Cooper Flagg took a huge step in the right direction from an offensive standpoint on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. Not only did Flagg lead the Mavs to a 114-110 win, but the rookie scored 35 points on 13-22 shooting from the field. Flagg's 35 points and 22 field goal attempts both represent new career-highs.
Flag's 35 points is obviously impressive, but it was his aggressive offensive approach that especially stood out. He looked confident and ready to lead offensively against the Clippers, and the results spoke for themselves.
The Mavs initially had Flagg running the point guard position to begin the season. Jason Kidd and the team realized the experiment wasn't working after a few games and moved him back to his natural position at forward.
Flagg has endured some ups and downs, and Dallas' offense has been abysmal. It has become clear over the past few weeks that the Mavericks have needed Cooper Flagg to be more aggressive on the offensive end of the floor. Heading into Saturday night's game, Flagg's previous career-high for most field goal attempts in a game was 19. Against the Clippers, though, it seemed as if Flagg knew he needed to step up — and he answered the call.
With Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving among the Mavs out — as well as PJ Washington suffering an injury during warm-ups that kept him out of the game — Flagg was aggressive and led the Mavericks in a competitive contest versus the Clippers.
Cooper Flagg's role becoming clear
Flagg features legitimate two-way prowess. As Anthony Davis trade rumors continue to swirl, however, Flagg could have plenty of opportunities to lead the offense this season.
If Flagg can become a dominant scorer in the NBA, the Mavericks' offense will receive a massive boost. He's only 18 years old and won't fulfill his true potential for a few years, but Saturday's performance provided a glimpse into who Flagg can be on the offensive end of the floor.
Flagg needs to continue to be aggressive with the ball. The Mavericks desperately need him to score if their current offense has any hope of finding a groove.
