The Mavs Have a Championship-Level Defense | Dallas Mavericks Podcast

The Dallas Mavericks defense has looked elite against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Playoffs. Why are Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Jason Kidd, and the Mavs thriving on defense?
Nick Angstadt explains why the Dallas Mavericks have a Championship-Level defense now. How do Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving factor into the defensive success? What adjustments have the coaching staff made and why does the scheme work? What do PJ Washington & Derrick Jones Jr contribute? How have Daniel Gafford & Dereck Lively II been crucial pieces on defense?
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#LukaDoncic #KyrieIrving #DallasMavericks #Dallas #NBA #Mavericks #Mavs #DallasMavs #MFFL

[@LockedOnMavericks]

What's 1 reason the Mavs Defense has been Championship Level?

[@arguseyed9982]

The whistle

[@anghannyang5098]

Jason Kidd

[@vernvartdal6479]

The Dereckrrick's & PJ! + the 🦝 squad shaming the Mavs braintrust into action before they would have... don't sell Nick & 🦝's role short! The direct challenge to the coaching staff & mgt worked.

[@rigorcabanado8092]

Effort

[@marjanlucev2952]

collective spirit

[@TheHappyWhale]

If Awful Coaching is saying that Luka and Kyrie are playing good defense, then you know they're playing good defense lol

[@leoreoibardo9294]

it's just for the content. if the team lose he nitpick everything even though it was part of the scheme like leaving westbrook wide open from 3s

[@AdolphSaxOfficial]

Good. Lord knows he doesn't need the extra stress.

[@dpend]

@@leoreoibardo9294I can’t watch his content, it’s like fingernails on a chalkboard, good for him finding a hustle tho 😂 I don’t know how he doesn’t damage his vocal cords talking like that

[@danem.9402]

We live in North Korea.

[@suprcrzy]

I just wish he would stop the constant clicking. Or mute the audio when he does it. It's literally every 5-10 seconds lol.

[@ryangebilaguin]

If this current Mavs team was assembled during the start of the 2023 regular, perhaps they are the No. 1 seed of the NBA.

[@loster87]

No 1 seed coming up next season

[@choikkan7734]

@@loster87 maybe they gonna start letting luka play less minutes per game and try to get top 3 to have him healthy for playoffs

[@AveChristusRex789]

I can see this team getting 60+ wins next season

[@RJupiter]

Kyrie and Luka are part of this defense but media wont acknowledge it to keep their agenda

[@jjcometa9333]

Aye that's alright. Let their game do the talking

[@erkinzahedi9666]

Gotta admit Kidd has made some good adjustments.

[@cadebraaten687]

Kidd is such a better coach in the postseason it’s crazy. He is very very good at adjustments

[@Nooosirrr2231]

I feel like he doesn’t care about the regular season … he shines in the postseason like frl frl

[@swiftfist2876]

He has to touch the car before he can fix it. That’s why we always lose game 1.

[@ericheffner112]

Yeah. As these series get longer, Kidd seems to have the opposing team completely dissected by game 3 or 4. Great adjustment to focus on the others because SGA is a scorer. Not a facilitator. I can't even tell who's running point for OKC. Let's not forget that Kidd insisted that Giannis become a playmaking, ball handler and ppl initially thought he was nuts. How did that turn out? When Greek Freak said that Kidd was a genius I started to fall back and analyze his coaching more. He uses the regular season just to prepare for the post season. His next move is to gradually get Hardy Party more involved. If this continues AND we get Maxie back, we'll eventually start clicking on all cylinders and look more like the TWolves last night.

[@chetubetchaa]

@@swiftfist2876great metaphor.

[@nickriel21]

MAVS 2024 CHAMPS!!!

[@chanskiT431]

The biggest thing to me is that these guys contest EVERYTHING, whether it be in the paint or on the perimeter they try to make the opponents' shots difficult unless it is someone who they don't mind taking open shots.

[@jjcometa9333]

Fr. If there is someone who can't shoot, inconsistent from 3 you know damn well that guys gonna get left on an island😂 if they hit, they hit. But they won't do that consistently

[@d9drummer1]

Celtics do that better. Celtics have the better 8 player rotation, better defense. Give Luka/Kyrie 60, Celtics still score 100+.

[@michaelpickering1039]

Defense so good you can play THJ & Hardy at the same time.

[@Kcirtyalk]

Please no

[@dustinbarlow1623]

@@Kcirtyalk LOL Hardaway was the problem, as soon as DJJ came back in we built up the lead again. Hardy did nice work against SGA, the foul and one was a BS call.

[@nealyodude11]

Such a nice season to watch bringing in all the nostalgia from the 2011 days! I would be satisfied enough to see them make it to the WCF this year. Hope Maxi is doing better, he's always been an amazing asset to this team. Let's go Mavs!!

[@jjcometa9333]

That's what i said when they beat clips😂 I was like I'm fine if we're a 2nd round team. But then we actually have a chance to rn its fine if were a wcf team😂. We'll see tho

[@protexroofing5939]

Wrong mindset...this team believes they can win it all...we should too.

[@jjcometa9333]

@protexroofing5939 I feel the guy. This is the legit first season of LuKai as a duo. Add majority of our rotation being brought in just this season, then its really not that easy to put them in the finals. But they're making it happen tho

[@Kcirtyalk]

Anyone else notice that Gafford has been more patient around the rim whenever Chet is guarding him? I think DG has figured out he can body up Chet more and score more easily rather than getting stuffed by going quickly

[@Andrew-gs2ps]

Yeah he’s giving him that little body bump

[@dustinbarlow1623]

Dallas has a lot of High IQ Basketball players, and Gafford is one of them. You can see the wheel is always turning in his head when he is on the floor.

[@jjcometa9333]

Noticed that with clips series. Took him a while to really adjust to someone bigger than him like Zubac. I thought he'd adjust faster against a lanky player like chet but at least he's doing it.

[@Kcirtyalk]

@@jjcometa9333 Chet is lanky but I think he is alot stronger than he looks. But even so, Gafford seems to now know he has some advantage being the heftier player and better to use that to his advantage rather than just trying to go over him. I think we will see it more in Game 6

[@jjcometa9333]

@Kcirtyalk hopefully man. We need to close this team out

[@jeffreycastillo8386]

The day Lively wakes up and realize how easy he can attack the rim ,with his speed 💪.

[@dustinbarlow1623]

I agree with Shaq the biggest reason you play Gafford over Lively is one can finish at the rim and the other cant. Lively for 20 years old is doing above expectations.

[@choikkan7734]

im just waiting for him to drop 3s

[@edwinbleau5334]

If they go to the conference finals, it will be the 2nd time in 3 years. We would be praising any other coach that did that

[@Retrobilia]

I love how that hotel hung a windows background picture on the wall.

[@angelsaint-hilaire4372]

Mavs had the #1 defense for the last 20 games of the regular season and have one of the top defense in these playoffs. They held OKC to 92pts and people (Bill Simmons) still don’t want to give this defense credit!

[@user-qp5yn6rk8b]

Lukai known for a defensive liability, PJ not known as an elite defender, DJJ minimum, Dlive rookie; if you hear in the training camp that they are holding the top offensive okc under 92, it’s hard to assume that the coaching staff are a trash

[@Andrew-gs2ps]

This comment really lets you know how far our players have come

[@zorantalijan4515]

I love you nad Dallas,bih fan from Split, Croatia birdtown od Toni Kukoč and Dino Rađa,go MAVS❤

[@CrystalCanyon100]

I’m worried okc will bounce back with shooting 50%+ from 3. We need another great defensive effort.

[@GTR24]

Yeah we need to keep the defensive intensity up. I want to see us build an 18+ point lead and hold it

[@pakilo2004]

If you don't believe u shouldn't be here.

[@Andrew-gs2ps]

Kyrie is due for a performance

[@dustinbarlow1623]

Reason OKC kept it close was because Exum was complete Dog Crap at creating spacing with Kyrie or Luka out. so OKC could focus on either Kai and Luka and we would go cold for 10 minutes offensively. I dont see that happening with Hardy in there now. Hardy can spread you out similar to how Ky can.

[@bobbybeez858]

No sleep 🦝 checking in

[@musickj21]

Cautiously confident about game 6. As we just saw with the Nuggets/TWolves, anything can happen in a single game but definitely a good shot of closing this thing out.

[@blicleak1101]

Mavs lose game 6 for sure. That's their DNA. AThen they can go and win game 7

[@sorenruutsoo]

Nick has done for me as Estonian Mavs fan from Dirk and Martin Müürsep times, amongst others, one great thing - leting me know, how many Racoon Squaad members HERE are from Europe ✌🤝 I was supprised! Go MAVS , GO DALLAS , in Estonia it will be Sunday morning 3 AM. The 4-th to take in series is allways nothing easy 💪

[@Jardermorder]

Yeah!!!! All the support from Spain as well:)

[@sorenruutsoo]

@@Jardermorder Cheers to Spain! 👋Glad to meet u here! ✔🌞🌞

[@mightymadman]

MFFL here supporting all the way from Spain too! 🦝 🦝 🦝

[@leonardo_mrll]

cheers from Italy man🤝 watching games as europeans Is soo stressful💀 in Italy the last game finished at 5:40 in the morning, i can't even Imagine in Estonia cuz It probably finished like close to 7 in the morning 💀

[@AMINOMMA]

Cheers from the Netherlands man, let's go Mavs

[@OscarRodriguez-kp1nw]

Mavs in 6!!!!!

[@tilenkj04]

I believe that this Mavs team (with maybe one additional player+healty Kleber) can become dinasty for the next 5+years 😎 😇

[@Nooosirrr2231]

Keep this team together and add something idk what but something

[@angelsaint-hilaire4372]

@@Nooosirrr2231that something has to be another shooter that’s more reliable than THJ.

[@DonCos0822]

​@@Nooosirrr2231something big like Kleber that can stretch 4 sometimes play 5 and can guard 3-5 or maybe a 3 that can guard 1-4 (OMax) 😂 and looking forward for DLive 3 😊

[@dustinbarlow1623]

If Hardy starts pouring in buckets this team is going to be a menace.

[@dallastexas5653]

Let them win one first lol

[@healthfadsfade]

I wanna sign Bruce brown into this mix lol he’s kind of expensive but imagine your small ball defensive lineup with Luka Ky brown jr Washington jones jr 😂 they would terrorize

[@dustinbarlow1623]

Gotta have room for Hardy. Hes an integral piece moving forward.

[@damianpunchard]

Pj on Chet is great because if Chet sets screen we just swap pj onto SGA. No real mismatches. SGA is shooting good percentages but mavs are also making him pass up a lot of shots which means role players have to hit and they aren’t. Hopefully it continues

[@HeyCMH]

The Mavs have (in perfect order) held the Thunder to fewer and fewer points in each subsequent game of this series…they’re figuring them out.

[@jeffreycastillo8386]

Imagine next season with all our players healthy,that's going to be interesting 🧐🤔

[@alexcamp9320]

Before the series I thought OKC would take it in 6 or 7, mostly because of Luka’s health. I’ve changed my mind. SGA has been excellent, very consistent, but overall we are playing much better basketball aside from a few turnovers, free throws and other little details. It’s not over but I feel confident for Saturday night (Sunday morning here in the UK)

[@juhyungkim4525]

Nick misses issac 22:11

[@cryptidian3530]

He sometimes mentions his name before a new segment. Maybe on purpose, as a running joke.

[@tonybrown2969]

I noticed this too!

[@HelloBastian]

PJ stat line looks reeeally close to what I predicted

[@milna64]

All right Issac.

[@roneteus]

Gotta keep that Kyrie closeout streak alive!

[@erlinghaaland5230]

Mavs in 6 !

[@chetubetchaa]

Awesome video! Specifically for Kyrie even though he’s not playing his usual scoring role, his game is aging like fine wine. A master who’s presenting the world with a new work of art. Defensively his impact has been there as well as creating chances for his team to score. Also he’s 6’2 successfully guarding bigger opponents speaks volumes.

[@jimmygreer2140]

The Juniors are giving off Bash Bros vibes. But the great thing is....there's also Josh Green. So while PJ & DJJ can play those 46-47 minutes that Dorian & Reggie were, they don't have to because Green is also a solid wing defender with some offense to him. So while the Bash Bros turned into the Gassed Bros trying to chase Curry around in the WCF, I would expect PJ & DJJ to have plenty left in the tank.

[@bchand9069]

Let’s go Mavs!!! Close it out at home!

[@rayray5561]

Hardy is going to be a key piece 👍🏿💪🏿😎

[@dustinbarlow1623]

I have been saying all season long playing Exum over Hardy was a short sited move from Kidd. Hardy missed valuable PT that could have come in handy come playoff time. Hardy is a rhythm scorer so he should get involved early and often, we need someone to take the pressure off ky.

[@danem.9402]

Mavs in 6. Been saying it since the beginning.

[@RenishaDavenport-vk2ll]

Mavs in 6

[@sheilamaer.gindap3028]

Let it rideeee

[@jeffreycastillo8386]

Let's give time to time 😜, This could be a great team for the league.

[@pijoagvalderas6301]

West finals cumin up mavs world

[@jimmygreer2140]

Can we PLEASE talk about PJ in the short roll??? It looked like to me that Kidd was starting to use that in the last game. And PJ came up with 4 assists. I think this could be HUGE going forward. For starters, Kidd hasn't really run the offense through PJ. So no one has really seen it. They won't be expecting it. Amazing how this trade keeps paying off in different ways even months later. Able to do things the rest of the NBA ain't ready for because not even the Mavs knew to what extent PJ & Gafford would fit into things. And apparently Kidd believes PJ could run the short roll "half-court, fast-break" offense. Lively is pretty damn good at it & Gafford can do some things with it. But having PJ do it brings a whole different dynamic. A whole new skill set (smaller, quicker) and a more polished offensive game...I trust PJ to take a 15 foot jumper over Lively or Gafford.

[@saggerpance]

Can we please make the idea that Isaac was let go for saying rebounds don’t matter part of Locked on Mavs lore?

[@marjanlucev2952]

they could be trouble.. nobody knows how this ultra young team will be flyin at the first real test in their career

[@kennethhanes5702]

My one thing with Kidd is his timeout management and when he takes them. Everything else he’s great at imo. If that’s the biggest complaint then you’re in a good spot

[@is0morph]

Friends, I wanna hear your opinion: Can this defense somehow hold up against the joker? If so, what'd be the game plan?

[@jimmygreer2140]

The Maxi injury is really worrying me. I just like the matchup with Minny or Denver better if there's Maxi. He can really stay with KAT or Gordon while Gafford/Lively handle Gobert or Joker. Watching Minny, I began to wonder if Dallas could FINALLY break out a Gafford AND Lively lineup. But no, don't think it'll work on the offensive end. Maybe next year if Lively can at least develop a mid-range game...the 3 ball would be sweet, but just gimme a strong shot from 15-20 feet and Lively's game will skyrocket. But defensively it makes sense. Gafford can bully it up with Gobert while Lively stays in front of KAT & challenges the 3s. I mean Lively is showing he can play that game NOW. We had better hope that PJ, DJJ and Green can keep up this shooting cause we may have to outshoot whoever it's gonna be. But it sure would be nice to have just 20 minutes of Maxi banging on those big stretch 4s. Save some wear & tear on PJ.

[@dannysmuzic1807]

Mavs Biggs (Gaff/DLive) close-outs are affecting OKC perimeter shooters. And when they run them off the 3pt line, they're athletic enough to pivot, follow they're drive back to the rim, like a wet blanket, and just block their s*** from behind anyways.

[@Nick-dz9tj]

Are Nuggets or Wolves a better matchup for us?

[@SwazeyThaGod]

that hat aint it nick 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@anghannyang5098]

L take.. hat looks nice

[@20Mikey00]

Think it’s more the lighting in the hotel. Hat looks nice imo

[@mightymadman]

Yeah the hat is nice. Are those prairie dogs? lol

[@sinningtintin3604]

Boston and Dallas finals book it!

[@firstnamelastname6148]

i got knicks for some reason

[@edouble9573]

let's go Mavs, Mavs in 6

[@simoncove1]

Where is slightly??

[@timh363]

kyrie hasnt played this many games in a season in awhile . i wonder if he has hit a small wall. even though scoring isnt the say all be all hes doing everything else. hopefully hes coasting for the next series

[@jnmc2498]

SGA doesnt need to take more 3s for the OKC. He is getting his points so it would be foolish to change what works. They need mainly J Williams and Chet to simply make their 3s.

[@Sylv1ception71]

Agree about our defense, and if you're a MFFL, you certainly sometimes wonder "WTF" ?? 😆🤔 But make no mistake, if we pass to the next round , it will be a lot more harder vs Wolves or Nuggets, it's a totally different level (no disrespect to OKC).

[@Trueblue4u22]

I think it's good maxi been out because it's making kidd keep using the bigs.

[@jeffreycastillo8386]

Kyrie Irving is doing great 👍. Anyone that has hooped, understand what is happening.😊

[@chunkymay1650]

Oh, Nick must be having a bad hair day 🧢, 🦝 🦑 4ever 😊

[@jackreed1619]

Always good to see the mavs win!

[@claudiomendes7377]

For how much we hated Kidd this season, we have to give him credit. If the Mavs go to WCF then Kidd would lead the Mavs to 2 WCF in 3 years. Kidd might be a good playoff coach.

[@leonardo_mrll]

who are you guys rooting for in the denver-min series💀 both teams look scary

[@dustinbarlow1623]

Im rooting they beat eachothers brains in and wear one another out. I hope Gobert leans on Jokic and wears him down. I hope that Murray wears out Anthony Edwards.

[@d9drummer1]

Let me guess, you-a Dallas Fanboy has your team winning the Finals? Because they have the best 7 or 8? They have the better Defensive team? Or Luka will score 105 each game?

[@jeffreycastillo8386]

Only one that can eliminate the Mavs is the Mavs team themselves.

[@gabapc]

didnt Kyrie have a 40 point game in a loss against the Clippers?

[@jeffreycastillo8386]

Their is luka & Kyrie, But i pick the dudes to take us to The promised NBA land 😊.

[@joseib18]

According to Billy Boy OKC is just missing shots and he won’t credit the Dallas defense 😂

[@jeffreycastillo8386]

Luka Tonka

[@markouljancic975]

I predict Luka will go 4/7 for 3...just for fun

[@scottcloud6284]

SGA a glorified speedy DeRozan I haven’t been impressed

[@dustinbarlow1623]

My same exact thoughts.

[@RenishaDavenport-vk2ll]

Mavs in 6

[@jimwight4100]

Where's all the Kidd haters. Go watch your cowboys.

[@dirtyhiggins5484]

Please don't compare DJJ and PJ to Bullock and DFS. Jones and Washington are magnitudes better than those scrubs.

[@m9ch15l]

Bullock definitely... but not doedoe. He is a probably a better shooter than those 2, but not as athletic n young as them

[@Andrew-gs2ps]

@@m9ch15lDFS can’t put the ball on the floor even near as good as either DJJ or PJ

[@Andrew-gs2ps]

@@m9ch15lthat’s why our offense is so good we have two do it all wings

[@danielbanks4228]

@@m9ch15lstop it pj is heads and shoulders better than dfs I’m a mavs fan and y’all overrate the man so hard cause u like him djj and pj are way better and they can actually attack

[@m9ch15l]

@@danielbanks4228 relax daniel... i agree they r better than doe, but not 'magnitudes better' and doe is definitely not a 'scrubs'... lets be real doe is a better shooter and defensively not that far behind if not the same level... so how are they r 'way' better

[@protexroofing5939]

I thought the mavs didnt have a chance in this series???? Lol

[@DunningKrugerJnr]

The Mavs were tanking in 2023…of course Kidd wasn’t locked in…what am I missing?!?

[@eda2341_]

🦝

[@dustinbarlow1623]

I really have a feeling Jaden Hardy is going to have a moment saturday where we all stop and think about WTF was Kidd thinking by playing Exum over him. I had that feeling against the clippers when he went for 15 in 6 minutes against the Clippers, and I had that feeling in game five as well. Hopefully Kidd has arrived to the same conclusion. NO MORE EXUM!

[@wilsonflyfish]

No guests for two pods in a row one game away from the west finals. Listening to Nick talk to himself about the Mavs is just not a very interesting pod. I skipped last one and I’ll skip this one. I’m trying to like the new guest hosts. I terribly miss Isaac. Slightly is good but he’s part time. Get slightly off his 10 day contract and make him join the show. I just can’t listen to only Nick for two long. It like gives me anxiety. It’s too intense without the humor or banter.

[@franciscogonzalez9597]

The Thunder are winning this series

[@anghannyang5098]

hopefully not...

[@franciscogonzalez9597]

@@anghannyang5098 quit hating

[@firstnamelastname6148]

​@franciscogonzalez9597 start hitting 3s then

[@MrMathsimon]

@@franciscogonzalez9597Mavs in 6

[@anghannyang5098]

im not hating i just think that mavs has the edge

[@RenishaDavenport-vk2ll]

Mavs in 6