Scouting Report: Dallas Mavericks Prior to Their Conference Finals Matchup Against Minnesota Timberwolves
Throughout the Dallas Mavericks’ Western Conference Finals game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, there are a number of crucial variables to keep an eye on.
Minneapolis, Minnesota In the Western Conference Finals, the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves will square off in a fiercely contested series. Before Wednesday’s opening game at Target Center, there are several things to consider.
Despite several injuries and recent transactions, the four regular-season meetings between the Mavericks and Timberwolves were not very noteworthy. As the first NBA action of the season, these two teams faced off twice in Abu Dhabi, but both were exhibition games with little significance.
Jan. 7, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA: At the American Airlines Center, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) and forward Grant Williams (3) celebrate a basket made during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Very few Dallas two-man lineup combinations have played for 50 minutes together; several of them featured Tim Hardaway Jr. and Grant Williams, who is no longer with the team. The most frequently utilized lineup played 10 minutes, including Richaun Holmes and Williams, with other names including Jaden Hardy, Josh Green, and Hardaway. Even in the previous season, Doncic and Irving were only starting their relationship. Since then, they have improved greatly as a team, although with new players surrounding them.
Let’s examine some of the series’ key strategic components in more detail.
NBA’s Top Defense is Owned by the Timberwolves
Throughout the regular season, the Timberwolves were the best defensive club available. There’s not much to say. Rudy Gobert has won Defensive Player of the Year four times. From that 108.4 defensive rating to a postseason defensive rating of 107.6, they have only improved. The All-Defensive Second Team was formed, and Jaden McDaniels made it. Minnesota is surrounded by a wealth of talent. It won’t be easy to play without a homecourt advantage against a club that has progressed as far as they have in a long time.
What Sort of Points Do Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic Expect?
The Timberwolves’ pick-and-roll strategy may make it difficult for the Mavericks to get their play-finishing centers to put up big scoring numbers. Doncic will often take a step-back three against McDaniels in similar situations, and it is effective if his shot is dropping at a high rate of speed. Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid could try to hold their own if Minnesota switches screens, but I think that will be lessened in the postseason or at the very least mixed up with late doubles and hedge and recover. Dallas’s creative juices will be required more. Regarding Conley, the same thing is true.
NBA scoring leader Doncic just finished a more difficult series in terms of points scored. It appears that his performance is mostly a health issue. He’s still going strong despite a sprained right knee and painful left ankle, but he has the advantage of having only participated in one game since leading the team to win on the road in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, May 15. With three full days off until Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, it is one game in five days. Later in the series, when facing the Thunder, he started to get into a groove. Will he continue in Minnesota, where he left off?
Against the Thunder, Irving was restricted to several scoring efforts of fewer than ten points. In Game 6 versus OKC, he had more shots than points and demonstrated greater aggression while maintaining his command of tough defensive coverage. Irving’s involvement will be interesting to watch since there are several reasons to attack in the half-court, including the necessity to push the pace against Minnesota and the advantage of forcing Anthony Edwards to play defense.
With Irving starting for the Timberwolves, Doncic has averaged 33.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in his past two games against them. In the same games, Irving averaged 35.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. In the sole encounter this season, Dallas triumphed decisively at home in the beginning of January. Doncic finished with 34 points and eight assists, while Irving contributed 35 points and five assists. It was evident that accounting for both players was a task.
What Strategy Will the Timberwolves Use for Ball Screen Coverages?
With Gobert at the center of their defense, the Timberwolves may use drop coverage, in which he guards a 2-with-1 for extended periods of time, trying to close the floor when they see fit, and accepting the outcome. But with Gobert in the mix, they wouldn’t have to send the low man as hard as they would have against other defenses. They might attempt to create greater equilibrium and interfere with P.J. Washington or Derrick Jones Jr. during the reception. Jones has ventured to shoot despite being labeled as the weak shooter in prior games. If Gobert stays in more of a drop, as he often does, Doncic will need to use his strength to get into the gap by snaking traditional ball screen coverages, flips, or re-screens. Gobert may be more straightforward against McDaniels’ frame than Luguentz Dort was in the previous series.
Gobert could be asked to use his length on blitzes, as Minnesota relies on the rest of the team to handle 4-on-3 situations. They have regularly used this against Irving and Doncic. Dallas was able to counter this strategy and even had success with Dereck Lively II, Jones, or Daniel Gafford playing out of the pocket because Doncic is the most blitzed player in the NBA. The Mavericks have effective players to handle their wings, which can attack closeouts and get to a floater playing off two feet when the finish isn’t there.dle blitzing. In previous matchups, Minnesota has deployed a hedge and recover technique, even with Gobert being the big defender.
