Showtime in Dallas
On February 10th, in front of an electric home crowd in Dallas, the Mavericks held a 26 to 13 lead against the formidable Oklahoma City Thunder. Then, with five minutes remaining in the first quarter, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford checked into the game. The American Airlines Center erupted in applause, energy that only grew as the two big men combined for a trio of dunks in less than a minute.
Then with the crowd fully engaged, the announcers loving every second, and Luka Doncic grinning ear-to-ear, the Mavericks put together a 47-point first quarter. They set a new franchise record for most points in a first quarter, breaking the previous record of 45 points that was set exactly one year earlier. The highlight of the night came towards the end of the first quarter. Washington stole the ball from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, leading to a showtime sequence in transition.
Unsurprisingly the Mavs went on to win the game, as well as their next two contests against the Wizards and Spurs. They are 3-0 since the trades and entered the All-Star break on a six game win streak. But how much of their recent success is due to the new additions? Let’s delve into the stats to find out.
Bolstering the Defense
Granted a three-game stretch is a very small sample size, and two games were against teams well below .500 in the Spurs and Wizards. Nevertheless the Mavericks have greatly improved on the defensive end and on the boards. They’re first in rebounds per game at 55.0 over their last three games, a significant jump from 25th prior to the trades at 41.5. Furthermore they’ve gone from 22nd in defensive rating at 117.4 to first with a 96.9 defensive rating over their last three games.
Of course it’s unlikely that they remain in the number one spot for both of these categories. But there’s a good chance that they remain in the top 10. Combined with an offense that currently ranks 11th in the league with a 117.5 offensive rating, the Mavericks appear poised to become true contenders.
A Formidable Frontcourt
Evidently P.J Washington and Daniel Gafford have made a big impact on the defensive end of the floor while gobbling up rebounds. They also bring a variety of skills on offense that give the Mavericks even more depth in the frontcourt.
Big Dan
Gafford is an excellent rim-running big and paint protector. He rolls hard out of screens in pick and rolls, and is a great vertical spacer ready to catch lobs and finish strong in the paint. Gafford is shooting 76% at the rim this season, and has decent touch on floaters and hook shots with a 55% mark from the 3-10 foot range. Through three games with the Mavericks he’s averaging 15 points, 12 rebounds and 2.3 blocks with a +1.7 net rating. He does lack the playmaking ability that Dereck Lively II brings, but is certainly an above-average back up center.
P.J. (Prison Jail) Washington
Former Hornet P.J. Washington entered the league as a scoring forward and has quietly developed into a solid 3&D player while in Charlotte. He has a good enough handle to attack closeouts from the perimeter, can punish smaller defenders in the post, and hit shots from deep. Over his five-year NBA career, P.J. is shooting 36% from 3 on nearly five attempts per game. This versatile offensive skillset means he can pop and roll out of screens, and could play center in small-ball lineups. My only concern with his fit on the Mavericks is that he’ll often end up spotting up in the corners especially in clutch time. This season P.J. is shooting a meager 24% on corner threes, but hopefully the improved shot quality that comes with playing alongside Luka Doncic will boost his efficiency.
Of course, this is a minor concern as P.J. will usually be the fourth or fifth option on offense. Most of his value comes on the defensive end of the floor. He’s capable of guarding all five positions, sliding his feet on the perimeter and holding his own down low. Through three games with the Mavs he has a +17 net rating and they have a 72.53(!) defensive rating in 42 minutes with him on the court.
Looking Ahead
Going forward, the Mavericks have 27 games remaining in the regular season with the strength of their schedule ranking 21st overall. Their new and improved defense will be put to the test in their next five games as they face the Suns, Pacers, Cavs, and Celtics in that stretch. It will be particularly interesting to see how P.J. performs on the defensive end against Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum. In any event, the Mavericks have greatly improved their frontcourt depth and could become an elite defensive team by the season’s end.
