When the Dallas Mavericks signed Klay Thompson over the offseason, many Mavericks fans felt like the team was Thanos and they had just collected the final Infinity Stone.
Dallas was coming off an NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics in which they shot poorly from downtown, and adding Thompson into the mix seemed like the perfect move to help the team get back to the NBA Finals once again.
Thompson was reportedly promised a starting spot in Dallas, solidifying him as the starting three next to Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and P.J. Washington. Daniel Gafford was the starting center for the entire playoff run, and no one knew who would be the starting center on opening night.
Kidd grants Mavericks fans' wish with elite starting five
Mavs fans wanted the starting center to be Dereck Lively II to form a starting lineup of Doncic, Irving, Thompson, Washington, and Lively II, but Jason Kidd ultimately ended up going with Gafford at first. Kidd finally gave Mavs fans what they've been begging for on Tuesday night for the first time this season.
In Dallas' 41-point beatdown of the New Orleans Pelicans, Kidd trotted out the starting lineup of Doncic, Irving, Thompson, Washington, and Lively II at the American Airlines Center. Kidd had alluded to using this starting lineup sometime soon last week, and he came through on his word.
Mavericks fans got to see this lineup for 12 minutes against the Pelicans, and they posted an incredible 146.2 offensive rating along with a 68.0 defensive rating. This group dominated for the Mavs right out of the gates, and they helped Dallas gain a lead that was never lost in this game.
This starting five gives Dallas an unbelievable backcourt with Irving, Doncic, and Thompson, and their frontcourt of Washington and Lively II protects the paint. This lineup is built to dominate on both ends, and that's exactly what they did against the Pelicans.
New Orleans was extremely injured entering this game against Dallas, but the Mavs took care of business regardless to improve to 8-7 on the season. Doncic's finishing combined with Irving and Thompson's shooting was excellent, and Washington and Lively II did all of the little things.
Mavs fans loved what they saw from the Doncic-Irving-Thompson-Washington-Lively II starting lineup, and Thompson getting hot early in this game was huge for him considering how poorly he shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. Thompson remained confident, and this paid off for him as he finished with 19 points while shooting 5-9 from downtown. Getting Thompson involved early in games is crucial for Dallas, and this lineup truly has the chance to bring the best out of him due to the way that it is constructed. Thompson is the best shooter that Doncic has ever played with, and his deadly shooting from three gives this Mavericks team an entirely different look.
Washington is someone who directly benefits from playing with Thompson due to all of the off-ball gravity that he commands, and Tuesday night was just a preview of what this starting lineup is capable of.
Kidd has not fully penciled in Lively II as the full-time starter, but he did confirm last week that he is going to start Lively II for now.
Mavericks fans finally got the gift that they've been begging Kidd for since July in the win over the Pelicans, and this group will be put to the test once again on Friday night as they battle the Denver Nuggets for their third game of the NBA Cup. Dallas' four-game losing streak has come and gone, and this five-man unit will give the Mavs the chance to rise in the standings and prove to everyone that they are a team to beat in the West.
This was the lineup that Mavs fans have been eagerly waiting to see start a game on the floor together, and now it's time for them to prove to Kidd that they are the most dynamic five-man unit to start the game.
