Copyright Heavy.
I wish I could tell Dallas Mavericks fans that things will get better, but that’s a bald-faced lie. Kyrie Irving remains out with a torn ACL, Klay Thompson has regressed sharply, and Anthony Davis has already suffered an injury this season. Even if Davis’ injury is minor, it’s a major sign of concern. However, the Mavericks boast Cooper Flagg, one of the most complete prospects in recent memory. After dominating the NCAA as a 17-year-old freshman, he was the consensus number one pick, expected to put Dallas over the hump. The problem? He hasn’t been very good. It’s way too early to call him a bust, and it’s not his fault that he hasn’t been put in a position to succeed. However, other rookies are doing more with less, and it’s hard to overlook Flagg’s early struggles. Dallas Mavericks to Blame for Flagg’s Struggles Flagg is not a point guard! I am not an NBA coach, and I’m willing to bet that you aren’t, either, but it’s painfully obvious that he should not be playing point guard. D’Angelo Russell is hardly an elite point guard, although the Mavericks boast a net rating of +13.4 when he’s on the court compared to -22.3 when he’s off. Flagg, as a starting point guard, boasts 2.8 assists per game and 2.0 turnovers. That’s not good! “The logical mind understands that Flagg is not exactly being set up to succeed,” wrote Sports Illustrated’s Liam McKeone. “The Mavs are playing with one hand tied behind their back offensively until Kyrie Irving returns from a torn ACL; D’Angelo Russell has been a poor imitation thus far. It makes for a cramped floor without his creation or shooting.” The Mavericks are 2-3. They have a loss to the Washington Wizards and a narrow win over the Indiana Pacers, which are not good teams. It’s not Flagg’s fault that Dallas is falling short, although he has hardly lived up to the expectations. Cooper Flagg’s Play Is Barely Acceptable Flagg was touted as a generational player, expected to impact winning for the Mavericks as soon as he entered the lineup. Were those comparisons fair? Maybe not, but either way, Dallas was billed as a playoff team, if not a Finals contender. Despite being one of the most obvious first overall picks ever, Flagg is barely playing like a top-ten selection. He ranks sixth in points per game, sixth in assists, and ninth in win shares. He has been outplayed every step of the way by other rookies. Looking at the preseason hype, it’s easy to call his early play disappointing. “In a sink-or-swim situation, Flagg has at least found a way to tread water,” McKeone added. It can’t be stressed enough: the Mavericks were advertised as a legitimate threat to the top players in the Western Conference. With Irving out and Davis injured, imagine for a second how bad they would be without Flagg. “Flagg’s transition to the NBA isn’t going to be as seamless as it was chalked up to be,” he finished. The Mavericks’ shortcomings aren’t all Flagg’s fault, but he isn’t entirely innocent, either.
