Luka Doncic's Mavs Envision Major Potential Amid Dramatic Defensive Turnaround

The Mavs have improved significantly on defense since being one of the lesser teams on that front early in the season.

DALLAS — After beginning the season as one of the NBA's lesser defensive teams, the Dallas Mavericks have experienced a significant improvement on that front. For a team led by offensive juggernauts such as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving with shooters around them, managing to defend well enough can lead to impressive potential. 

The numbers are evident. Over the Mavs' previous 20 games — dating back to Nov. 30 — the Mavs have produced a 113.9 defensive rating (10th) after having a 117.3 defensive rating (24th) before this period. The results show they went from being a near-bottom-five defense to ranking just outside the top 10. However, over the past 10 games, their 110.8 defensive rating ranks third in the league, suggesting continued improvement. 

The Mavs' latest display of defensive progression occurred on Sunday night, containing the top-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves to 108 points in what became a seven-point victory. While Anthony Edwards scored an efficient 36 points, the Wolves were contained to an underachieving overall performance. 

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With the Mavs often having to play smaller due to Dereck Lively II, the team's only rim protector, being in and out of the lineup due to ankle sprains at times, there's been an embrace of using quickness and length to force turnovers.  

"Deflections, steals, ending a possession with a rebound even though in that first half we gave up 11 of them and for the game, 18," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said."But I think just the guys feeling comfortable with what we're asking them to do."

Kidd highlighted the results by emphasizing forcing turnovers from "around Christmas." Over Dallas's previous 11 games, which spans before Dec. 25, the team has trailed only the Philadelphia 76ers in opponent turnover percentage (15.4 percent) while producing the most points off turnovers (19.3 per game) in the NBA.

"We're small and so it looks like we're getting a couple of steals more than we were earlier in the year. Also, I think we talked about around Christmas, we were starting to get a little better in that area and right now we are."

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Often playing with smaller personnel, the Mavs have emphasized shrinking the floor with an early low man, being active in the passing lanes, making plays on the ball to pry it loose, and even attempting to force the ball out of the hands of rival stars to force others to beat them.

"One, when you're small, you've got to figure out — if you can't protect the rim, you've got to do something," Kidd said. "The deflections, being aggressive, trying to not let stars play sometimes, trying to have the ball find other guys, and being able to rebound. The guys really have taken to that and understand they're following the game plan, and the trust is there between the coaches and players."

As Kidd often mentioned during the 2021-22 campaign that ended with a Western Conference Finals appearance, it's essential for Doncic to "participate" on defense. He's gone beyond just doing so despite shouldering a heavy responsibility offensively, competing when guarding the ball, and being more active in making rotations. Irving has done the same despite playing through foot injuries this season. 

"Sometimes, when there are injuries, you're going to try to plug holes, and guys are playing hard, showing that they can play both sides," Kidd said. "You look at Luka; he is going to take the challenge of doing that on both ends. Kai is competing."

Doncic has often commented to reporters at the end of his post-game press conference about not getting asked about his defense in recent weeks. He's taken a greater sense of pride in that area. His conditioning level has enabled him to sustain this level of execution on a pretty consistent basis. 

During the Mavs' victory over the Timberwolves, Doncic was often deployed on Karl-Anthony Towns, with the opposition sticking with lineups deploying multiple bigs often. Doncic contained Towns a few times in the post while largely making an impact throughout the game. He even told the team not to send doubles to keep the rest of the unit intact. 

“I’m strong. People don’t think that, but I have some of the most powerful legs in the NBA. I love it," Doncic said. "We said we were going to double, but I said, ‘don’t double’. Let’s see if I can get a couple stops. I like playing post.”

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The Mavs understand they cannot ask Doncic to be a defensive stopper or elevate his defensive presence for 82 games. However, there is an appreciation for his focus on being an impactful player. As long as he remains willing to slide his feet regardless of matchup and get out on shooters, it'll go a long way for the group. Along the way, he's contained some elite offensive threats in space. 

"Defensive? Yes (I think he enjoys the challenge). Are we going to ask him to do that for all 82 [games]? No," Kidd said. "But I think he is up for the challenge. He doesn't want to just be known that he can play on one end at a high level. He wants to be a complete player — and he's done that by guarding KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns). We asked him to do that tonight. We've asked him to guard Ant (Anthony Edwards) and everyone else. 

"It's not that he's going to shut down everyone, but he's going to compete," Kidd explained. "He has pride, and he knows that he can move his feet. Sometimes he gets in the way, and sometimes he doesn't."

Irving also made several hustle plays against Minnesota, including diving for a loose ball that resulted in him crashing into people on the sideline. Irving conveyed the importance of setting the standard for the unit as a whole.

“It sets the standard. If you see me driving after a loose ball, going into the crowd, that should encourage everyone else to do the same if the opportunity arises," Irving said. "This is why I get up every day and play this game at a high level and continue to bring some guys along with me. To be successful in this league takes team wins."

One player Kidd praised amid the Mavs' defensive improvement is Derrick Jones Jr., who has often been tasked with guarding top offensive options. He's also been a legitimate defensive playmaker, recording three momentum-boosting blocks against the Timberwolves, along with one steal. 

"When you look at D. Jones (Derrick Jones Jr.), he hasn't really had anything written or talked about but his play defensively every night — he has no choice but to guard the best offensive player, and he never complains."

Jones communicated how he takes pride in handling tough matchups, regardless of the type of player he's tasked with handling. It can be a shifty shot-creating guard who likes to use a change of pace to create advantages, a versatile wing, or a big who uses force to make plays in the paint, he's taken the challenge. 

“I take the challenge on whoever I guard, regardless if it’s a big, small, small forward. I take the challenge every day," Jones said. "I go out there, and I do what I got to do. I try to make it a difficult night as much as I can whenever I can.”

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The next step for the Mavs will be to manage to better execute on the boards to close possessions. In the span that they've been the NBA's best at forcing opponent turnovers, Dallas has ranked 26th in opponent offensive rebounding percentage (30.5 percent), giving up 14.3 opponent second-chance points per game (23rd).  

The Mavs' improved defensive execution has occurred despite frequently being without one or more of their top perimeter defenders, whether it's been Josh Green or Dante Exum. For Dallas to sustain this level of defensive execution, Doncic stressed the importance of the team staying healthy. 

“First of all, staying healthy. Maybe the last 10, 15 games, we were more connected on defense and playing better defense," Doncic said. "Your best offense is your defense. When we play good defense and get rebounds, we can run the floor. I think we’re one of the best teams in the NBA to do that.”

Doncic considers the Mavs one of the NBA's best teams when defending, securing rebounds, and pushing the pace at the levels they set their standard to achieve. He doesn't seem to be a fan of the talk about needing to produce explosive offensive outbursts as a team, scoring nearly 130 points to achieve wins. 

“Everyone says, ‘your best offense is your defense’. We play good defense, we get rebounds, we can run the floor, and I think we’re one of the best teams in the NBA to do that," Doncic said. "You have to score more points than the other team.”

Regarding what carries over from the offensive end to defensive execution, Irving highlighted the value of starting games by attacking certain players by forcing them into actions, much like the Mavs did with Karl-Anthony Towns on Sunday. With sustained physicality and high pace, the Mavs are confident they can effectively game-manage after a quality start.  

"I really believe it's about how we start off the games when we start off very physical, and we're attacking guys on the offensive end. It sets us up for the rest of the game," Irving said. "You look at some of the great teams that play in our league, they usually like to create that separation early, and then it's about game management after that."

"Teams are obviously going to make their runs, but If you can manage the game well after you hit him in the mouth the first two quarters, and you pretty much up nine to 15 points, or even seven points to 15 points, you can pretty much manage it well if you're playing hard still," Irving explained. "So I think at this point, the mentality is to continue to push, continue to put our foot on the gas pedal, and if you're tired, ask for a sub out, but at this point, we wanna keep our pace very high."

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Despite the Mavs' offensive numbers decreasing recently, Irving is encouraged by the defensive execution reaching a level where they can sustain a dynamic overall level of play. He described that combination as the "sign of a great team that's focused" and remains encouraged by the habits the team has adopted in the past few games. 

"Even though our offensive numbers have gone down a little bit, our defensive numbers are going up, and that's a positive," Irving said. "That's a sign of a great team that's focused. And I think we've been creating good habits over these past few games. So, just want to find that consistency."

Green recently emphasized the importance of the Mavs continuing to embrace being a defense that flies around the half-court, makes extra efforts, and gets out in transition. Even one of the team's various wing defenders sees "amazing" potential for the team on that end, highlighting Doncic's mentality and Lively's shot-blocking as an interior defensive presence. 

"I think that should be a big part of our identity. We have a great defensive team. Like, I really do think that. I think Luka's been amazing on defense this year. He's really stepped up, and he's shown that he would do it. I think everybody needs to have the same mentality of having that. We have a long team. D Live has been amazing with his shot-blocking, and I think it's something that we need to continue. 

"We can't just have at least two games, and it's something that we need to progress game by game and make that, you know, what we stand for as far as just we're trying to win and I think that's the biggest part, you know, if everyone continues to buy into the defensive end, it makes the game a lot of fun."

With the Mavs amid a seven-game homestand, Irving emphasized the significance of continuing to build team camaraderie and chemistry after spending a lot of time on the road this season. It remains to be seen when Exum or Lively will return to the lineup from injury. As Lively grows into his skill set throughout his rookie season, the Mavs can continue to mix things up with coverages and principles in the half-court to throw to become a more layered defense. Lively, at 7-foot-1, with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, and being a vocal presence appears to be a significant element that can help Dallas sustain excellence on defense.

"A lot of team comradery, a lot of gelling, a lot of harmony on the offensive and defensive end, and just being on the same court," Irving said. "That’s what it’s about at this point is we have tests in front of us, some good teams that are on our schedule. We’re home so it’s time to really develop our identity even more so.”

The Mavs will face a few challenges to close out this stretch of the season before heading on a two-game West Coast road trip, featuring games against the Memphis Grizzlies without Ja Morant on Tuesday, followed by taking on the New York Knicks and a mini-series with the New Orleans Pelicans.