NEW ORLEANS – The Dallas Mavericks are scorching opponents to open the 2023-24 NBA season, sitting at 6-2, just behind Denver in the West. When the Pelicans face them on Sunday and on Tuesday, they’ll have to stop Dallas’s third-ranked offense (118.3 offensive rating). It’s only been eight games, but the Pelicans defense places in the bottom 10 so far (114.1 defensive raring). Can they outpace the high-powered Mavericks?
Luka Doncic, as always, is the engine of the Mavs’ Ferrari offense. He’s playing some of the best basketball of his career, posting career highs in efficiency (62.4% true shooting, 57.8% effective field goal percentage) and three-point shooting efficiency and volume (38.8%, 10.3 per 75 possessions). Doncic’s 31.5 points and 8.8 assists feel normal for him at this point in his career. This is what Luka does.
New Orleans must monitor Doncic and the Mavs’ shooting, as they give up the fourth most threes per game in the NBA. Teams haven’t shot well against New Orleans, though. Opponents knocked down a paltry 31.6% of their triples against New Orleans. Some of this is early season variance and, with the way he is playing, New Orleans can’t afford to let Luka fire step-back threes all game. Herb Jones will likely match up with Doncic for much of the game and his smothering, pressuring defense could crowd Luka’s airspace and force timely misses.
Beyond Doncic, Dallas as a whole is white hot from three, leading the league in threes per game (42.9) and three-point percentage (39.7%). All of their regular rotation guards and wings — Tim Hardaway Jr., Grant Williams, Derrick Jones Jr., Josh Green — are shooting above 38% from three.
Aside from his own scoring barrage, Luka Doncic dices defenses as a passer to find his teammates open shots. Dallas deploys Doncic as a ball-handler in double drag pick and rolls, drawing defensive attention with one rolling big man and one popping shooter. Dereck Lively, the Mavericks’ lottery pick, skies above the rim for dunks and layups, commanding defensive attention.
This roll gravity, combined with Doncic’s elite passing vision and creativity, lets him spray balls all over the court to wide-open shooters. Normally, New Orleans focuses its defense on limiting shots at the rim to overcome its poor rim protection. Against Dallas, though, Pelicans defenders must lock in on timely rotations and closeouts, sticking to their assignments with sharp communication.
The scoring power of Doncic and Kyrie Irving complicates this formula, of course. How do you defend two of the most electric creators in the NBA without overhelping and giving up open triples? Can Herb Jones, Dyson Daniels and the rest of the Pelicans’ perimeter defenders hold up enough to give the back line a chance to respond? If the 4-4 Pelicans want to escape with a win or two over Dallas, limiting the Mavs’ offensive attack as much as possible will be a priority. And if not, they’ll have to win in a shootout on the back of their own offensive firepower.
Written by Ben Pfeifer
Keys to Victory
- Defending the 3. The Pelicans are the best in the NBA at defending the three-pointer, holding teams to 31.3% shooting beyond the arc. That’s a stark contrast to the Mavericks, who enter the game leading the league in three-point accuracy (40.3%). Whichever team controls the perimeter will likely control the outcome of the game.
- The Irresistable force vs the (very) movable object. The New Orleans Pelicans rank 26th in the NBA in net rating and 20th defensively. The Mavs have the NBA’s second ranked offense, and are sixth-best in net rating. Dallas presents a two-edged sword for the Pelicans. They can’t outscore them, and stopping them may be too much for the undermanned Pels defense.
- Get to the charity stripe. One way for the Pelicans to slow tempo and pick up points is to get to the free throw line. New Orleans is one of the best teams in the NBA in free throw attempts, led by Zion Williamson (7.0 FTA). They’ll need Brandon Ingram (4.2) and Jonas Valanciunas (2.2) to help him out by drawing some contact as well.
- Gut check time. This is the first of six consecutive home games for the Pelicans, but they won’t be cake walks. The Pelicans have to produce a winning record during this homestand to start creating some positive momentum as they start to get healthier towards the end of the month.
Probable Starting Lineups
| Dallas Mavericks (vs NOP last season) | New Orleans Pelicans (vs DAL last season) |
| G – Luka Doncic (29.3 pts, 8.0 reb, 7.3 ast) | G – Dyson Daniels (5.0 pts, 2.0 ast) |
| G – Kyrie Irving (27.0 pts, 6.0 reb, 4.0 ast) | G – Jordan Hawkins (N/A) |
| F – Derrick Jones Jr. (N/A) | F – Brandon Ingram (19.0 pts, 6.5 reb, 6.0 ast) |
| F – Grant Williams (N/A) | F – Zion Williamson (N/A) |
| C – Dereck Lively II (N/A) | C – Jonas Valanciunas (13.5 pts, 8.5 reb) |
Injuries
New Orleans Pelicans: Jose Alvarado (right ankle sprain), Naji Marshall (right knee contusion), CJ McCollum (right lung), Trey Murphy III (left knee partial meniscectomy), and EJ Liddell (G League) are OUT; Herbert Jones (right fibula contusion) is questionable
Dallas Mavericks: Maxi Kleber (toe) is OUT
Who: Dallas Mavericks (7-2, 1-0) vs New Orleans Pelicans (4-5, 0-1)
Series history: Mavericks lead all-time 52-26, Series split 2-2 in 2022-23
Where: Smoothie King Center
When: November 12, 6:00 PM CT
Where to watch: Bally Sports New Orleans
Where to listen: WRNO 99.5
READ MORE
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- After Big Comeback in OKC, Pelicans Come Back to The Blender to Host Pistons
- Pels Host Knicks Seeking First Home Opening Win Since 2020-21 Season
- Brandon Ingram: Can He Elevate From All-Star to All-NBA?
- Matt Ryan: Great Story of Perseverance Now Also Pelicans’ 3-point Back-up Plan
- A Lot On Herb: Jones Remains Keystone of Pelicans Defense
- Dyson Daniels Needed For More Than Defense In Year 2
- Making a Difference: How Larry Nance Jr. Elevates the Pelicans’ Second Unit
- New Orleans Pelicans Better Positioned to Handle Adversity
- Can Jordan Hawkins Be A Real Shooting Option Off the Bench in 2023-24?
- How James Borrego Could Boost Pelicans’ Offense
No pride…no effort…no coaching
Ingram playing like he doesn’t care. Poor team effort. And LNJ continues to be Bad Bunny
I just read where Zion stated “he’s trying real hard to buy in” Bruh this dude has to be traded because his mind ain’t right. Him not coming back last season was an indicator of what we’re hearing coming out his mouth now. As for BI, isn’t he up for an extension? Maybe you move on from him too. But, it will not have a good look on the organization moving two stars going forward. This organization is cursed I believe and that includes the Saints.
Or maybe we move on from Willie Green. He has digressed since season 1 and I just don’t see the enthusiasm and camaraderie that was there then.
Something needs to happen and now. Griffin can’t keep rolling with not making any moves. HC change and/or trades need to happen expeditiously
I am not ready to say that BI and Zion can’t work…but I have seen precious little evidence that it will work together. The body language is terrible, and frankly there is more evidence to support the view that BI and maybe even Zion are flipping the bird at the organization and Willie Green. Pass the ball ( No thank you, I will dribble), play defense (What? that’s Herb’s job), rebound (Not my job), act like you give a damn (Where’s my contract extension?)
Tyrese Maxey scored 50 points last night against the Pacers last night. Meanwhile, one of the biggest reaches and busts of the last 5 NBA drafts, Kira Lewis, picked up 50 splinters on the Pels bench.
Consider trading Zion to Knicks with this hypothetical three team trade:
https://fanspo.com/nba/s/pelicans/trades/OwQnt325y7d3KM/3-team-trade