Mavericks' dream Cooper Flagg lineup could already be doomed by one glaring flaw
As soon as the Dallas Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, fans salivated at the idea of trotting out a massive starting lineup that would include Flagg, D'Angelo Russell, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II to begin the season. This would be an incredible defensive lineup, as every member of this unit is an elite defender outside of Russell, but a weakness on the other end of the floor could hold it back from being as effective as fans think.
If Jason Kidd decided to roll with a similar unit, which he teased earlier this offseason, their shooting could drop off significantly. So much so that he may not get to use it often.
This unit already has two non-shooters with Lively II and Davis, and everyone around them would need to be consistent 3-point shooters to give them the spacing they need to operate down low while also keeping the defense honest.
Wing shooting will decide the fate of Mavericks' jumbo lineup
Washington had an excellent season from downtown last season as he shot 38.1 percent from three, but it can't be expected that he can replicate this dominance out of the gates next season. It would be massive for Dallas if he can, as he shot 31.4 percent from beyond the arc during his first season as a Maverick, and another dominant year from downtown would prove that the mechanical tweak that he made to his jumper last offseason has paid off significantly.
Washington would be playing small forward if Kidd uses this lineup, which he has barely done over the course of his six-year career, and this would quietly be a major change for him. He would need to take advantage of the open looks that are created for him, and we could even see his 3-point volume go up from the 4.2 threes per game he shot last season (second lowest mark of his career).
With Washington set to play the three in this unit, Flagg would be forced to play shooting guard.
Flagg's 3-point shooting at the NBA level may be a work in progress, as it remains unknown if he can keep up his solid shooting numbers from Duke, and the potential success of this unit could heavily rely on his shooting.
If Flagg can't turn into an above-average shooter, the performance of this unit would likely plummet, considering that he would be the two guard of this group, and Kidd will quickly know if he can use these jumbo lineups frequently by how they shoot threes. Having solid shooting is essential in today's NBA, and they must have good 3-point shooters around Davis and Lively II or Daniel Gafford if they want these double-big lineups to work.
At the point guard spot, whether it's Russell running the show or Kyrie Irving once he returns from his ACL tear, the Mavericks should be in good hands when it comes to shooting. Russell is a career 36.5-percent 3-point shooter, while Irving is a 39.4-percent 3-point shooter, and both players would have to be effective shooters from beyond the arc in order for this lineup to succeed.
Since Davis (a few per game) and Lively II or Gafford (rarely) aren't known for shooting threes and mostly operate inside (or in the mid-range for Davis), nearly everyone around them needs to be a good shooter for the spacing to stay good.
Mavericks fans saw just how quickly things can go south last season when Dallas' shooting hit rock bottom at the end of the year (even though they were battling injuries across the board), and they must trend in the right direction in this area to emerge as true contenders in the Western Conference.
Defense was never going to be a problem with this group, but Mavericks fans must keep a close eye on the team's 3-point shooting to gauge how practical using this lineup is. It won't be a shock to anyone if Kidd at least tries this huge lineup, as it would strike fear into their opponent's eyes thanks to the defensive versatility and size it has, but the shooting on the wing around Davis and Lively II is what it'll really come down to.
If the threes don't fall, the Mavericks' mammoth lineup may remain nothing more than a dream.
Steelers Kicker Chris Boswell Receives Huge Honor for Week 1 Heroics
Following a great Week 1, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell is receiving a big-time honor.
In a narrow two-point victory, the Pittsburgh Steelers needed everyone to step up in Week 1. Taking down the New York Jets by a final score of 34-32 was no easy feat, after all, and one particular player served as the hero.
Kicker Chris Boswell was the man, and now he adds some hardware because of it. Per the league (and the Steelers on X), he’s the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 1.
Pittsburgh Star Chris Boswell Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week
It’s a fitting award for Boswell, who was picture perfect for the Steelers on Sunday.
Thanks to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Boswell had four opportunities to drain extra points. He converted on all of them, also going 2-for-2 on field goals. Both came from distance, with the first being a 56-yarder and his 60-yarder being a career-long. The latter boot served as the longest for any kicker in Week 1, and hands-down the most important.
Following the triumphant win, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin praised Boswell for a job well done.
“I can’t say enough about Boz. Our kicker is a serial killer,” Tomlin said. “Man, he’s got a low pulse rate. He can’t wait to deliver.”
This is the fifth time Boswell has been named Special Teams Player of the Week. It’s the most such acknowledgements for a Steeler, passing Jeff Reed. Boswell’s awards in 2015 (Week 6), 2017 (Week 13) and last season (Weeks 1 and 11) now have some company. Among all Pittsburgh players dating back to his debut in 2015, Boswell trails only quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (seven) and pass rusher T.J. Watt (eight) for most Player of the Week wins.
Starting all 17 games for the Steelers last season, Boswell thrived. He made all 35 of his extra point attempts, also going 41-for-44 on field goals. Those 41 makes led the sport, contributing to a sparkling 93.2% accuracy rate. All of those marks netted Boswell his second career Pro Bowl berth, in addition to his only first-team All-Pro nod.
Boswell ‘Not Worried’ About New Contract From Steelers: Report
Of course, with excellent performance should come excellent pay. That’s no foreign concept to Boswell, who is soon due for a raise from the Steelers. According to Over The Cap, his average annual salary of $5 million currently ranks 10th among active kickers. Even at the age of 34, he remains an elite player.
There’s a case to be made that Boswell is the best in the business. Will he be compensated as such? That remains to be seen, as he’s under contract through the end of next season. Experiencing another signature moment like Week 1’s thriller of a kick certainly doesn’t hurt.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk documented Boswell’s latest thoughts on an extension. The two spoke on the phone following Sunday’s win. Even without a new deal in place, Boswell is worried about controlling what he can control.
“I kind of just look at it you know, my kicking will take care of all that,” Boswell said. “I’m not worried on it. I’m not focused on it. You know, that’s why we all have agents and stuff like that. It didn’t get done and, you know, they have a business to run, too. I mean, just like I gotta look out for myself. I didn’t come to — nothing came about it so just move on, and figure out another time.”
If Boswell’s string of performances keeps being positive, achieving a league-high salary or something close to it won’t be a problem.
