3 Things to Consider Before the Dallas Mavericks Play the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Cup
The Dallas Mavericks (2-6) travel to Memphis for their first NBA Cup game against the Grizzlies (3-6). Both teams are struggling, with the Grizzlies trying to reconcile with star Ja Morant, while the Mavericks are struggling to find consistent scoring.
Each team is currently on a losing streak—Dallas has lost three games in a row, Memphis four—but a win will not fully resolve the deeper issues both face.
Challenges Facing the Teams
The Mavericks are in an existential crisis after a tough loss to the Pelicans. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies must choose between supporting their star player or their coaching staff, just months after Morant led a coaching change.
On the court, both teams rank among the worst this season, with bottom-five offensive ratings and bottom-six net ratings, despite playing at one of the fastest paces in the league.
Rookie Spotlight
A bright spot for both teams is their first-round draft picks: Cooper Flagg for Dallas and Cedric Coward for Memphis. These rookies bring a glimmer of hope amid difficult seasons and will be an exciting matchup to watch, potentially the first of many.
Additional Note
Historically, Dallas dominated Memphis when Luka Doncic was with the Mavericks, adding another intriguing layer to the matchup.
"These are two of the worst teams in basketball. They are both bottom five in offensive rating, bottom six in net rating, and play at top five paces in the league."
Author's summary: Both struggling teams face deep challenges, but their promising rookies and historical context add interest to this NBA Cup matchup.