Here’s WHY the New & Improved Dallas Mavericks Are Legit TITLE CONTENDERS!

Here’s WHY the New & Improved Dallas Mavericks Are Legit TITLE CONTENDERS!

During the 2024 NBA trade deadline, major  trades like Royce O’Neal to the Phoenix Suns,   Patrick Beverly to the Milwaukee Bucks,  and Dennis Schroder to the Brooklyn Nets   went down. Many teams made some good moves,  but none of them are bigger winners from the  

Deadline than the Dallas Mavericks. They brought  in PJ Washington from the Charlotte Hornets and   Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards.  They also bid goodbye to Grant Williams,   Seth Curry, and Richaun Holmes as part of the  deal while throwing in some other draft picks. But how exactly do these  new guys change everything  

For the Mavericks? Well, stick around to find out. The Dallas Mavericks wanted to amp up their game  in the fiercely competitive Western Conference,   and there was no stopping them on deadline day.  They went ahead and brought in PJ Washington and  

Daniel Gafford, two players that contribute a  lot defensively to the team. Before the move,   the Mavericks had one of the worst records  for defense in the league. They were sitting   at an unimpressive 21st spot in defensive rating,  giving up about 118.3 points per 100 possessions,  

Which is way below the league average. Despite  having the 11th-best offense in the NBA this year,   their defense needs a serious upgrade if  they want to hang tough with the big guns   come playoff time. So, they made some  savvy moves and went for two frontcourt  

Players that upgrade their defense and  tackle those nagging concerns head-on. Now, how exactly do these players  impact the team? What do Washington   and Gafford bring to the team?  Let’s start with PJ Washington. The upgrade that PJ Washington brings to the table  for Dallas is on another level. Grant Williams is  

Not entirely a disappointment, but his abilities  just don’t match what PJ Washington offers. And   this isn’t an unjust criticism of Grant Williams.  He had his moments, but PJ Washington? He’s on a   whole other level. Grant might have a slight edge  in three-point shooting efficiency on paper, but  

Let’s not forget that he’s been sharing the court  with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving—two heavyweights   who draw a lot of defensive attention. Teams  often leave Grant wide open in the corners   when scrambling to cover Luka and Kyrie, giving  him those wide-open looks from downtown. Now,  

To PJ Washington’s situation. He’s been riding  the wave of Lamelo Ball’s offensive prowess,   but here’s the catch: Lamelo hasn’t  been great for a chunk of this season,   and the Hornets lack firepower beyond him. So,  PJ didn’t have as many chances to launch those  

Open threes as Grant did. But with PJ landing  in Dallas, he’ll do even better than Grant   because multiple offensive threats surround  him. With more offensive weapons around him,   he won’t be shouldering as much of the scoring  load. Instead of being the main focus of the  

Defense, PJ can slide into those open  spots and make it rain from downtown. The real game-changer that PJ Washington  brings in his offensive game is his knack   for creating opportunities off  the catch. PJ has some serious   athleticism and confidence in attacking  those closeouts and driving to the hoop.  

He can switch gears and operate like  your classic stretch four, making those   slick off-ball moves to set up Luka for some  sweet passes when the defense is scrambling. But PJ also has this sneaky ability to  play bigger than his actual size. Standing  

Shoulder-to-shoulder with Grant Williams, you  wouldn’t guess that PJ has a massive 7-foot-2   wingspan! This guy’s like a hidden gem, ready  to surprise opponents with his versatility.   Whether rolling to the rim in pick-and-roll  plays or popping out to the perimeter,  

PJ has everything to keep defenses guessing. So,  don’t be fooled by his appearance—he has what   it takes to give the Mavericks some serious  offensive firepower and lineup flexibility. The offensive boost PJ brings to Dallas is  awesome; there is no doubt about it. But  

Let me tell you, his impact on defense could  be even bigger. Remember that 7’2 wingspan   I mentioned earlier? Well, it’s not just for  show—it helps him hold his ground on defense,   too. Even when Charlotte wasn’t exactly  a defensive powerhouse, PJ held his own,  

Locking horns with opponents and not backing  down. He’s got this knack for defending guys   off the dribble and staying solid when attackers  try to fake him out. Plus, his rebounding game   is an absolute game-changer. Dallas has had their  fair share of struggles with defensive rebounds,  

Giving opponents too many chances to score. But  with PJ in the mix, snagging those defensive   boards, Dallas can shut down those possessions  faster and keep their opponents on their toes. Gafford flies under the radar more often than not,   but that should fool no one because he’s  another hidden gem waiting to shine. Sure,  

You might recognize him for his electrifying  dunks that light up the highlight reels,   but there’s more to his game than just flashy  plays. Defensively, Gafford’s like a fortress,   and he has the ability to disrupt drives and make  opponents think twice about attacking the rim.

He might not be considered a top-tier  rim protector and a bull in the paint,   but he’s definitely reliable and gets the job  done. In any case, he is an upgrade to Dallas’s   defensive lineup, providing stability and depth  to their frontcourt. Now, he’s not your Swiss  

Army knife defensive center, but that’s okay.  Dallas just needs someone dependable to hold   down the fort when Derrick Lively needs a breather  or finds himself in trouble. Speaking of Lively,   Gafford has some tricks up his sleeve that he can  pass on as a mentor. Both excel at rim running,  

Vertical threats and drop coverage. With  Gafford’s experience and Lively’s potential,   they will have great synergy alongside each other. But let’s not overlook Gafford’s impact beyond  the defensive end. While he’s no stranger to   locking down the paint, he’s also got something  valuable to offer on the offensive side of the  

Ball. Lively might be the rising star, but  he’s still refining his offensive game. And   that’s where Gafford steps in, as he can  help Lively polish his skills. That would   be like passing down the torch, with Gafford  paving the way for Lively’s future success.

Another area where the Mavericks could use a  boost is their offensive rebounding. They’re   ranked fifth from the bottom  in the NBA in this department,   and this can really make or break  a team’s chances of winning games,   especially when they’re chucking up threes like  no tomorrow as the Mavericks do, who currently  

Rank 2nd in three point attempts per game behind  Boston. The thing is, shooting a lot of threes   opens up more opportunities for offensive boards,  so having players who can consistently snag those   rebounds is key to extending possessions. And  here’s where Gafford steps in like a champ.

Statistically, Gafford is in the top 1% of  offensive rebounders in the league, hauling   in rebounds like it’s nobody’s business. Even with  limited playing time, he’s putting up impressive   numbers, averaging almost three offensive rebounds  per game alongside Lively. Having high-caliber  

Offensive rebounders like Gafford and Lively  on the court at all times is a game-changer for   Dallas’s offense, and surely, that’s a big boost  for their season. They’re both cut from the same   cloth—rim-runners who thrive on catching lobs  from Luka. Plus, Gafford’s vertical threat in  

The pick-and-roll means defenses have to respect  him, and this opens up even more opportunities   for Dallas to capitalize on the offensive end.  It’s like having a double dose of danger for   opposing teams to contend with, and it’s bound  to keep Dallas’s offense firing on all cylinders.

The Mavericks are doubling down on their  offensive strategy, and it’s a smart move.   We’ve seen Luka work his magic numerous times,  taking advantage of defenses that leave shooters   wide open in the corners. But here’s the thing:  for that strategy to work, teams need to trust  

In their big man’s ability to finish plays. And  that is where Derrik Lively and Daniel Gafford   come in. These guys will be a dynamic duo,  ready to rock the pick-and-roll game alongside   Luka. It’s actually something similar to what the  Clippers are doing with Daniel Theis and Zubac.  

Whether it’s Lively or Gafford on the court, the  Mavericks can keep their game plan intact while   maintaining that same level of play regardless  of who’s in the game. It’s all about consistency,   and having two reliable options in the  pick-and-roll is bound to keep defenses guessing.

When you put PJ Washington and Daniel  Gafford together, it’s like a match made   in basketball heaven. Seriously, they address  so many of the Mavericks’ concerns head-on,   and they fit just perfectly as teammates.  With these defensive beasts in the frontcourt   alongside Lively and Derrick Jones Jr.,  the Mavericks have a lineup that can adapt  

To just about any matchup they face in  the postseason. Imagine going up against   them— it’d be like trying to solve  a Rubik’s Cube with no instructions! So check out this rotation: Luka, Kyrie,  Derrick Jones Jr., PJ, and Lively as starters,  

With Gafford, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber,  and Josh Green coming off the bench. That’s   a solid squad right there, ready to roll  into the playoffs with confidence. Sure,   there aren’t superhumans, so there would be  flaws just like any other team. Regardless,  

This trade has given them a serious boost for  a solid finish to the season and, hopefully,   a deep playoff run. I mean for their first game  after the trade deadline, the Mavs destroyed the   Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the top 5 teams in  the West, by over 30 points with both Gafford and  

Washington contributing significantly for their  team debuts. So let’s hear it. How big of a change   do you think Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington will  make for the Dallas Mavericks? Let me know your   thoughts in the comments section below. Also check  out our previous videos for more great content and  

Subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss out  on our upcoming videos. See you next time around!

The new and improved Dallas Mavericks are making waves since the trade deadline, proving to be title contenders capable of winning it all. Find out why other teams should be worried in this video!

Subscribe so you know about our upcoming videos! And check out our channel for more great content!👉www.youtube.com/@CrissCloss?sub_confirmation=1

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Dallas Mavericks Issues
01:26 PJ Washington
04:10 Daniel Gafford
07:28 Conclusion