Mavericks are not doing the simplest things to truly unlock Cooper Flagg

The Cooper Flagg point guard experiment has run its course. It had run its course after one game, to be fair, but now it's really run its course.

And while it was always obvious that Flagg's fit at point guard wasn't a fit at all, we're now approaching the danger zone of Flagg's growth being stunted because he's never able to get comfortable in the Mavs offense. An offense that, for the record, does have the personnel necessary to let Flagg play his natural position. But head coach Jason Kidd seems intent on turning Flagg into a jumbo point guard, no matter how rocky the road is to that goal.

Sometimes, rookies must be thrown into the fire — I understand that. But even massively talented first-year players like Flagg need some easy opportunities to find a rhythm so early in their careers. Flagg has not gotten those opportunities yet. Instead of being the beneficiary of easy looks, he's being expected to create those easy looks for his teammates. His 10 assists in two games against the Wizards and Raptors were a promising sign, but those games are sandwiched by two games with zero assists.

Cooper Flagg is not getting any easy shot attempts so far

Granted, nobody on the Mavericks is. They are currently No. 24 in field goal percentage, and the offense has been clunky through the first four games. So it's not like the rest of the team is getting open layups and jumpers while Flagg isn't.

But a big part of why no one — Flagg included — is getting easy shots is because the wrong person is trying to set up those shots! Again, I don't want to disparage Flagg's playmaking ability; he's a very good passer and is typically very comfortable with the ball in his hands. But right now, Flagg being forced into a playmaker role is keeping this offense from clicking. If he was the one taking the shots created by others, I think thinks will look a lot smoother for this team.

Jason Kidd needs to shift his focus from hoping Flagg can be the setup man to letting him be a play finisher. A few layups, some dunks, some midrange jumpshots off of screens; let him start to cook a little!

Just like it was after the Mavs' first game, my panic level about Cooper Flagg remains at zero. He's going to be totally fine. But my panic level about Flagg's role, which doesn't seem set to change anytime soon, continues to tick up ever so slightly.