PJ Washington is finding his place with the Dallas Mavericks 2024
PJ Washington is finding his place with the Dallas Mavericks 2024 - PJ Washington joined the Dallas Mavericks during the trade deadline, aiming to address a previous off-season oversight. Renowned for his defensive prowess, Washington's impact transcends mere statistical measures. While plus/minus is often cited, its reliability is debatable due to the correlation-causation fallacy. Nonetheless, Washington's presence on the court significantly influences the Mavericks' performance.
When Washington is in play, the Mavericks exhibit a defensive rating nearly seven points lower per 100 possessions compared to when he sits out, according to statistics from PBPStats.com. An intriguing aspect of this data is the extended defensive possessions with Washington, indicating a slower pace of play. Although this might suggest a decline in steals or forced turnovers, it also signifies improved transition defense, an area where the Mavericks historically struggled. With Washington's tenacity, there's a noticeable drop in fastbreak points conceded, showcasing his impact on defensive restructuring.
Over the last 10 games, the Mavericks have conceded only 13.5 fastbreak points per game, a stark improvement from their previous average of nearly 16 points. Washington, alongside Derrick Jones Jr. and Daniel Gafford, injects energy into the defense, mitigating the team's prior deficiencies.
However, Washington's shooting inadequacies initially offset his defensive contributions. Traditionally, defensive wings augment their offensive value with corner threes, a trend observed since the era of Bruce Bowen. Considering the Mavericks' proficiency in generating quality corner shots through Luka Doncic's playmaking, it was anticipated that Washington's shooting accuracy would improve upon joining the team.
Yet, Washington's corner three-point shooting percentage has plummeted to 21.4% with the Mavericks, despite a significant increase in attempts. Conversely, his shooting from beyond the arc, particularly above the break, displays a marked improvement, shooting 53.3% on above-the-break threes.
Recent performances, albeit in a small sample size, provide a glimmer of hope. Over the last four games, Washington has demonstrated improved shooting, particularly from three-point range. While his corner three percentage remains subpar, his accuracy above the break suggests potential offensive contribution.
Given Doncic's exceptional playmaking abilities, there's an opportunity to optimize Washington's offensive positioning, capitalizing on his strengths. By aligning Washington with his preferred shooting locations, the Mavericks can harness his offensive potential to complement his defensive prowess effectively.