Three observations from Dallas' win over Detroit
Following a recommitment to defense, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Detroit Pistons 127-117 in the front-end of a back-to-back on Wednesday night. After a hot start from Detroit in the first quarter, Dallas switched to a matchup zone that limited the Pistons' possessions and forced them into difficult shots. And with tonight's win, Dallas ends […]
Following a recommitment to defense, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Detroit Pistons 127-117 in the front-end of a back-to-back on Wednesday night.
After a hot start from Detroit in the first quarter, Dallas switched to a matchup zone that limited the Pistons' possessions and forced them into difficult shots. And with tonight's win, Dallas ends its four-game home losing streak which began on April 11 with DeMar DeRozan's buzzer-beating jumper.
Luka Doncic led all scorers in the game with 30 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out nine assists.
The second leading scorer for Dallas was Jalen Brunson. Off the bench, he offered 20 points on 12 shots. He also gave Dallas five assists and was a +10 while on the floor.
For Detroit, Jerami Grant led the way in the scoring department with 26 points. Mason Plumlee nearly tallied a triple-double with 13 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists. And steady guard Cory Joseph scored 24 points, shooting 9-15 from the floor and 3-5 from three.
Dallas locked in during the second and third quarters, and that helped it build a substantial lead in a game that should have been billed as a must-win. Let's get into Wednesday night's key observations.
Key observations:
1.) Dallas clearly played harder. Over the last seven games, Dallas' effort wained. And the struggles of the team got to the point of Rick Carlisle admitting that some soul searching needed to be done.
It's evident that the day off allowed that soul searching to take place, as Dallas' defensive efforts made life difficult for Detroit throughout the second, third and fourth quarters.
2.) Zone defense flipped Wednesday's game on its heels. In the second quarter, Dallas went to a two-three matchup zone. And the result was a Pistons offense that shot 42 percent from the floor and 12 percent from three in the frame. This was a change of pace from the 36-point first-quarter Detroit posted with the Mavericks matchuped man-to-man.
Late in the third quarter, Dallas switched its defensive look again. Electing to go with a three-two matchup zone. The different look threw Detroit off, as again it struggled to score at the end of the frame.
Zone defense, when utilized correctly, can be devastating at the NBA level. And in Dallas' win, the Mavericks found niche ways to implement different zone looks to make the Pistons uncomfortable.
3.) Dallas absolutely needs Brunson to be good in order to win games late in the season. And against the Pistons, he showcased adept three-level scoring ability. When Brunson came into the league, he was a mid-range scorer. He's added a three-point jump shot to his game, and he is driving to the rim more than ever in his career. Brunson is a real go-to guy for Dallas. And when he's good, Dallas is usually good as well.
Looking ahead:
Dallas plays the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. Back-to-backs are difficult in any season, but during this condensed season, that difficulty is only amplified.
Wednesday night's win gives the Mavericks a necessary confidence booster. And in the words of Tim Hardaway Jr. they "will be ready" for a Thursday night matchup with the defending NBA champions.
Feature image via Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports.
