‘Probably Too Early’: Dusty May Isn’t Buying Dallas Mavericks’ Early 3-Point Defense Numbers
DALLAS — Opponents are shooting 30.9% from three-point range against the Dallas Mavericks through nine games, and Mavericks coach Dusty May said Sunday that the number does not tell him much yet. May spoke before Dallas hosted the Brooklyn Nets at American Airlines Center.
May said he does not put much weight in defensive statistics until 15 to 20 games into a season. Dallas has held four of its nine opponents under 25% from three, and four others have shot 35.7% or better.
“It’s so early, and that’s another thing with the stats. The sample size is so small. I’ve seen we’ve been number four in this category one day, and then two games later we’re like 17,” May said. “And so there are a couple categories that we’ve stressed more than others. The transition defense is one. Some of them are just kind of byproducts of individual talent, or a team hasn’t made shots, or things like that. But right now, it’s probably too early for us to look at. And even with our shooters, I don’t even like looking at our three-point percentages right now.”
“Early in the season, I don’t put a lot of stock in the, especially the percentages, because you look at Max over the course of his career, I think he’s a 40% three-point shooter, and I know based on eye test he’s not shooting anywhere near that now,” May continued. “But early in the season, I think all these stats are, it’s a little bit too early to have any conclusions on why, other than maybe you’ve spent a lot of time on something or you haven’t spent any time on another, and you’re not doing well at it.”
Opponents’ 3-Point Shooting Against The Dallas Mavericks
Dallas has allowed 102 made threes on 330 attempts. The San Antonio Spurs went 5-of-36 in a 112-111 win on Nov. 4, the Oklahoma City Thunder went 5-of-32 in a 120-96 Dallas win on Oct. 28, and the Indiana Pacers went 7-of-32 in a 121-105 Dallas win on Oct. 23. The Houston Rockets made 7 of 29 in a 116-111 Dallas win on Oct. 30 after going 16-of-36 in a 128-110 Rockets win in the opener.
The Sacramento Kings shot 19-of-43 from three in a 115-100 win in Dallas on Nov. 2. The Utah Jazz went 15-of-39 in Friday’s 112-100 Dallas win. Dallas is 4-1 when it makes more threes than its opponent and 0-4 when it makes fewer.
Basketball-Reference has the Mavericks 11th in defensive rating at 111.9 points allowed per 100 possessions. Dallas is allowing 110.9 points per game, 10th-fewest in the league.
Max Christie, Switching, And The 15-To-20-Game Mark
Transition defense is one of the categories the staff has stressed more than others, May said. Dallas is allowing 12.2 fast-break points per game, and Oklahoma City scored none in the Oct. 28 game.
“Yeah, we’re getting better. The communication piece still has to improve, but I do think the switching is different, and you’re able to switch onto bodies and not give up clean looks, and you’re susceptible to some other things on the glass, or maybe an occasional slip, or an easy basket,” May explained. “But right now, we’re still making errors defensively. Certain teams can just make you pay better than others. But like I said, the stats this early, I don’t put a lot of weight in them until probably game, I’d say 15, 20 games in.”
On the offensive end, Dallas is shooting 33.2% from three as a team, 108-of-325. Max Christie, the player May referenced, has started seven of his eight games and is 10-of-38 from three-point range, 26.3%. He made 75 corner threes in 2025-26, tied for fifth in the NBA, and his 89.9% free-throw percentage ranked seventh in the league.
Dallas hosts the Pacers on Monday at 7 p.m. CT.
