Cooper Flagg has been the speak of the Mavericks since draft evening, however the No. 1 general decide is aware of his greatest problem continues to be forward: adjusting to the NBA sport and becoming into head coach Jason Kidd’s defensive imaginative and prescient.
“Using our dimension and utilizing that to our benefit,” Flagg stated Tuesday, through Yahoo Sports activities. “We have now loads of tall, prolonged, positionless gamers. Overlaying loads of floor with our size might be a bonus for certain.”
The Mavericks have lengthy struggled defensively, ending within the backside half of the league in defensive score in 13 of the final 15 seasons.
However with Anthony Davis wholesome, veteran assistants Frank Vogel and Jay Triano becoming a member of the bench, and Flagg including his dimension and flexibility to the frontcourt, the expectation is obvious, Dallas should defend at a championship stage.
Flagg, who stands 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot wingspan, has already been slotted into lineups with Davis, Dereck Energetic, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, giving Dallas one of many league’s most imposing teams.
“The communication and dedication to enjoying laborious and doing it on each ends,” Flagg stated. “Having 5 guys on the courtroom speaking with one another and [buying] in to get stops on each possession.”
Flagg admits the brand new terminology has been a hurdle early on.
“It’s completely different terminology, you simply gotta get accustomed to it,” Flagg stated. “Typically I mess up and say an previous terminology I used at Duke. However in case you say one thing, it’s higher than saying nothing and simply letting your teammate know the place you might be. Any communication is nice.”
Flagg, is retaining his mindset easy.
“Simply attempting to take it one step at a time and benefit from the course of each step of the best way,” he stated. “Don’t wish to get forward of myself, however I’m actually excited.”
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