Dusty May had a simple reaction to Cooper Flagg's latest scoring night: "Thank goodness he's on our team." According to TalkBasket, the Dallas coach was describing a 19-year-old who scored a season-high 43 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the Mavericks' 125-122 win over the Indiana Pacers.
The numbers are the easy part. Flagg shot 16-of-25 from the field, made all eight of his free throws, and added six assists and three steals. It was his fourth straight double-double and fifth of the season. Kyrie Irving scored 35 with seven threes, and the two combined for 78 points.
What stood out to May was the spread of Flagg's scoring. He is getting to the rim, including with his left hand, and working the mid-range. The coach also said Flagg has started making more threes and getting to the line more often. A forward who can score from three levels forces defenders to pick a lane, and that is where the passing comes in. May said Flagg "makes the right plays" as a passer, which fits the six assists.
May also pointed to the late stages of the game. He described Flagg as stronger and more determined in winning time. Dallas struggled to make shots in the first half, and with Irving's plus-29 rating and seven threes, the Mavericks needed both stars to finish the job.
For Dallas, the stakes are practical. When Flagg is making shots from several spots, the offense has more options and Irving does not have to carry every possession. That balance is what May is pointing to when he talks about the team's priorities.
