Mavericks coach Jason Kidd teases intriguing potential change in starting lineup

Last night, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Golden State Warriors by a score of 109-99.

Dallas shot the ball poorly, but their improved defense helped them grab a win against a crippled Warriors team. The Mavs used the same starting lineup that Jason Kidd implemented last week of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford, and this lineup has worked out well for them.

They are undefeated with this starting lineup, and starting Gafford over Dereck Lively II wasn’t a move that some fans liked at first, but this move by Kidd helped the team significantly.

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd teases intriguing potential change in starting lineup

Gafford as a starter helps Dallas start with great energy while allowing Lively II to see how the game is going before checking into the game. Despite Kidd rolling with the Gafford as the starter as of late, that doesn’t mean that Lively II couldn’t return to the starting lineup again sometime soon.

“To have Gaff starting, he’s playing well, that doesn’t mean at some point that we look back at getting D-Live back in the starting group,” Kidd said before the Mavs took on the Warriors last night. “Right now those two are playing at a high level.”

Kidd’s mindset has stayed consistent when it comes to how he picks his starting group, and it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon. Whether it is Gafford or Lively II as the starting big, Kidd will go with the player that he thinks gives Dallas the best chance to win. It’s as simple as that.

While all eyes are on Gafford as he chases Wilt Chamberlain’s consecutive makes without a miss record, it must be mentioned that Lively II is also playing at an elite level right now. Lively II has scored in double digits in back-to-back games while blocking four shots, proving that he can make a big impact off the bench.

Gafford and Lively II will have their hands full tonight as they battle Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road.

For all the latest on Jason Kidd, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and the Dallas Mavericks this season, stay tuned.