As of Wednesday, the Mavericks were No. 1 in the NBA in four statistical categories.
Two of them won’t surprise you: three-pointers made and attempted. They heave from the arc like nobody else.
But there is another set of metrics that might be less expected.
Mavericks’ opponents shoot and make fewer free throws than anybody else in the NBA.
As we reach the one-tenth point of the season, eight games is not exactly a reliable sample size. But the season is to the point that these numbers no longer can be considered fluky, either.
Teams are shooting 17.3 free throws per game (and making only 12).
That’s a full shot less than the next team (Minnesota). And it’s more than 10 free throws less than Detroit, which is worst in the NBA at surrendering 27.8 free throws per game.
And going back to last season, opponents shot 25 free throws per game and made more than 19. Those numbers ranked 25th and 24th in the NBA, respectively.
That’s a lot of free points for an opponent. And as they say, the best things in life are free, unless you’re the one giving them away.
We’ve heard coach Jason Kidd say many times that defending without fouling is one of the keys to being a better defensive team, right up there with snaring the rebound when an opponent misses a shot.
“There’s a lot that goes into it in terms of being prepared for different situations, understanding tendencies, following our game plan,” said Dwight Powell, who started at center Wednesday against Toronto for the ill Dereck Lively II. “I think sometimes you foul when you’re getting caught off guard or the rotations are late. So as long as we have each other’s back, it gives us an opportunity to defend without fouling.”
It was a similar situation in the first quarter against the Raptors, who did not shoot a free throw in the first quarter.
“The whistle’s not going to go our way every single night,” Powell said. “We know that, for sure. So it comes down to doing what we can to control what we can control and that’s locking in on the game plan and having each other’s back.”
So far, the Mavericks haven’t been a foul waiting to happen on defense. If that keeps up, even if their defensive rating is only in the middle of the pack, as it has been so far this season, it’s a combination with which they can prosper.
No secrets, just adjustments: It’s become clear that the scouting report is out regarding Luka Dončić.
After his hot-scoring start to the season, recent opponents have been even quicker to run two defenders at the superstar point guard.
Dončić was shooting 41.7 percent from three-point land going into Wednesday’s game. And taking more than 10 triples per game.
Now, he’s had to start making the appropriate adjustments, Kidd said.
“They’re just going to double team him,” Kidd said. “And then it’s a numbers game, four against three. I don’t think we can call it new.
“He’s shooting the three at a very high clip. He’s getting great looks. But when teams double-team him, he just has to be the quarterback, get it to his teammates, and let those other guys be playmakers.”
That’s why it shouldn’t surprise anybody that Luka has the occasional lower-scoring game.
“Some nights he’s going to have 18 or 20 points because he’s just going to be double-teamed the whole night,” Kidd said. “That’s his maturity, his growth, understanding the game plan of the opponent. When they take the ball out of his hands, he trusts that the other four on the floor are going to do their job.”
Briefly: The Mavericks got one big man back Wednesday, but lost another one. Starting center Dereck Lively II was sidelined with a non-COVID-19 illness. But Maxi Kleber (dislocated left small toe) returned to action after missing three games. Richaun Holmes saw his first action of the season as Kidd utilized the depth among big men at his disposal . . . The Raptors were shorthanded as well, missing big man Precious Achiuwa, who was out with a groin issue . . . Patrick and Brittney Mahomes were seated courtside at Wednesday’s game and were presented with signed Luka Doncic jerseys during a second-quarter timeout . . . The Mavericks have another home game Friday against the Los Angeles Clippers. It’ll be the first time this season they’ve had two games in a row at home. They then depart for a four-game, nine-day trip to New Orleans (twice), Washington and Milwaukee.
X: @ESefko
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