Prior to their triumph over the Miami Heat yesterday night, the Dallas Mavericks had dropped five of their previous six games. Tuesday night was Dallas’ most recent loss, and the team’s awful defense persisted. Dallas lost to the Indiana Pacers. After the Indiana game, there were calls for head coach Jason Kidd’s resignation from certain fans, and the atmosphere was not good.
However, last night was not like the others.
Jason Kidd, the coach of the Dallas Mavericks, shockingly alters the starting lineup
Their final-quarter defense, led by Dante Exum and Dereck Lively II, was outstanding as they kept the Heat under 110 points. When it mattered most, both players provided the Mavs a boost in enthusiasm. If Dallas wants to be a real competitor in the Western Conference, they need to keep improving there.
While the resurgence of Exum and the much-improved defense are what most Mavs fans remember as the major changes from last night’s victory against Miami, Kidd made a significant alteration to the starting lineup that we could see going forward.
Prior to the game yesterday, Kevin Gray Jr. of 97.1 The Freak revealed that a Mavs source had informed him that the team wasn’t panicking because of their subpar defense and that they thought it could be remedied. They additionally advised him that “Dereck Lively hasn’t come back from injury the same defensively & is probably hitting the rookie wall right now which isn’t a surprise.”
Kidd altered the starting lineup entirely later that day.
Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford were Kidd’s starting lineup. Kidd had never started with this starting lineup before, but given his willingness to switch things up, which he expressed after the Pacers game on Tuesday, this is a lineup he might deploy going forward.
Green and Lively II were moved to the bench unit by this new starting lineup, which may potentially be quite beneficial for Lively II. Although many were startled by Kidd’s decision to bench Lively II and Green, both players have recently shown less productivity.
Since Lively II occasionally picks up fouls early in games, starting Gafford could be a wise decision.
Lively II is still an important member of the Mavs, and he played a crucial role in the team’s victory yesterday night. However, if Kidd sticks with the starting lineup from last night, Lively II’s tenure as the starting center may come to an end.
Keep checking back for all the most recent information on Daniel Gafford, Jason Kidd, Dereck Lively II, and the Dallas Mavericks this season.