CHICAGO – In a way, Mavericks center Daniel Gafford has had his third consecutive perfect game, going 19-of-19 from the field.
But in Gafford's opinion, Saturday night's game in Detroit “felt like the next step” — he had 17 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in Dallas' 18-point win.
Gafford said it wasn't ideal getting whistled for two fouls in the first 4 minutes, 56 seconds, but he was focused on being physical from the start of the game. He said he was able to make defensive calls sooner and get in the right spot sooner and more consistently.
“We're a No. 30 defensive team and we're trying to dig ourselves out of that hole,” he said. “At the end of the day, it starts with me. I'm like the quarterback on the back end. Nobody knows what's going on behind them, so everyone's in the right place at the right time. We need to make sure you are there.”
Gafford spoke after the Mavericks' Sunday practice at Wintrust Arena in preparation for Monday night's game against the Chicago franchise that selected him 38th overall in the 2019 draft.
Returning to the Mavericks on Sunday was Gafford's backup, rookie Derek Lively II, who missed the win against Detroit for personal reasons, so Dallas (36-28) is at full strength at center. They will likely try to regain the 2016 season and extend their modest winning streak into 2016. three.
Gafford, 25, will be starting his 13th game since being acquired from Washington and his fifth in three years.
Dallas is 4-0 when Gafford starts, but it's worth noting that three of the victims are the worst-performing NBA teams: Detroit, Washington, and San Antonio.
But it's clear why manager Jason Kidd put Gafford in the starting lineup. Gafford is averaging 13.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 24-of-32 shooting (75%) in 23 minutes as a starter. Luka Doncic clearly likes using Gafford as a pick-and-roll partner and lob threat.
“He's a beast,” Doncic said. “He helps us a lot defensively as well. He's our guard. He protects everyone. And he's done a great job.”
With seven minutes left in the game against Detroit, things turned around and Gafford's teammates became his protectors. Gafford was knocked down from behind by Jalen Duren, but before he could get back up, PJ Washington shoved him. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Derrick Jones Jr. soon engaged in a brief skirmish.
“That's something I've always appreciated on every team I've been on,” Gafford said. “Everyone always helps me, because at the end of the day, I try to do the same for them.”
Dallas is Gafford's third team in six NBA seasons, but it's his first with a team with a winning record late in the season.
In the 2019-20 season, in which rookie Gafford played in 43 games, the Bulls finished with a record of 22 wins and 43 losses. The following season, Chicago went 19-24, and Gafford was sent to Washington, 15-27, in a three-team trade with Boston and the Wizards.
Kidd noted that several key Mavericks, particularly Gafford and Washington Jr., are not used to being on a team that is on the hunter side rather than the hunter.
“The mindset I always have is the next game is the important game, kind of like a playoff mindset,” Gafford said. “Every game for me is a playoff game. No matter how I'm playing in that game, I'm just trying to do the best I can and where I can go in my career. ”
Gafford's only playoff experience was the season he was traded to Washington, where the Wizards went 34-38 as the No. 8 seed but lost 4-1 to Philadelphia in the first round.
Gafford was only 22 years old. He started all five games in the series, averaging 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds.
“I could taste it,” he said. “Now I have to find a way to get back on track. In the situation I'm in right now, I have to make sure I do my part to help us get into the playoffs.”
