Kidd Cautious with Flagg as Starting Base in Mavericks: Pending Decision?

Jason Kidd Praises Cooper Flagg’s Performance, But Doesn’t Confirm His Starting Position

Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has expressed his satisfaction with Cooper Flagg’s performance as the starting point guard in the last two preseason games. However, Kidd has not confirmed that the 18-year-old player will occupy that role at the start of the regular season, in a large starting lineup.

There are many positive things here, so we have time to make a decision.

Jason Kidd, Mavericks Coach

Kidd made these statements after the Mavs’ 121-94 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at the T-Mobile Arena. In this match, Dallas came back after a slow start against a team that rested most of its regular players. Flagg, standing at 6 feet 8 inches, switched to the point guard position after having played as a forward in the first two preseason games, the position he held at Duke. During his two starts as a point guard, he averaged 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, playing alongside Klay Thompson (6-6), P.J. Washington (6-7), Anthony Davis (6-10), and Dereck Lively II (7-1).

You have to keep track of who’s shooting, what the last shot was, and that will come with the replays. I think Flagg has done an incredible job of handling the situation of running the team. And the other thing that I think goes unnoticed is that his teammates enjoy him running the team.

Jason Kidd, Mavericks Coach

Kidd also pointed out that the Mavs’ offense was too static at the beginning of the game against the Lakers, when they took a 22-10 lead before Flagg was substituted midway through the first quarter. There is concern about the spacing in that lineup due to the relative lack of playmaking and perimeter shooting, as the Mavs’ starters made 3 of 15 three-pointers against the Lakers.

Just keep feeling comfortable. Today I made some mental mistakes, situations of time and score. You have to know [and] be aware of what’s on the clock at all times. You just have to be more attentive [defensively]. You can’t let a player on a hot streak keep getting opportunities. So some of those things can definitely be improved.

Cooper Flagg, Mavericks Player

Flagg, this year’s first draft pick, struggled early in Wednesday’s game defending Gabe Vincent, who scored 18 points and made five three-pointers in the first 4 minutes and 9 seconds.

It doesn’t matter if you’re 6-4, 6-2, or 6-8, when you’re in a pick-and-roll in this league against guys who know how to run the pick-and-roll, it’s difficult. It becomes a two-man game, and we will improve on that. But with his competitiveness, he will figure it out sooner rather than later, and the more he’s in these situations, I think he’ll benefit in the long run.

Jason Kidd, Mavericks Coach