Athleticism and shooting are two of the hottest commodities in this era of the NBA.
But don’t ever underestimate the importance of size.
The Mavericks have been forced to play small ball perhaps more than coach Jason Kidd would like this season and it has been reflected in their rebounding issues. Those occasions should be fewer and farther between now with the addition of Daniel Gafford as a center who can be interchangeable with Dereck Lively II when he returns from his nasal fracture.
That won’t happen on Monday against Washington as Lively on Sunday was ruled out, as was Dante Exum (knee). That could open the door for Gafford to start against the team that traded him to the Mavericks last week.
Then again, it’s hard not to like what Maxi Kleber has given the Mavs as the starter while Lively heals from the nose surgery.
Having all those options is a luxury for Kidd. And it’s a blessing for Luka Dončić, too. He’s gotten comfortable working the pick-and-roll with Lively and Gafford is essentially a Lively clone – a few inches shorter, but every bit as bouncy.
“They’re both pretty similar, both great players,” Dončić said Sunday after a practice dedicated mostly to film, recovery and teaching Gafford and P.J. Washington a few of the Mavericks’ offensive and defensive sets. “To have those two guys on the team is unbelievable to me.”
“Rebounding, blocking shots, dunking, the energy. He brings a lot and I’m really happy he’s on our team.”
That last comment could apply to either Gafford or Lively.
And meshing with the rookie center is something Gafford is looking forward to.
“With Lively, I see a lot of similarities, for sure,” said Gafford, who is three inches shorter but similarly built to Lively. “When I first played against him when I was at Washington, I was like, man, it’s like I’m playing against myself.
“It’s going to be a one-two punch, no matter how the lineup is. The other team is going to be like, damn, you can’t really keep these guys off the glass, you can’t really keep these guys from having energy. (We’re) going to be flying around everywhere. I do a lot of screaming. I don’t know if Lively does, but it’s going to be a lot of energy. I can’t wait for it. The sky’s the limit for us.”
Not to be overlooked is the fact that the Mavericks also now have 12 fouls that they can use from their two centers – plus 12 more if Kleber and Dwight Powell are factored in.
And against teams that play big – potential playoff adversaries Minnesota and New Orleans in particular – matching their size will be crucial for the Mavericks.
Against a formidable Oklahoma City team on Saturday, the Mavericks outrebounded the Thunder 54-40. It won’t always be that way, but Gafford certainly raises the Mavericks’ rebounding acumen immediately, as does Washington.
“Every chance I get, I try to be on the rim, blocking shots, rebounding, just putting myself in the right position at the right time,” Gafford said.
And the arrival of Gafford and Washington has resulted in another important change: It has energized everybody in the locker room, including Luka.
“Both guys are very excited,” he said. “P.J. can guard one through five. Even Gafford can guard one through five. They’re both very athletic and we got bigger, which is better for our defense, and offense, obviously.
“I think we’re a good team.”
AAC debut: Gafford and Washington weren’t the only ones making their AAC debuts for the Mavericks on Saturday.
After the game, Dončić posted a picture on social media of he and fiancé Anamaria with infant daughter Gabriela in a stroller in a back hallway of AAC.
It was the kiddo’s first NBA game.
“It’s a different feeling,” Dončić said. “She won’t remember, but I’ll remember forever her first game. She was sleeping the whole time. But it’s a different energy.”
He’s been asked many times about the changes fatherhood brings and he said Sunday: “The approach is the same. But it’s just easier to play. After the game, if it’s bad or good, she doesn’t know (how) I played. So back home, you forget about everything.”
X: @ESefko
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