Mavericks newcomer flashes sky-high potential with scorching shooting night

While all focus in the DFW metroplex was on the Texas Rangers and their game five clinching victory in the World Series, the Dallas Mavericks played a basketball game where they performed quite well.

The Mavericks were able to improve to 4-0 behind another prolific 3-point shooting performance en route to their best start since the 2004-05 season.

The game was eerily similar to the Nets game the Mavericks played a few nights ago, at least through the first half.

Mavericks newcomer flashes sky-high potential with scorching shooting night

The Bulls heavily emphasized trapping Luka Doncic, and while it may have proved a derailment to Doncic’s overall game a little, the spacing it provided for Dallas when he could pass out of double teams was tremendous. Newcomer Grant Williams went off for a scorching 7-9 shooting performance from beyond the arc, as he canned in 25 points for Dallas tonight.

Williams was excellent off the catch tonight and has been very patient when receiving the ball out of kick-out scenarios, oftentimes side-stepping defenders for the open shot when they preemptively close out on him. He’s been excellent defensively as well, and his teammates have been taking notice of his impact early on. Williams may be a lot better on offense than fans expected if he continues to produce at the rate he has throughout the first four games.

He has been an excellent pickup for Dallas, and he has been invaluable for this Dallas team.

Tim Hardaway Jr. was just as crucial off the catch as Williams and led the Mavericks during the non-Luka minutes very well as he canned seven 3-pointers of his own. The Mavericks also got another great outing from Derrick Jones Jr, who took things personally against his former team as he looked dynamic attacking off closeouts as well as shooting the ball tonight. Jones Jr. even had a funny comment in regard to dunking on his ex-teammate Zach Lavine following his 17-point contest.

"I don't care who is there. I mean, that's the job. I'm sorry to say, I don't even care if my mom is there. I promise you. If mom is there on the opposite team, then mom gotta get blessed."

- Derrick Jones Jr.

Dallas picked up the defensive effort on the perimeter throughout the second half of the game, but they thankfully got pretty stout defense from Dereck Lively II on the interior. Lively II flashed insane potential, as he played unbelievably savvy team basketball for a rookie center. Lively II did a great job playmaking out of the short roll to find open shooters on the weak side en route to six assists, a skill that even veteran centers struggle to harness because of the degree of difficulty making a pass on the run warrants.

Even though Josh Green had a rough game offensively and Jaden Hardy saw limited action till the fourth quarter, they both made timely shots in the last few minutes to decisively put away from the Bulls, and Green's second-half defense on Lavine and DeRozan was much more resilient than in the first half. It was great to get both of them going after somewhat hectic starts to the season for the young teammates in Dallas.

It was a very team-orientated win for Dallas and a somewhat sloppy game from Doncic, but that is a formula for success going forward ironically enough.

If Dallas can win nitty-gritty games in adverse scenarios like they did against Chicago, then that is already a drastic change compared to last year.

It was an especially impressive win since Dallas' secondary playmaking and creation were lacking for another game with Irving out, as Dallas has stood the test of a few minor injuries woes early on. It should be noted as well that Maxi Kleber exited the game early on with a foot injury in the first quarter.

The Mavericks will be tested Friday night against a fellow undefeated team in the Denver Nuggets, so stay plugged in with us as we look ahead to Dallas facing off against the incumbent NBA Champions.