The Dallas Mavericks kicked off their 2026-27 season with a 1-2 record, which, yeah, looks rough on paper. But hold up, because despite that early slump, this team got a B+ grade for their first week, and if you’re not paying attention to what’s really happening, you’re gonna miss some serious fire.
Flagg Is The Real Deal, But There’s A Catch
Let’s talk Cooper Flagg, because man, this kid is a problem for opponents. He came out swinging, leading the team with 23 points per game, exactly the jump we all expected. We saw him drop 32 points in the opener against Houston! Then, before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the last game, he still put up 14 points in just 17 minutes against Indiana. This isn’t just a scorer, either. The dude’s hit 14 of his 23 shots, including three of six from deep, and he’s already racked up two blocks and six steals. The big shift? He’s getting to the line like a veteran, hitting 15 of 17 free throws after taking 13 against the Rockets and four before getting hurt. He’s looking like a true number one, a seasoned player, which is wild for so early in the season. But that shoulder injury against Indiana and missing the last game? That’s the catch; we need him on the court. And with Kyrie Irving, who missed the San Antonio game, still getting back to being the guy he was 19 months ago, you know this team needs Flagg healthy.
Don’t Let The Record Fool You, The Numbers Are Talking
Seriously, don’t just look at that 1-2 record and write them off. The Mavericks have flashed some serious potential. If you actually look at the full story, taking out just the second quarter against Houston, where they got absolutely boatraced 38-12, and the fourth quarter against San Antonio, the Mavs played three *excellent* games of basketball. They outscored Houston by 14 in the second half of that opener, they had a thirty-point lead in the first half of their win against the Pacers, and they played the defending Western Conference champions, San Antonio, tough even without Irving *and* Flagg. The numbers back it up: they’re in the top half of the league for offensive rating at 112.0. Plus, they’re near the bottom in pace at 100.33, which tells you they’re being super deliberate and effective with every possession. Defensively, yeah, the consistency isn’t there yet, which is typical for young teams, but the flashes are blinding. They held Indiana scoreless for almost half a quarter and outscored them 33-16 in one period! We also saw bench guys like Marcus Sasser and Sergio de Larrea shine, and Zaccharie Risacher already showing intrigue as a defensive connecting piece. P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall have looked exactly like themselves, which is a big win.
Coach May’s Wild Ride and What’s Next
New coach Dusty May had a wild ride in his first NBA half, that’s for sure. The source called it a “fail,” saying it looked like there was “no rhythm, no pattern, and seemingly no purpose” with ten guys rotating in the first quarter of the season opener. Yikes. But look, that’s the learning curve. As the season rolls on, May is gonna figure out the lineups, the rookies and fresh faces are going to find their confidence, and the combination of Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, when they’re both healthy, is going to be straight-up awesome to watch. There’s real hope for a good season, even with this bumpy start. This upcoming week is huge: a road game in Miami, then back home for Oklahoma City and Houston. That’s a massive test for this crew if they want to make those playoff dreams a reality. Get ready.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
Leave a Reply