‘We’ve Got to Figure Out Our Flow’: Cooper Flagg Focused On Adjustments After Dallas Mavericks’ Season Opener

Grant AfsethOctober 24, 2025October 24, 2025no comment

Nick White/DallasHoopsJournal.com

Cooper Flagg’s first NBA game didn’t end with the fireworks many anticipated, but the 18-year-old forward wasn’t searching for excuses. After the Dallas Mavericks’ 125-92 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on opening night, the No. 1 overall pick offered a thoughtful assessment of where things went wrong — and what needs to change before Friday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards.

The Mavericks struggled to sustain any rhythm offensively, shooting just 37.3% from the field and 9-of-21 from beyond the arc. They also surrendered 68 points in the paint and 31 in transition, allowing San Antonio to dictate tempo and physicality throughout the night. Flagg said that for Dallas, the film session that followed made the issues clear.

“I think we just got a little stagnant,” Flagg said. “It’s early, so we’ve got to keep working on that, figure out our flow a little better. A lot of it comes from getting stops — that helps us push in transition and get early looks.”

Flagg, who finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in his debut, shouldered some of that responsibility himself. Tasked with running the offense in stretches while Kyrie Irving continues to recover from knee surgery, he said the key will be finding better timing and spacing within Dallas’ new system.

“It’s basketball,” he said. “It’s not always going to go your way. It’s not always going to be perfect. But you’ve got to adjust and be better on the fly.”

Building Offensive Flow

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said the lack of ball movement and spacing disrupted the team’s offensive rhythm. He described the fix as simple but essential — trust the pass and avoid over-dribbling.

“We didn’t have trouble — we just didn’t pass the ball,” Kidd said. “That’s an easy fix — just make a play for a teammate. Both teams shot around 20 threes, and we’ve got to create more of those looks. We had some good ones that didn’t go down, but we shot way too many mid-range shots.”

Kidd has emphasized that Dallas’ offensive identity depends on balance — leveraging the size of Anthony Davis and P.J. Washington inside while generating catch-and-shoot opportunities for Klay Thompson and Max Christie on the perimeter. When the ball stalls, it limits everyone.

Flagg echoed that message, noting that his primary focus entering the Wizards game is to play with tempo and decision-making, not hesitation.

“Just move the ball,” he said. “You know teams are going to collapse, so when the help comes, find the open man. We’ve got too many talented guys not to get good looks.”

Christie felt the team’s postgame film review reinforced the need to stay active within their new offensive structure.

“We saw on film we need better movement and to play to the next action more,” Christie said. “We got a little stagnant. It’s a whole new offense, and it’s the first game running it, so we kept perspective — but we know we can be sharper.”

Defensive Connectivity Remains a Priority

While the offensive stagnation drew attention, Dallas’ defensive lapses proved just as costly. The Mavericks committed 26 fouls, putting San Antonio on the line 30 times and allowing transition opportunities that erased any early momentum.

Kidd said the breakdowns often came from miscommunication and poor positioning, not a lack of effort.

“We have to protect each other,” Kidd said. “It’s team defense, not one-on-one. Our talk wasn’t at a high level, and we’ve got to be better covering gaps. Last night, we didn’t do that consistently.”

Flagg said the defense is a matter of trust — something that will improve as the team continues to build chemistry. He described the Spurs game as a necessary step in learning how quickly NBA opponents punish hesitation. “It’s about trust,” he said. “We’ve got to be there for each other, especially when teams get in the paint. That starts with communication.”

Veteran forward P.J. Washington said foul trouble was another factor that disrupted defensive rhythm, particularly in the first half.

“Just being in early foul trouble kind of hurt us,” Washington said. “They got into a rhythm, and we couldn’t get our pace or flow on offense or defense. That obviously hurt us. The good thing is we’ve got a lot to learn from, a lot of film to watch, and it’s only Game 1.”

Cooper Flagg Embraces Guidance From Veterans

Despite the lopsided score, several Mavericks credited the team’s leadership core for keeping the locker room composed. Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving both provided perspective for the young roster — a message Flagg said resonated with him as he processed his first professional loss.

Irving, who watched from the bench, made sure to speak with Flagg between possessions.

“(He said) just keep your head up,” Flagg said. “It’s a long game, lots of possessions left. Forget whatever happened, continue to play, and keep your head up.”

Davis echoed that same mindset after the game, reminding the group that the season is long and that one poor outing shouldn’t rattle their confidence.

“It’s Game one,” Davis said. “He’s still a rookie. First-game jitters — that’s normal. He’ll be fine. We’ll all be better.”

Flagg said having those voices around him has made the adjustment easier.

“Obviously, it hurts losing like that,” he said. “But you’ve got to look forward to the next one. We know we’ve got a lot better showings than that, so stay positive and lock in on the next one.”

Focus Shifts to Washington

The Mavericks will host the Washington Wizards on Friday night at American Airlines Center, aiming to bounce back and establish early-season momentum.

Kidd said the staff’s focus will be on pace, decision-making, and physicality — three areas that define how quickly Dallas can evolve from opening-night frustration to cohesion.

For Flagg, that challenge is part of the appeal. He said he’s eager to keep refining his timing and communication with teammates and to lead more comfortably within the offense.

“I was excited, but I’m more excited to keep going,” he said. “It’s all about getting better every game. We’ve just got to figure out our flow and keep improving.”

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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