Mavs Film Study: How Klay Thompson Can Thrive with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving
A breakdown of Klay Thompson's offensive fit with the Dallas Mavericks, highlighting his dynamic shooting, off-ball gravity, and potential with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving.
DALLAS — After a 13-year stint that cemented his legacy with the Golden State Warriors—featuring four NBA championships, five All-Star appearances, and an array of three-point records—Klay Thompson is ready for a fresh start.
Now a member of the Dallas Mavericks, Thompson has joined a team led by Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, hoping to reignite his career in a new environment. “Coming here is just such a fresh start," Thompson shared in July. "Feeling just wanted again, like I bring great value, it just gets me excited to go out there…”
After a challenging final season with the Warriors, Thompson is eager to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. "It’s nice to kind of shed that and have a whole new fresh start," he added, reflecting on the excitement of joining a new group of players, in a new city, with a fresh mindset. He arrives in Dallas on a three-year, $50 million contract, part of a six-team sign-and-trade deal.
Thompson believes the Mavericks are close to being a championship team and is confident he can be the missing piece. “I was watching just as a basketball fan, and I did see, like, ‘Man, I could really help this team. They’re right there,’” he said. “Not big adjustments, but just very little adjustments from getting over the top. We’re knocking on the door, and that’s what really got me excited to be here.”
As it stands, Thompson is confident that his addition can elevate Dallas’ offense and provide the necessary boost to take them over the hump. “At this point in my career, still can’t leave me open. I can guard, and I’m just excited,” he said. “I know I can help this team, whether it’s the knowledge I’ve gained, or big, big scoring nights. I just still know I can be a very, very good player in this league.”
His excitement about playing alongside Dončić and Irving is palpable. He believes their ability to command attention from defenses will open up countless opportunities for him. “I don’t think you can stick to me as much as you could in the past with guys like Luka and Kai out there,” he said, looking ahead to how much easier it will be to find open looks and contribute offensively.
The Mavericks were aggressive in bolstering their roster around Dončić after their Finals run, not only adding Thompson but also acquiring Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes, even at the cost of losing Derrick Jones Jr. and Josh Green. With Thompson now part of the fold, Dallas has positioned itself to remain a title contender.
Let’s dive into how he can enhance the Mavericks’ offense through his shooting prowess, off-ball activity, and general skill set.
Thompson Brings Spot-Up Shooting Prowess to Dallas
The Mavericks will greatly benefit from Thompson’s floor spacing, as teams will be reluctant to leave him open. With much more talent surrounding him than in recent years, Dallas can fully exploit this spacing and punish the weakest defensive links while continuing to leverage his motion shooting skills.
The numbers paint an obvious picture of Thompson’s prolific catch-and-shoot ability. He averaged 7.1 catch-and-shoot three-point attempts per game last season, ranking behind only Lauri Markkanen and Donte DiVincenzo. He converted at a 38.1% clip despite having a challenging shot profile and being a historic shooter who cannot be given space to shoot. There are few shooters in this class capable of getting up this type of volume and converting efficiently. He even led the NBA in catch-and-shoot three-point attempts per game over the two prior seasons despite coming off multiple significant lower-body injuries.
Thompson’s aggression to shoot is much-needed in Dallas. Last season, the Mavericks’ highest-volume catch-and-shoot option was Tim Hardaway Jr., who took 5.1 of these attempts per game while converting at just a 35.3% clip. Considering Hardaway fell out of the rotation midseason, one could say the true highest-volume option that consistently played after the All-Star break was P.J. Washington, which isn’t an ideal scenario.
After being traded to Dallas, Washington sorely struggled to shoot out of the gate but did improve toward the end of the regular season—shooting 32.9% on 5.1 attempts per game in 29 games. However, his production did climb in the postseason as he shot 35.7% on an average of 5.9 attempts but dipped aggressively to 23.8% in the Finals. The Boston Celtics were unwilling to give up shots in the corner and forced shooters to execute from the above-the-break area. It became obvious that adding more shooting talent was needed.
The Warriors’ offense did not generate a high volume of clean, open spot-up shooting chances for Thompson. In 77 games, he took a total of 68 unguarded spot-up three-pointers, with 23 occurring after an offensive rebound. Some developed after a broken play with a lost handle on a drive, an inbounds play, a teammate being aggressive in semi-transition, or even his own creation on a drive and kick to a teammate before getting it back or after feeding the roller himself and then being a relief option.
Thompson's presence makes it challenging for opponents to send help, as doing so often results in leaving him open—something defenses try to avoid at all costs. However, now he will be playing next to Dončić, the NBA’s most heavily blitzed player and arguably the best spray-out passer in the game, requiring some very difficult game-planning decisions to be made. Dallas now has various threats capable of attacking the paint with Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie.
If the defense is content with making traditional defensive rotations at the risk of potentially giving up an open catch-and-shoot attempt for Thompson as the play develops, it can backfire significantly. It’s not uncommon for a team to live with these sequences in the regular season, making it an intriguing portrayal of what the Mavericks’ floor offensively will be with him.
It’s essential to look beyond basic shooting percentages when evaluating the impact of a shooter like Thompson. His willingness to take quick-trigger shots despite being closely contested lowers his overall shooting percentage but enhances the offense. Where a lesser shooter might hesitate or pass out of a shot, Thompson takes and often makes tough shots. His mentality and ability to convert under pressure keep the defense on edge and preserve the flow of the Mavericks' offense.
Now, imagine adding a player capable of knocking down shots like Thompson by simply spacing the floor next to Dončić and Irving. Simply calling Dončić a talented passer would not do an analysis of Thompson’s new situation its rightful due. At 6-foot-7, the Slovenian superstar has available passing windows that most guards do not. His combination of methodical pace, passing vision while deceptively weaponizing no-looks, talent as a live-dribble passer with either hand, and his general talent to execute risky late passes is unparalleled. Additionally, he has two dynamic lob threats the defense has to fear—adding further complication for any defense.
Thompson would know this as well as anybody considering that during the 2022 Western Conference Finals, he often filled the low-defender role for the Warriors and had to deal with making Dončić’ split-second determinations on the weak side. Oftentimes, it was too difficult to make the read quickly enough, resulting in an open shot.
Dončić simply crossing half-court against blitzing defenses can ultimately lead to open shots. Once a team commits to blitzing, it opens up options for the short roller to make a read based on the reaction of the defense. Having Thompson as one of those options is a nightmare for defenses, as they now have to account for one of the greatest shooters in NBA history in a 4-on-3 situation, which is exactly the scenario the Mavericks aim to create.
Thompson’s ability to space the floor makes Dallas’ “advantage basketball” philosophy even more lethal, but there are more layers to it. Whether it’s a catch-and-shoot jumper, a shot fake into a reload jumper, or a re-drive, Thompson’s presence forces defenders into impossible decisions.
The threat Thompson poses to the defense begins with his catch-and-shoot jumper, often commanding a fly-by to prevent even a contested shot attempt. However, part of why he’s such a dynamic floor-spacing threat is his ability to use a shot fake and reload, often using a side-step to create separation.
The Finals showed the Mavericks how limiting it can be to have floor-spacing threats that are limited to either taking a clean look on the catch or having to get deep on a re-drive to be capable of comfortably making a play.
Thompson adds a contrast in this regard since he’s often precise at getting to a spot for a quick pull-up inside the arc. If he’s not outright drawing a fly-by, he’s often engaged by an aggressive closeout loading to his side, and he’s not reluctant to attack open space and get to his spot for the jumper—even if it requires him to use contact on a subtle step-back before getting into the shot.
It’s not a common outcome, but Thompson’s presence does open some chances for him to attack off the catch and get all the way to the rim for a finish. This is a comfortable option for him when a rim protector isn’t on the court or when the defense is out of rotation while attempting to recover.
As seen throughout these examples, a defense tends to overreact to noticing that Thompson is receiving the ball as a floor spacer. While this can be exploited by him with a shot fake or by simply attacking off the catch for him to score in various ways, he can command this attention to create shots for his teammates in “advantage basketball” by accepting the closeout and reading how the defense reacts.
Another element to consider about Thompson’s spot-up shooting presence: offensive rebounds become even more valuable for the Mavericks. The opposition tends to ease up and not stay attached to Thompson in rebounding situations—allowing a quick-hitting chance to get him the ball for a clean look. With Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford in the center rotation—two of the NBA’s more impactful offensive rebounders—this is a great combination.
Thompson’s Versatility in Off-Ball Screening Actions
Thompson provides the Mavericks with a versatile shooting option that can be utilized in off-ball screening actions in many ways. It’s really up to the coaching staff to explore all the ways they want to take advantage. Whether the goal is to put pressure on a big or a small guard, there are many layers to utilize, particularly against defensive schemes like crossmatching or drop coverage, often forcing defenses to make difficult decisions.
Thompson totaled 432 off-screen plays that led to a scoring possession last season, which led the NBA by a massive margin. In fact, his former teammate, Curry, was the closest behind him with 285. Only six players even reached the 150-mark. There are many more plays where Thompson didn’t receive the ball but provided value to Golden State’s offense by commanding attention through his shooting gravity. Going to the Mavericks’ offense, Thompson will experience a clear reduction in volume, but there are still many ways he can enhance what Dallas does in the half-court.
The value of deploying Thompson in these off-ball actions goes well beyond the sequences ending with him receiving the ball and attempting a shot. Depending on how a defense approaches it, the attention he commands can open up the screener to receive favorable scoring chances, often with momentum going to the rim.
If one of the weaker defenders begins on Thompson, a simple option is to have him start near the block, then come off a middle pindown. When a defender plays him neutral instead of aggressively top-locking early, a shot tends to be there given how quickly he releases jump shots. Trying to chase him around a screen or going under tends to be a regrettable decision for a defender.
Given how much attention the Mavericks’ backcourt attracts, whether with the ball or when spacing, a wide pindown will be another great option for Thompson. If his defender is ball-watching or doesn’t feel it’s safe to engage him tightly off the ball, this action can exploit that. Whether the defender tries to recover by chasing him, or the two defenders switch, there tends to be a window for him to shoot on the catch.
While Thompson is not an explosive driving threat, he can curl off the wide pindown to attack the gap if the catch-and-shoot look isn’t there. One of his favorite options is to read the other defender in the action and attack as deep as possible before getting into a pull-up jumper, sometimes even a one-legged jumper. It’s a solid way to give the defense a different look.
It’s not a frequent outcome, but sometimes the threat of Thompson’s catch-and-shoot ability opens up chances for him to get to the rim out of a wide pindown. At times, these are made possible by a weak-side decoy action distracting the defense or simply by quality spacing neutralizing a defender’s ability to provide help.
Depending on the defensive scheme—whether the big defender is playing up and backpedaling or it’s a switch—Thompson quickly identifies a passing window to get the ball to the screener on the cut. If he needs to throw a lob, he can connect on it.
The Mavericks tried guarding Thompson in a pindown traditionally by having Gafford play up as the big defender, followed by backpedaling to take away the lob pass. With how quickly Jackson-Davis slipped out of the screen, he easily got behind Gafford to be available for the pass. Irving stayed home in the weak-side corner as the low defender, making it simple for Thompson to throw the lob. Now, imagine Lively or Gafford being on the receiving end of these plays.
When the big defender manages to play up against the screen and backpedal quickly enough to take away the lob, that’s when Thompson’s pull-up jumper becomes the counter. However, if the passing window is there, he is willing and able to make the pocket pass—providing a chance for the big to attack on the catch to finish.
Another basic approach a defense can leverage is to do what the Houston Rockets did by switching. The goal is to take away any advantage Thompson would normally gain as a shooter upon receiving the ball, but this opens up the option for him to quickly read the floor as a passer.
Some defenses will take the aggressive approach of committing two defenders to Thompson on the catch to take away any advantage for him on the pindown. Pause and reread that: a team that has Dončić and Irving now has a shooter who can draw two defenders in a wide pindown. This offense has truly special potential.
Thompson’s best counter to drawing two on the catch is to immediately recognize it, accept the coverage, and get the ball to the screener by passing over the top. However, what Dallas should note from Golden State is how the weak side leveraged Curry as a decoy. In one play, Curry walked his man—Luguentz Dort—down while Wiggins shook up from the corner. Josh Giddey was supposed to commit to rotating as the low defender but got neutralized. Regardless of the approach, as long as the weak side stays occupied, there are many variations to consider. The end result in this case was Kevon Looney throwing down an emphatic dunk.
The Rockets had another approach: instead of just switching the wide pindown, they overhelped at the nail to disrupt Thompson on the drive, taking away the pull-up jumper or finish option while forcing him to read the floor. He drew the help defense before making a tight pass to an open teammate on the weak-side wing, leading to a catch-and-shoot jumper.
Another option an offense has is to read how the defender is playing Thompson and if they are hugged up on him, a teammate can slip the pindown screen instead of setting it. It’s best when this involves a lob threat. The Warriors often involved Jonathan Kuminga in this situation, given his athleticism.
Offenses can further open up players like Thompson by using a double wide pindown or stagger screens. It’s a common approach the Mavericks already use, but with Thompson, he’s the type of talent worth featuring more.
Often, it’s ideal to involve a perimeter star as a screener to serve as a decoy in these sequences. It’s one of the reasons having multiple capable ball handlers on the floor is helpful, as someone like Irving could be deployed as a screener during a plug-and-play lineup—making it difficult for the defense to be willing to switch.
Another wrinkle the Warriors used with Thompson was having what could have been a second pindown screener simply cut through to pull away a defender instead of screening. This makes it difficult for the defenders engaged in the action since there is nobody there to save them.
Given how dangerous it is to allow Thompson to catch the ball coming off a screen with room to shoot, some defenders try to top-lock him to prevent him from having that opportunity. This comes with risk since he’s great at countering it.
Regardless of the action that appers to be developing, he has a skill for setting up the defender for a well-timed backdoor cut after reading how the rest of the unit is reacting. He’s become a master of the hand-to-hand combat element that goes into neutralizing the defender that creates that final advantage before the cut.
Throughout a game, there are many options an offense can turn to that take advantage of Thompson’s shooting gravity. One common approach to keep defenses honest is to set a Flare screen. It’s difficult to account for a sharpshooter for the whole shot clock without losing sight of him, particularly when also having to monitor where the ball is.
If a Flare screen was set for a player like Washington or Jones, chances are, the defense won’t care much and will have a defender sag off the action. Thompson, however, attracts heavy attention because he can battle a defender for a split second, cut away from the ball using a screen, and hit a demoralizing shot.
Similar to Flare screens, corner pin-in screens require a shooter with a strong reputation to truly sell the defense on respecting the action. Whether relocating baseline-to-baseline or cutting through, a screen like this can punish a defense for easing up even for a moment without the ability to contest well enough.
A staple of the Mavericks’ offense is the use of Wide action, mostly used for Dončić to get a clean catch after beginning off the ball. There are other applications for this tactic, including getting a quick catch-and-shoot look for a motion shooting threat—like Hardaway or Thompson.
It’s a great option to punish a defense that isn’t assertive early in a possession. It can also punish a defense deploying a traditional center by having whoever is being guarded by the big set the Wide action screen, commanding drop coverage and often leaving space to get the shot off.
As shown in these half-court actions, it’s not just about what they can create for Thompson. He is an unselfish player who will capitalize on the defense focusing too much on him—creating a quick passing chance to the Wide action screener diving to the rim after getting behind the big defender.
Even in high pick-and-roll sequences that don’t involve Thompson in the two-man game, there are wrinkles the offense can add to leverage his shooting talent.
The Warriors used a Veer screen—a ball screen followed by an off-ball screen—to make a traditional center work in pick-and-roll coverage. It’s difficult for a defense to account for both the ball handler in pick-and-roll and then immediately deal with Thompson coming off a screen. This often creates a quick opportunity for Thompson to shoot on the catch, especially if the defender trying to guard him is a size mismatch.
Additionally, the Mavericks can leverage Thompson’s motion shooting talent in Split action when they want to play out of the post. This is a concept Golden State heavily utilized with Thompson and Curry, and Dallas can learn from it.
Off-ball defenders often ease up and fail to stay locked into both their man and the ball, especially when showing help or dialing up a double team. This is a great concept to punish both bad habits and aggressive approaches, which will undoubtedly help a player who commands heavy attention like Dončić.
The Mavericks can deploy Dončić (or Irving, at times) in the post, with Thompson serving as a decoy in off-ball actions, ensuring that his defender stays glued to him rather than helping on the post-up. All the Slovenian superstar needs is a sliver of daylight, and he’ll punish the defense for telegraphing an incoming double, often leaving defenders in “no man’s land” as the pass is developing.
Dončić is far more capable as a scorer than the bigs Golden State had—in fact, it’s not even a comparison. Seeing how Thompson’s shooting gravity and Dončić’s post-up prowess can be used in tandem could take these sequences to a new level.
Another nuance to consider about Thompson’s motion shooting value is his presence when inbounding the ball. It never hurts to have another player who is fearless and will shoot without hesitation. Even when a defense is focused on trying to contain him, he’s talented enough to transcend it. This is another area where gaining Thompson after parting with Hardaway fills a void.
Thompson’s motion shooting presence will be key to making the Mavericks' offense more versatile. With his shooting threat constantly forcing defenders to make tough decisions, Dallas can open up more opportunities for Dončić and Irving, along with the rest of the offense.
Thompson Can Enhance Mavericks Through Handoffs
The Mavericks have used common NBA handoff actions for Dončić and Irving, but aside from involving Hardaway, they lacked other options. Thompson can fill that void by providing additional layers that Dallas hasn’t had in these areas as a third option, even with Hardaway.
As all NBA teams do, the Mavericks use plenty of Zoom action, and Thompson can enhance it. It’s another simple go-to action the offense can leverage throughout a game to mix things up or to target a specific defender. Making that defender fight through a pindown and a handoff can create enough of an advantage for a favorable shot.
The simplest approach is for him to be the focus of the sequence, coming off the handoff and taking the shot on the catch if it’s there. This tends to be a great counter when Thompson is spacing in the corner and the low defender is attempting to tag a cutter or roller—giving him separation before using the pindown and receiving the handoff up top. This keeps the defense honest and forces them to think twice about prioritizing paint protection.
If the offense is playing out of Delay, an effective option to put pressure on the defense is to have Thompson take advantage of the typical tight off-ball defense he draws when filling the corner. Unlike some catch-and-shoot threats, he can cause damage by turning the corner to get into a pull-up jumper or floater.
A variation of the basic Zoom action can be executed up top, as opposed to beginning with a wide pindown out of Delay. Thompson’s willingness to fight through contact with the initial defender and his ability to turn into a shot without hesitation make this a threatening action for him. This often forces the defense to have the big defender play close to the level, but even then, Thompson can still get the shot off or look to make a play.
Irving displayed great chemistry with the Mavericks’ centers last season when countering defenders who top-locked him in off-ball actions. Thompson commonly commands the same treatment from defenders and can exploit it by making the read to backdoor cut, knowing the big will often make a quality pass.
An offense can never have too many players who are comfortable coming to the ball, confident, and capable of making a play during a stagnant possession or late in the shot clock. This isn’t always about isolation scoring—Thompson’s willingness and talent in handoffs give the Mavericks another player who can rise to the occasion in this way. Whether he’s quickly taking a catch-and-shoot jumper or making a play off the dribble, it’s a major asset.
Not many motion shooting threats are competent in these situations. If a shot isn’t there on the initial action, it usually kills the flow or requires a second-side play. Thompson’s ability to make a play out of Get action by tossing the ball to the big and getting it back adds an interesting option for the Mavericks. Even if the situation requires him to take a tough shot, he won’t hesitate.
It’s easy to see why defenses want to make it as difficult as possible for Thompson to make himself available for a handoff and why preventing a clean catch and shot is crucial. Depending on the big involved in the sequence, one option Golden State’s bigs leveraged with Curry and Thompson was to “keep it” by turning them into a decoy when being overplayed. This involves quickly turning to the rim for an explosive finish.
A few common situations where this occurs can be during a post-up inside the three-point line with Thompson moving without the ball, selling the threat of a potential handoff. As long as the big is tightly engaged and off-balanced, the counter to turn and push the ball can lead to an easy finish. The same concept applies in any situation where Thompson can sell a potential handoff.
Thompson provides the Mavericks with a valuable option in handoff actions, adding versatility they’ve lacked outside of Dončić, Irving, and Hardaway. His ability to be the focus of Zoom actions and come off handoffs for quick catch-and-shoot looks forces defenses into tough decisions. Thompson’s movement and shooting threat keep defenders honest, preventing them from focusing solely on protecting the paint.
His ability to take pull-up jumpers or floaters adds another dimension to the offense, making him harder to guard. Thompson also excels at reading the defense, using backdoor cuts or making plays when opponents overplay him. His comfort in handoff situations gives Dallas another weapon in late-clock scenarios, enhancing the Mavericks' offensive depth.
Thompson Adds Dimensions to Two-Man Game
Thompson’s shooting gravity also opens up new possibilities in the Mavericks’ two-man game. Whoever is guarded by the weakest defender, often referred to as the “Elephant,” is typically brought up to screen in Dallas’ offense. If that player is Thompson, defenses face a tough choice: either switch and risk a mismatch or stay attached and leave Dončić or Irving with a favorable angle and spacing to attack.
It’s nothing special if a switch occurs after Thompson sets a guard-guard screen. These determinations usually just are as simple as bringing up the player being guarded by the worst perimeter defender. However, consider some additional context. It’s tough to envision the defense being willing to help aggressively at the nail with Thompson spacing one pass away after the screen, which makes it favorable for the isolation scorer to break down a defender on the perimeter. This is partly why defenses choose not to stick their worst defender on Thompson and why Curry would often bring up a different teammate to screen.
In the play below, having the Portland Trail Blazers’ weakest defensive link (Anfernee Simons) on Thompson required a steal after a missed finish at the rim by Jonathan Kuminga and it wasn’t the game-plan. Matisse Thybulle makes it a point to guard Curry, so Thompson comes to screen and the defense switches—forcing Simons to guard Curry in isolation without Thybulle being able to risk late doubling or showing help at the nail. With Curry being such a lethal shot creator, he just needed that sliver of opportunity to go to work—similar to how Dončić or Irving would capitalize.
An additional layer the Mavericks may want to consider adding is the option to use a Flare for Thompson to add another layer for the defense to account for—leveraging the shooting gravity he brings. The big can step up into this screen when guarded by a traditional center knowing Thompson will likely have space on the catch to shoot.
The two-man game becomes even more dangerous when Thompson "ghosts" the screen if the defenders opt not to switch. Thompson can slip out while the defense is attempting to recover, usually conceding a slight window to get into the shot, or use a shot fake to force a fly-by and create a shot on the reload.
Naturally, there are similarities and differences in how superstars approach specific sequences. Curry often tries to quickly make a play when he’s receiving a screen after reading the defense since quickness is a significant advantage for him. As seen in the first clip below, when Thompson’s “Ghost” screen results in a switch, that creates an immediate window to get into a pull-up jumper. However, as the second clip shows, the defense not switching tends to open up a chance to drive. Dončić and Irving can pick apart the defense with relatively similar concepts in their own ways.
Remember that layer mentioned about adding a Flare screen element? It’s ideal to use it against a defense that tries to hedge-and-recover since the ground that defender making the recover is required to cover is very challenging.
While some teams have different philosophies with matchups and general game-planning approach, it seems unlikely that most teams are going to want to live with their worst on-ball defender guarding Thompson for all of these reasons. An elite shooter screening creates favorable angles to attack. There are some difficult questions that opposing teams have to consider now. If the weakest link is a guard, where does that player get placed? P.J. Washington has shown the ability to make plays off the dribble and in the post—making that a tough choice to live with. That’s also not possible to do if the defense is already choosing to crossmatch their center onto Washington (or whoever is playing the four). All of these considerations is why Thompson enhances this Mavericks offense.
It’s not just Dončić or Irving who can benefit from Thompson screening in the two-man game, depending on how the coaching staff wants to structure the offensive progression throughout games. Jonathan Kuminga was able to aggressively drive right using Thompson as a screener, which sparks the imagination to do for another powerful driver like Washington, Marshall, Dinwiddie, or Dante Exum. If the weakest perimeter defender is on one of those threats, this is a great way for the Mavericks to punish them for it.
No matter who is on the court, if Thompson starts out being guarded by the weakest link, or a switch due to an early action ends up causing that to occur, he can take advantage of his reputation as an elite shooter by coming up to screen. It can be a superstar ready to attack, or a role player also capable of driving. This just creates another layer that makes in-game calculations challenging against the Mavericks.
Thompson’s Brings Shooting Gravity as a Screener
Thompson’s role as a screener extends to actions that Hardaway used to execute in Dallas. Whether it’s in a double-drag screen or a back-screener in a stack pick-and-roll, Thompson’s presence forces defenses to stay attached to him, allowing other options to open up. There are so many different options to choose from, but Dallas already has some basic default configurations that can continue being used.
The “77 series” was instrumental in punishing the Minnesota Timberwolves throughout the Western Conference Finals while routinely being an option to open up the floor against most defensive looks they faced. Now, they have a shooter that can enhance it by providing more options to play out of—making it more unpredictable and dynamic.
Last season, Golden State often deployed Thompson as the second screener before bringing him off a Flare screen, which is something Dallas can replicate. It’s difficult to account for both the guard and Thompson in this sequence, often allowing him to have space on the catch to shoot, or use a shot fake to force a fly-by to create a reload.
Another variation in the Warriors’ offense was for Thompson to screen first, then curl off a screen set by the second double drag screener after the guard had dribbled to open space. It’s a common approach to leverage the motion shooting ability for a wing in an NBA offense in this way, including Hardaway in the Mavericks’ offense. Doing so puts a lot of pressure on a defense that deploys drop coverage.
In Dallas’ double-drag Veer action, Thompson can serve as the back-screener, adding more consistency and versatility to this action. With Hardaway Jr. often serving in this role, Thompson’s shooting ability makes this option even more dangerous. Thompson has done this in the Warriors’ offense as well—curling into a catch-and-shoot three-pointer as one of the basic elements.
If teams try to avoid switching or stay attached to Thompson, it opens up a potential lob, especially against small ball or if the center is involved as the big defender against the double drag action. The primary option as the lob threat in this set was Jones given how explosive he is vertically. However, Washington will surely be the player that fills this void since he fits this mold more than say Naji Marshall.
Naturally, another set the Mavericks can continue to utilize is Stack pick-and-roll—a back-screen on the big defender in pick-and-roll. Hardaway was often the primary option to fill the back-screener role, which Thompson can replace. Dončić usually draws two defenders in this sequence, but with a lob threat as the roller and Thompson as the back-screener, that’ll be difficult to get away with doing.
Playing out of double-drag is just one of the many options the Mavericks have at their disposal with Thompson. It’ll be intriguing to see how creative they’re willing to get leveraging his shooting reputation to maximize the degree of difficulty for the defense when guarding various sets and actions.
Even just building on pre-existing approaches for the Mavericks, one of the more intriguing uses of Thompson will be in Horns sets. Positioned as one of the “bigs” on the elbow, he can serve as a decoy while defenses focus on Dončić or Irving. The defender tends to stay hugged up on Thompson—enabling the offense to leverage him as a decoy while spacing out in both corners.
Dončić experienced a lot of success being moved around the half-court more last season, which was made possible by having more ball handling options. Among the configurations involved him working off the elbow in Horns. If the Mavericks are going small or are willing to have Lively space out in the corner, this could be an intriguing hypothetical option with Thompson on the opposite elbow.
Another variation of Horns based on personnel could involve Thompson and another big on the elbows followed by a Flare screen to make the defense have to make quick split-second decisions. Since giving space to Thompson above-the-break is usually not an acceptable outcome for a defense, the rim roller could be very open.
Additionally, in any set, Thompson can simply serve as a weak-side spacer to deter the low-defender from tagging the roller. What matters most is that players most directly deployed in a set command the necessary respect to create advantages, which Thompson’s shooting reputation offers. There are many options, to say the least.
These are just a few examples of the many ways an NBA team can approach involving a talent like Thompson in a set to pull a defender away from the paint. Again, the Mavericks already use some of these approaches, but can certainly further explore adding extra layers to their packages throughout the season. Studying some of the minor details that were built into Golden State’s offense with him is a good option.
More Depth to Thompson’s Off-Ball Gravity
While an interesting set or action rightfully draws attention when pondering options, Thompson’s advanced understanding of off-ball movement can create subtle advantages within the flow of a possession.
Whether the Mavericks are playing small with Maxi Kleber spacing out or deploying Washington or Marshall at the four against a team that is choosing to pre-rotate off them, Thompson can walk his man down to help punish the defense sending early low-man help. The rest is up to his teammate to knock down the shot.
The opposite variation is also possible. Thompson can leverage spacing from the four-point line if a teammate that isn’t being respected as a shooter sets a back screen on the unsuspecting defender, freeing Thompson for a backdoor cut. The best situation for this occurs when the defense is blitzing, and the short roller is receiving the ball in the pocket—preventing the backline of the defense from recovering.
When Thompson is generally spacing out from the corner, if defenses try to guard 2-with-1 on the backline, they’ll likely shade him to prevent the spray-out pass. It’s crucial to maintain well-timed off-ball activity to exploit this, like a wing staying active on a 45-cut, which can create further vulnerabilities.
The way some defenses approach Thompson when he’s spacing in the corner includes simply face-guarding him even if it comes at the expense of giving up the spray-out pass to the wing. The progression for the defense tends to involve making an X-out, which can lead to an opportunity to next the ball to Thompson by being patient.
There are even some situations when the defense will face-guard Thompson when he’s spacing on the weak-side, enabling the offense to effectively play four-on-four.
In the play in the clip below, Curry receives the ball up top and attacks downhill before spraying it out to Andrew Wiggins, who re-drives and draws help before finding Trayce Jackson-Davis for a dropoff pass leading to a finish. All of that developed because there was no low defender due to face-guarding Thompson.
The value of the respect Thompson commands can be easily seen in how a defense continues to stay attached to him despite a threat like Curry having the ball and drawing attention from both pick-and-roll defenders. In the play below, Kuminga is enabled to walk on a 45-cut to make himself available as a relief option for the short-roller since the low defender is neutralized by Thompson spacing out.
Even when Thompson is positioned on the wing being tightly guarded off the ball, he often continues to command face-guarding from the defense. When the guard breaks the pick-and-roll coverage or hits the short roller, the low-defender is forced to fully commit to helping in the paint, resulting in vulnerability to the backdoor cut.
Another weak-side option for Thompson is to engage in a dribble handoff on the second side of the play. All he needs is a split second to create enough separation, and his defender will have difficulty closing the gap as the shot is released. It doesn’t take much space for Thompson to get his shot off, either.
Given how often Dončić commands an early low-man from some defenses, having all of these layers will force defenses have to make tougher decisions compared to when it was Washington and Jones on the wing. There are many ways Dallas can weaponize Thompson’s presence on the court to open things up even more.
Thompson Can Play Fast Too
While Jones’ athleticism was undoubtedly a big asset for the Mavericks’ goals of playing faster, it’s important not to overlook how Thompson can be a dangerous weapon in transition situations—maintaining the value of pushing the ball.
It remains to be seen how the Mavericks will approach constructing their rotation throughout a typical game flow this season. However, if Thompson does end up playing next to Irving in plug-and-play lineups, that group likes to play fast and can benefit from having a sharpshooter pulling away a defender early on the break.
If Thompson fills the corner or wing, the defense must account for him immediately, otherwise he’ll punish them with a quick-trigger three. Even if a defender gets out on him, he can still use a shot fake and get off a reload three-pointer unfazed.
Thompson has a dynamic ability to get into a rhythm pull-up three-pointer as a transition ball handler, along with the threat of using a shot fake or attacking the defender to get into a step-back before getting into the shot. The flow of these sequences gives him a step or two advantage to leverage.
A layer to consider is the way Thompson’s gravity opens up the floor for everyone else in transition. This should make it even easier for Irving to attack off the dribble, or to hit the big for a simple catch and finish as a trailer. With how consistently hard Lively and Gafford run the floor, this should lead to plenty of easy finishes.
Even when handling the ball, Thompson tends to make the right play with an unselfish approach—creating problems for the defense due to the apparent threat he poses to take a pull-up jumper. The rest of the unit will benefit, particularly given how many of his teammates can finish through contact or make a play against a closeout.
Thompson Can Step Up in Other Areas
While Thompson’s catch-and-shoot jumper and off-ball presence are his calling cards, he provides value in other areas that do not command much attention.
The Mavericks clearly lacked a third reliable offensive threat capable of scoring and creating in pick-and-roll last season. None of Hardaway, Exum, or Jaden Hardy had a consistent role from start to finish, particularly when it comes to the starting lineup. Thompson can at least provide another option to attack out of a ball screen. Think about scenarios when Dončić or Irving are injured—having someone like Thompson capable of shouldering responsibility in this way is necessary.
As a ball screen scorer, Thompson can get to his pull-up three-pointer if he comes off a screen wide or is playing out of a double drag. When considering the playable wing options the Mavericks had last season, this is a significant upgrade for their offense.
Since the defense tends to prioritize preventing Thompson from taking a three-pointer at all costs, he likes to take mid-range pull-ups after attacking the gap as a counter. This is a solid option to utilize when trying to mix it up, or hunt one of the lesser on-ball defenders on the court by making that player deal with a screen.
Thompson tends to have a gap to get into a shot, but tends to make the right read to find shooters on the perimeter when drawing help. Since he’s not an explosive driving threat, he doesn’t tend to command heavy attention in this regard, but some teams try to load up the gap to force a spray-out pass regardless. He’ll accept the coverage and make the right play.
It will be challenging for opposing teams to determine how they will approach matchups for undersized guards. Dončić is without a doubt not an option. Irving is someone that a defense wants to avoid having this as the matchup as well. Washington and Thompson are too big to do this as well.
For all of the previously mentioned reasons, Thompson provides small guards with a lot of problems trying to defend off-ball screening actions and by pulling them into actions when he’s involved as a screener, too. That also gives up a mismatch to allow Thompson a green light to be used in the two-man game, which is far from ideal.
One reason that hasn’t been discussed is the fact Thompson can get into a quick post-up and make a play at times. He is comfortable taking a few dribbles before shooting over the top when he’s further away from the basket, but can use his size to make a basic play when he is within a closer vicinity.
When a mismatch is at Thompson’s disposal to attack on the perimeter, his pull-up shooting talent affords a go-to option to capitalize when a big is sagging off him. If the big is pressing up, he can blow by to get to the rim for a finish. Having another skill-set of this nature makes it difficult to hide a big for a full shot clock, especially if the Mavericks push the pace and there is less control on initial matchups.
Thompson offers an enhancement in many of these additional areas to what Hardaway was intended to offer, which did pay off significantly at times—including a night when Hardaway and Irving became the 20th duo in NBA history to each score 40 points in the same game back in January.
Thompson Brings Lots of Value to Dallas
With Thompson, the Mavericks have significantly bolstered their offensive arsenal. His ability to stretch the floor, take quick-trigger shots, motion shooting talent, and off-ball gravity can force defenders into overcommitting will open countless opportunities for Dončić, Irving, and the entire team.
Thompson’s shooting gravity, paired with his experience in high-pressure situations, makes Dallas a more dangerous team. With Dončić’s elite playmaking, Irving’s scoring prowess, and a talented defensive unit, Thompson is poised to elevate the Mavericks’ offense, keeping them a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.
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