncic) exert that much energy while he’s out there, because everybody is so focused on him,” Hardaway said. “It gives other guys opportunities.
“And when they see an opportunity present itself out there on the floor—whether it’s a driving lane or a possession where you can be a playmaker and score the ball or get your teammates involved — they use it. It helps when you have multiple guys out there that can help create and help (Doncic) out.”
Doncic and Brunson have a long history together, starting with the fact that they were both members of the 2018 NBA Draft Class.
Fresh off helping Real Madrid capture the EuroLeague title in 2018, Doncic was the third overall pick of the ’18 draft. And fresh off helping Villanova capture its second NCAA title in three years, Brunson surprisingly slipped to the second round of the ’18 draft where the Mavs selected him with the third pick of the second round.
Since entering the NBA, Doncic has been a two-time All-Star and first-team all-NBA the past two seasons. Brunson, meanwhile, has been cultivating his talents to the point where it appears as though many casual basketball fans may have thoroughly overlooked the fact that he was the consensus national college Player of the Year in 2018.
While not forecasting the future, Hardaway knows what the Mavs need from Brunson moving forward.
“JB needs to continue to stay aggressive, continue to be that anchor and that motor that’s coming off the bench for us, whether he’s coming off the bench or starting,” Hardaway said. “We know and look forward that he’s going to do a great job of just making sure that he stays that way and making sure he brings it each and every day.”
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: By all account, fans love it when their favorite team can rack up a lot of points and do all of those fancy things on the offensive end of the floor — without squandering a lead or losing a game — that may make its way to the ESPN Top 10.
But when it comes to coaches, they’re not necessarily moved by all the offensive flash and dash the players dish out. But they are aware that the magnitude of their success will hinge on what their players can do – from a repetition standpoint – on the defensive end of the court.
“I’ve always believe you have to play defense at some point in this league,” coach Jason Kidd said. “If you want to win a championship, there’s no team that has won a championship by not playing defense.
“You can score all the points you want and you’re going to get sent home early.”
Although he only has a sample size at this point since they are only eight games into an 82-game season, Kidd believes the Mavs have made some much-needed improvements on defense, and will continue to do so as the season progresses.
“I think when you look at this team being able to compete on the defensive end, I think it just gives us an opportunity to go forward to move towards that goal of trying to win a championship,” Kidd said. “You can talk about it, but also you’re going to have players participate at a high level right now.
“You started with something small, and that was steals and deflections and trying to be active defensively. And the guys have done that.”
Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. noticed that what’s different on the defensive end is that the players have built some trust among each other.
“We’ve been together for so long, and when a new coaching staff comes in they have a new defensive philosophy,” Hardaway said. “You want to make sure you go out there and execute it with a purpose, and I think that’s what we’re doing right now.
“And everybody, like I said, is trusting one another and it starts with the bigs. When they’re out there communicating and talking, it helps us guards out tremendously and it gives us that much-needed confidence to go out there and be up on the ball and be able to pressure and be a little bit more aggressive than what we’re accustomed to. So, kudos to the bigs when it comes to our defense.”
DERON WILLIAMS IS. . .BOXING?: After playing 12 seasons in the NBA, former Mavs point guard Deron Williams is now trying his hands at – boxing?
Yes, Williams is slated to be boxing on the under card on the headline fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury. The fight will be held Dec. 18 in Pampa, Fla.
A three-time All-Star who played for the Mavs from 2015-’17, Williams has some training in boxing and mixed martial arts, and also is part owner of Dallas’ Fortis MMA.
Asked if he knew if Williams had any quality boxing skills, coach Jason Kidd said: “I know his golf game, but I don’t know too much about the boxing skills.
“I wish him the best of luck. I don’t know who he’s fighting, but hopefully he can get a W.”
Williams’ opponent hasn’t been determined yet. But Williams played for Kidd when the latter coached the Brooklyn Nets during the 2013-’14 season, so Kidd knows the former University of Illinois Fighting Illini All-American is a tough customer.
Still, Kidd said of hopping in the boxing ring: “I would not have signed up. I wish him luck. You see a lot of former athletes boxing right now, and that’s a tough sport and a hard sport. But I wish him nothing but success.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
Share and comment