Dallas Mavericks: 3 takeaways from the 2018 offseason

2. The new and improved pick-and-roll game

One underrated aspect of DeAndre Jordan is his ability to level players with vicious screens. His victims include Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, among others, with the former immediately hitting the floor and the latter injuring his elbow following unsuspecting picks.

Jordan’s screens aren’t just for show, as he is among the league leaders with 4.0 screen assists per game. One reason is for his success is his mobility.

This is on display in veer screens, an act in which Jordan motions like he is going to set a pick for the ball handler, then moves away and screens for a shooter. This brings an element of surprise and works best with premier 3-point marksmen like J.J. Redick.

This number plummeted from the season prior, where he averaged 5.5 and 6.7 screen assists in the regular season and postseason, respectively. Considering he went from playing with Chris Paul and Redick one season to a bevy of different, injury-prone guards the next, his role in these offensive sets was still respectable.

In Dallas, the ball-handler is these scenarios will be Luka Doncic, the reigning EuroLeague MVP. He’s a passing savant, and will be able to find the screener or open 3-point shooters for easy baskets.