3 Studs, 2 duds in Mavericks' clutch win against the Magic

Nov 6, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving
Nov 6, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next

2. Dud - Derrick Jones Jr.

It was difficult choosing any duds in this comeback win. Unfortunately for Derrick Jones Jr., he falls under the dud category.

While Jones Jr. played good defense, he was absent for the most part on offense, save for a monster dunk and a corner 3-pointer, his specialties.

Alongside Hardy, Jones Jr. finished with only a plus-two plus/minus in a 15-point win. However, Jones Jr. played 28 minutes as opposed to Hardy's 11 in the contest.

On the plus side, he did record four rebounds and two blocks. But, his offense tends to come and go. The high-flying forward is the anti-Hardaway Jr. He's scored more than 17 twice and less than seven four times this season.

Jones Jr. won't typically be a detriment, as his athleticism and defense are difference-makers. But, his lack of offensive versatility can hurt the Dallas offense at times. Unlike his wing counterpart, Grant Williams, Jones Jr. isn't the most confident 3-point shooter.

When Jones Jr. is knocking down threes, his value is immense. But when he's passive from beyond the arc, his value only lies in his defense. Against the Magic, Jones Jr. remained on the floor because of his defense, but his offense never came around.