The Dallas Mavericks survived their first play-in game, but they may have made the playoffs a complete game if they didn’t make a series of poor moves.
At this point, there’s nothing more to do with the trade that sent Luka Donsic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Even the deal that sent Quentin Grimes to the Philadelphia 76ers has been investigated from all angles.
One thing is clear this season. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has created a series of questionable (if not really moronic mauves) that have dismantled the roster that wins at Western conferences.
Harrison claimed Anthony Davis would bring about a size and defensive strength Don Sic has never done, but fans have not bought the story. If “defense wins the championship,” Harrison would have often not seen overlooking this offseason before the train really derailed.
Last season, Derrick Jones Jr. was a often overlooked piece of the Dallas Mavericks’ run. He helped slow down some of the best wings in the NBA, allowing Donsic and Kyrie Irving to slow down their defenses and defended themselves for a score.
Jones Jr. was one of the most versatile players on the roster, but when the Los Angeles Clippers offered $30 million over three years, the Mavericks chose to instead pursue Clay Thompson, who opposes Harrison’s new “defense victory championship” mantra.
“Defense wins, that’s true, but they did a good defense last year,” explained ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“They were second in the league in the defensive playoffs, and Luka actually played a really good defense in the stretch last season.
The Mavericks have created the perfect roster around Donsic in recent seasons, perhaps. PJ Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. spaced the floors and brought defensive strength, Daniel Gaford and Derek Livelige caught a blocking shot with Rob, while Kyrie Irving helped promote and score on the backcourt.
On top of that, the groups seemed willing to play together.
Jones Jr. was a key defender for the team in the finals.
“The guy who says defense is winning the championship now is the point of trading players between generations, and they asked perhaps their best defender, Derrick Jones Jr. Walk, what will happen to the Clippers,” Windhorst continued.
“That’s an incredible signature.”
The Los Angeles Lakers won the biggest award, but the Clippers have been successful. After being expected to win only 35.5 games this season, the Clippers are the fifth seeded, winning 50 games and are expected to become one of the most dangerous teams in playoff photos.
Their third defense is why, and why Jones Jr. plays a critical role in their success. He never made all the defensive teams, but Klay Thompson has, but Jones Jr. is in his prime and Thompson is not the defender he was once.
“They let Derrick Jones walk and sign Clay Thompson, who was a great defender, before he was injured,” Windhorst admitted.
“If you got Klay Thompson seven years ago and said Defense would win the championship, it would have been true… It would be dishonest to say you’re ‘defense first’.
Dallas looked solid on both ends of the floor in the king-wind play-in, but with Jones Jr. and Donsic still in the way he wouldn’t have had to play the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday for the privilege of losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.