Dallas Mavericks’ Secret Weapon: The Rise of Daniel Gafford in the Playoffs

May 15, 2024, 10:30 a.m. ET

So far in the playoffs there is a player who is little talked about, but whose contribution has been valuable since he arrived at the Dallas Mavericks: Daniel Gafford.

In a team that has Luka Doncic y Kyrie Irving as top figures and in a ‘new NBA’ in which three-pointers and fantasy assists are more applauded than defensive play, it is difficult for a ‘traditional’ type center to stand out.

Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Domantas Sabonis o Kristaps Porzingis, to mention a few, make up the elite group of ‘hybrid centers’, players of size, but with great mobility, ball play and three-point shooting; However, as far as the current playoffs There is a player who is little talked about, but whose contribution has been valuable since he arrived at the Dallas Mavericks: Daniel Gafford.

Daniel Gafford, during Game 4 against the Mavs and OKC for the Eastern Conference semifinals. Photo: Getty

The center, who arrived from the Washington Wizards in the change deadlinehas had an outstanding contribution to the offense and defense on coach Jason Kidd’s team and for the Game 5 (and what remains of the playoffs or the Mavs’ career in the playoffs) his participation on the court can tip the balance so that Dallas is ahead in the series that is tied at two victories per side with OKC.

In coach Kidd’s rotation, the rookie Dereck Lively II He was the starting center for almost the entire regular season, while Maxi glue He also came to play as ‘5’ without neglecting his real forward position. Although neither of them did badly and on the contrary Lively had good numbers, the arrival of Daniel Gafford He gave speed in transition, power and effectiveness on both sides of the floor to the Texan quintet.

Without going any further, during the 29 games of the regular season that Daniel Gafford had with the Mavs after his change from the Wizards, he started 21 of them, posting career-high numbers in most areas such as points, field goals and assists, while in aspects such as blocks and steals, he recorded his second best season since who debuted six years ago with the Chicago Bulls, but in fewer games.

Daniel Gafford He contributed 11.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists. 0.7 steals and 1.9 blocks; His field goal percentage was 78.0 and from the free throw line he made 60.7% of his attempts. He didn’t have a three-point shot (regular season figures).

The comparison with the rookie Lively II is necessary. The Duke graduate started 42 of 55 regular season games during which he contributed 8.8 points, 6.9 boards, 1.1 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals in 23.5 minutes on the floor. His field percentage was 74.7% and free play percentage was 50.6; Like Daniel Gafford, he made no shots from beyond the arc.

Beyond the figures in which Daniel Gafford He has better numbers, except for steals (0.7 from Gafford to 1.1 from Lively II), his presence on the floor gives another face to the Mavs and his explosiveness at the rim is well used by both Doncic and Kyrie to make spectacular plays. In the playoffs their numbers have not changed.

In 10 games, Daniel Gafford He has a contribution of 8.4 points, 5.2 rebounds (3.2 defensive), 0.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 0.4 steals during the 20.5 minutes he has of action on the court.

Yes ok Daniel Gafford He is not an elite center and his numbers are far from those mentioned in the first paragraphs, his arrival in Dallas gave the team greater balance and physical presence on both sides of the floor and a lot of what the Mavs can do in the race of the playoffs will go through Doncic, Kyrie and the ‘third musketeer’, Daniel Gafford.

2024-05-15 14:30:00
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