The Spurs' dominance over Dallas could be a thing of the past

The Spurs have a handful of teams to keep on their radar next season, but one of the most underrated is the Dallas Mavericks. Their front office did a solid job this summer by adding more size and depth. Above all else, Cooper Flagg's second-year leap could make things interesting in his battles against Victor Wembanyama.

San Antonio had the upper hand in their matchups against Dallas last season, going 4-0 while winning each game by double figures. The Mavericks never found an answer to the Spurs' offense, giving up over 125 points in every meeting.

But Dallas will look to turn things around next season. They're deeper, healthier, and they have a second-year star who's close to making an All-Star leap.

Like the Spurs, the Mavs got bigger this offseason

The key to slowing down the Spurs is having enough size to counter their interior attack. It's impossible to beat this team without players who can get physical on the boards, protect the rim, and try their best to agitate Victor Wembanyama.

The Mavericks' roster has an abundance of big bodies. They have Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively II, two players who were major contributors to their 2024 Finals run.

It's important to note that there is no timetable for Lively II's return after suffering a season-ending right foot injury in 2025. But when he does come back, he can provide some elite rebounding and shot-blocking for Dallas.

Additionally, they have a pair of younger big men in Morez Johnson Jr. and Moussa Cisse. Both are strong interior players who can hold their own defensively and compete on the boards. Dallas has an interesting counter to a Spurs team that also has some good frontcourt depth around Wemby.

Cooper Flagg vs. Victor Wembanyama will be interesting

In their four battles against each other, Victor Wembanyama has outdueled Cooper Flagg. He averaged 31.3 points and 12.5 rebounds to Flagg's 22.3 points and 6.5 rebounds.

But Flagg can make those faceoffs against Wemby more interesting. He was already an amazing scorer as a rookie, but if he can take a big leap as a three-point shooter, the Spurs will have a tougher time guarding him. We saw a bit of that last season, as his two 30-point games against San Antonio came when he drained over 40% of his long-distance attempts.

Additionally, the Mavericks have players who can make life easier for Cooper. Kyrie Irving is set to return, and his ball-handling and shot creation could help take pressure off Flagg, leading to more efficient scoring opportunities.

Dallas may not be on the Spurs' level just yet, but they can make things much more competitive than last season. Their roster looks a lot better, and Cooper Flagg is primed for a big second-year leap. The Mavs won't be at the top of San Antonio's list of Western Conference threats, but they'll definitely be a team that must be taken seriously.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow