archiveDallas Hoops Journal

DHJ Quick Take: Finding Diamonds in the Desert The Poulakidas "Blackout": In just his 11th NBA game, undrafted rookie John Poulakidas looked like a seasoned vet, torching the Suns for 23 points and five threes. His fearless performance—including a block and a bucket on Devin Booker—earned him post-game praise from...

DHJ Quick Take: Survival Mode in Phoenix The Injury Crisis: What was already a thin roster has reached a breaking point. Dallas has officially ruled out Klay Thompson (rest), Naji Marshall (hip), Daniel Gafford (shoulder), Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), Caleb Martin (foot), P.J. Washington (elbow), and Brandon...

DHJ Quick Take: Securing Rotation Depth The Frontcourt Anchor: By retaining Li Yueru, the Wings secure a 6-foot-7 "stretch post" whose three-point shooting (36.4%) and interior defense became vital following the trade from Seattle. With Luisa Geiselsöder now in Portland, Yueru’s presence ensures Dallas has a proven veteran to pair...

DHJ Quick Take: The Poster of the Year? The Statement: In front of the Clippers’ coordinated "Wall," Cooper Flagg delivered what he called his "favorite" dunk of the season. The one-handed slam over the 7-foot-1 Brook Lopez earned a massive 116.8 on the NBA’s tracking-based dunk score, tying for the...

DHJ Quick Take: Consistency in the Chaos Identity Over Outcome: Despite a season-low 18.2% from three-point range, the Mavericks maintained the "organized" identity that fueled their win over the Lakers. Dallas committed only nine turnovers and shot a near-perfect 27-of-28 from the free-throw line, proving the structural improvements under Jason...

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Dallas Mavericks guard Naji Marshall left Tuesday night's 116-103 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth quarter with a hip contusion, head coach Jason Kidd confirmed after the game. Marshall finished with 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals in 19 minutes before exiting. Kidd...

DHJ Quick Take: The Decision at No. 1 Overall The Miles Momentum: Olivia Miles has surged to the top of draft boards following a historic senior season at TCU, where she averaged nearly a triple-double in the NCAA tournament. Her elite court vision and playmaking have led evaluators to view...

DHJ Quick Take: Grit in the Face of a Disastrous Start The 24-2 Hole: Dallas opened the game shooting just 2-of-13 while the Los Angeles Clippers hit nearly everything, building a 23-point lead in the first six minutes. Operating without Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford, the Mavericks' patchwork...

DHJ Quick Take: Securing the Foundation The Core Clause: By placing the core designation on Arike Ogunbowale, the Wings have secured exclusive negotiating rights for their all-time leading scorer. Under the new WNBA CBA, this is the final year Dallas can use this tool on Ogunbowale, ensuring the franchise maintains...

DHJ Quick Take: Testing the Blueprint The Defensive Mandate: To upset the Clippers at Intuit Dome, Marvin Bagley III told Dallas Hoops Journal that the team must "take them out of the game and force the other guys to make plays." This strategy specifically targets Kawhi Leonard (54 straight games...