The storyline heading into the second round of the Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder playoff series was what to do with Thunder winger Josh Guidy for both teams. And after the Mavericks took home court with a 119-110 win on Thursday night, the story is only getting bigger heading into Game 3 in Dallas on Saturday afternoon.
Throughout the season, the team slowed down Guidy, often leaving him isolated in the corner. To Guidi's credit, he has made teams pay at times, most recently going 3-for-9 in the series in the opening round of the playoffs. The Mavericks rotated a few of their wings or one of Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II to serve as help defenders off Guidi for the first two games. It was also an opportunity for the center to avoid the defense of Thunder center Chet Holmgren along the perimeter.
It's a bet that hasn't hurt them yet. In the first two games, Guidi played 28 minutes, recording 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in that time, going 4-of-3 for his team at -27. That's a combined -27 in two games, one of which the Thunder won by 22 points (they were -7 in the win). +40 when he's on the bench.
“From what I've seen, I've watched Josh Guidi for three years, he's a very good player and a very important player for our team,” Thunder coach Mark Daijono said. spoke to reporters Friday about his playing time in this series. . “In Game 4 in New Orleans, if he doesn't make a shot in the fourth quarter, I don't know if we're going to end that series… Good players, bad players, whatever it is, zoom out. I think it's important for all players to look at the situation.''The big picture, and the big picture, is that he's been a very productive player for a long time. He is 21 years old. He's going to be a very productive player for a long time to come. ”
Daijono, who was recently named NBA Coach of the Year, has given a polite, if not indirect, answer to how Guidi will be used. But he's already shown some ability. Aaron Wiggins replaced Guidi in the starting lineup at the start of the second half Thursday, but his shooting ability was already giving the Mavericks some problems. He averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, one block to two and shot 57 percent from three. He, along with rookie defender Kayson Wallace and sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, are a trio of perimeter weapons that Daijono can use off the bench. Whether he takes the plunge and replaces Guidi as the starter outright, or has an earlier trigger to sub him, the Mavericks will likely get more time for all three reserve guards. You will need to make adjustments so that you can spend .
Wiggins is a solid spot shooter, hitting 48 percent from three on catch-and-shoot attempts during the regular season. But it's actually his production near the rim that gives the Mavericks the biggest problem. In the playoffs he has 10 of 13 wins inside the restricted area.
In the first two games, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving both had time to guard Wiggins during the times he shared the floor with Giddy. Both through lack of awareness and attempts to cut off scoring lanes for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Williams, Wiggins found backdoor cutting lanes for easy baskets time and time again. He will be placed both as a spacer and in primary action.
Isaiah Joe created a completely different dynamic and put the Mavericks in some sticky situations. First, it's about how Thunder designs weaving actions for pull-up opportunities. The Mavericks tried to counter that by putting Derrick Jones Jr. over him, who is best at manipulating screens. Jones has also made a good recovery, but Joe is smart enough to understand what's going on with him.
The second path the Mavericks have tried is to put Gafford over Joe in hopes of reducing space to center and increasing paint support to the driving lanes. But because of his range, Joe is comfortable playing far beyond the arc, allowing Gafford to make decisions.
These are simple actions and plans, but they all raise some questions for the Mavericks. Doncic won't be able to hide Wiggins because of his slashing threat, and how much can you gamble with Joe at center? And finally, could having Derrick Jones Jr. as a role player like Joe or Wiggins make Jaylen Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander even more of a threat? Perhaps PJ Washington could be used to prevent Wiggins from slashing, while also serving as supplementary drive protection from the Thunder's primary scorer.
The Mavericks will need Josh Green or Dante Exum to take on more responsibility on defense. Neither has played much in the series, but Jason Kidd seems to trust Green more than Exum's consistency. Green also shot the ball well over the past two games, hitting 6-of-13 from three games. If the Thunder commits to more playing time from these reserves or removes Guidi from the lineup entirely, they will likely be asking Kyrie Irving for more on defense.
Irving did not have a flashy scoring performance in the second game victory, but his defensive performance was outstanding. He played a long time against Williams, and just like he did against James Harden in the first round, Irving proved to be rough and destructive. Screen navigation and backdoor cuts remain an issue, but defensively the Mavericks will need to shift from center or Doncic at this position on the floor. When the Mavericks' defense is at its best, he's focused on locking down the paint. This wrinkle in the series might put that to the test, as the Thunder's reserves are betting on getting open looks.
