Mavericks are leaving clues they'll finally use dream starting lineup

The Dallas Mavericks' season opener against the San Antonio Spurs is just over 48 hours away, and it's looking like they will use the starting lineup that includes Cooper Flagg at point guard to kick off the season.

Dallas utilized two starting lineups during the preseason, one that included Flagg at the one alongside Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II, and one with Flagg on the wing instead of Washington and with D'Angelo Russell at point guard. Both lineups have their strengths and weaknesses, as the Flagg-led unit has more size and defense than the Russell-led unit while the Russell-led five group may have more creation, and it seems like Kidd is going to roll with Flagg at the one on Wednesday.

Kidd never reveals his starters before he absolutely has to, and the clues that Dallas may be leaning toward starting Flagg at point guard rather than at small forward began last week as the preseason came to a close.

All signs point to Cooper Flagg running the show

In Dallas' "dress rehearsal" final preseason game, Kidd started Flagg at the one, and everything he has said about his progression and development has been positive. Kidd truly seems to trust Flagg and his ability to run the offense, and his comments from after Monday's practice reflect that.

"I think when we’re looking at him starting at the point guard, it’s probably more of a point forward situation," Kidd said. "But since technically we gotta list someone at the point guard position, so I guess we’re listing him at the point guard position."

Kidd subtly downplayed the pressure and attention that could come upon Flagg by being the starting "point guard" by saying that it's "going to be more of a point forward situation," later saying that he thinks that he is up for the challenge of being put into this situation.

It seems like the Mavericks are going to trot out this massive starting five to begin the season, and some photos taken during practice over the last few days could be pointing toward this as well.

Dallas' "blue team" during practices typically refers to the starting five, and in some recent practice photos, Russell was in a white jersey, meaning that he was running with the second unit. Flagg, Davis, Thompson, and Washington can all be seen wearing blue jerseys.

Things can change quickly, and Kidd likes testing out many lineups before the season begins, but the Mavericks' first game is in just a few days, and it seems like they would likely have their starting five set in stone, whether Kidd wants to admit that or not.

All offseason long, reports and comments from Kidd have reflected that the potential to play big with Flagg at point guard intrigues him, and they clearly believe that allowing him to run the show could pay dividends down the road. Flagg's passing, ball handling, and creation have all improved since NBA Summer Legue, which should make him even more effective as the point guard spot, and this starting five is something Mavericks fans have been dreaming about all offseason.

This lineup has excited fans due to the fact that it'll potentially speed up Flagg's development while simultaneously giving them one of the tallest and most interesting starting fives in the NBA, and his journey to becoming an offensive engine will begin much sooner than anyone realized.

While he may not be an elite offensive engine right away, he has the tools to get there, and "point Cooper" will help ensure that he is being put into situations to one day become the No. 1 option that Mavs fans know he can be.