Christian Wood EXCLUSIVE: Mavs Film Review - 'I'm Amping Up Defensive Intensity'
Since the Dallas Mavericks parted with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft to acquire Christian Wood in a trade with the Houston Rockets, a significant focus has been placed on his defensive impact. He's embraced the process of improving on that end throughout the rest of his summer and continuing that effort in the regular season.
To begin the season, the Mavs played Wood in a sixth-man role alongside Maxi Kleber in the second unit. Kleber was often manning the middle of the defense as the rim protector while Wood filled a more off-ball role. The situation has changed drastically since Kleber suffered a torn hamstring last month, which could keep him out for the remainder of the season.
The formula of playing Kleber with Wood was working, as the Mavs allowed 106.2 points per 100 possessions when the two shared the floor this season. Dallas has held its own defensively with Wood as the solo-big, allowing 112.5 points per 100 possession when he's been on the floor since his Dec. 14 move into the starting lineup.
"I think I had a slow start defensively," Wood said after the Mavs' 111-106 win over the Rockets on Monday. "I just had to learn the defensive concepts, earn my team's trust defensively — earn my coaches' trust defensively. I'm doing that as of late."
Wood's progression has been achieved while the Mavs have been without some of their top defensive talents like Dorian Finney-Smth, Maxi Kleber, and Josh Green as of late. Wood understands there is an even greater importance placed on his impact to help make up for his teammates' absence as they recover from injuries. Kleber's absence, in particular, has placed Wood in the anchor role of the defense.
"Just amping up the defensive intensity," Wood told DallasBasketball.com in explaining his increasing impact on defense. "My teammates have trust in me to make big plays. My coaches have trust in me to make big plays. With a few guys out like our defensive anchors — Doe, Maxi, Josh — the guys have to step up, and I think I've been doing that as of late."
To illustrate the difference in Wood's role, he's serving as the big defender in pick-and-roll coverages as opposed to playing off-ball. The Mavs are able to weaponize his 7-foot-3 wingspan to contest pull-up jumpers and to pressure finishes at the rim in these situations, which isn't nearly as potent when deploying a big man with less length.
Wood has fully embraced being a shot blocker for the Mavs' defense and his statistical production has jumped off the page. He's averaged 2.8 blocks over the last nine games since emerging as the team's starting center. He attributes his shot blocking surge to having a sense of fearlessness in the paint.
"I think right now I'm not afraid to get dunked on," Wood told us. "I've been coming over trying to block as many shots as possible. Sometimes it's put me in foul trouble, but more times than not, I'm going to be that guy to come over and block the shots.
"My teammates know that already and they have a trust in me to do that."
While successful shot-blocking plays naturally make it onto highlight reels, Wood has made an impact beyond those sequences. Since being moved into the starting lineup, he's contested an average of 10.5 shot attempts within six feet of the basket, which is the most in the NBA within this span. Contesting shots from this distance at such a high volume shows the latitude to be the anchor of the defense and his full embrace of it.
When Wood has contested a shot attempt within six feet over this eight-game period, opponents have converted on just 48.8 percent percent of their field goals. Such a mark is -15.1 percent from their usual field goal percentage on shot attempts within six feet of the basket. His defensive field goal percentage on these shot attempts ranks fourth among 28 players that have contested at least 50 attempts and best among all 12th players with at least 60.
"He's just bringing more energy," Doncic said after Wednesday's practice regarding Wood's defensive impact. "He listens to us; we listen to him. Like we say, communication is a big key. Under the basket, he's improved a lot. If he gets 3 blocks now, it's normal. He's been really helping us on the defensive end."
In the Mavs win over the Rockets on Monday, Wood's shot blocking ability was on full display as he finished with a season-high five blocks. He helped to control the game with his defensive impact down the stretch, proving to be integral in mounting an 18-point comeback.
Wood came out of the gate aggressive looking to block shots and make his presence felt on that end. With Alperen Sengun screening for Jalen Green in a high pick-and-roll, Wood maintained positioning to come up with a block. The fabric of the Rockets' offense was challenged by offering resistance against one of their calling cards of their half-court offense.
Another block in the first half occurred against Kevin Porter Jr. in a high pick-and-roll situation. After Porter received a re-screen, he tried to use a hesitation dribble to throw off Wood's timing, but it didn't work. The angle became awkward for a left-hand finish, prompting him to force a reverse layup that Wood rejected after staying patient.
While Wood had two blocks at halftime, he's an honest critic of his own play. By doing so, it shows his true commitment to grow his contributions on that end. He felt as though he was "trash" defensively in the first half of this game. He still was impacting as a shot blocker, but he was doing so while fouling as he had three in the first half.
"I said in the interview when I was getting off the floor that I was trash defensively in the first half. I had to pick it up," Wood said of his first-half defense after the game. "I think (in the) second half, I was playing better defense without fouling — altering shots at the rim ..."
When it came time for the Mavs to really tighten things up defensively, Wood was ready. Green drew Wood on a deep switch after using a high ball screen, setting up an empty corner isolation opportunity. Green tried to attack the paint and was blocked at the top of the charge circle after a spin move.
K.J. Martin attempted to challenge Wood on a drive, too. After using a fake, Wood stayed grounded as opposed to leaving his feet to put himself in a position to foul. Martin tried to salvage the situation by using a step through to finish on the left side of the floor, but he got his scoop finish swatted by Woo
Against a small-ball lineup that featured Jabari Smith Jr. playing at the five, Wood not only held his own, but he put his stamp on deciding the final outcome. Eric Gordon tried to bring Wood into the action by having his man set a ball screen, but doing so backfired. Wood understands that a finish on the right side of the rim is likely the goal, so he avoids fouling and comes up with a block before the ball reached the backboard.
Many tend to think about offense when discussing the importance of chemistry. However, Wood feels as though by starting over the last eight games next to Luka Doncic, he's been able to build needed chemistry defensively with not only him, but the rest of the unit around him.
"I would say starting (has helped me defensively)," Wood told us. "Actually finally being able to get the minutes with the starting group, figuring out my chemistry with Luka and just the other guys around me. And us just building off each other, defensive wise."
For as much as Doncic looks for Wood to be an integral presence in their pick-and-roll partnership, the three-time All-NBA first-team guard relies on his big man to make a defensive impact on the interior. By playing more minutes, Wood has felt it's only helped to fuel his progression.
"Luka looks at me to be that low man for him, when guys drive by, my communication has to be good because I'm the low guy — I have to communicate with all other four guys on the court," Wood explained to us about his role. "I'm kind of the anchor in that sort of sense.''
A prime example of Doncic appreciating Wood's presence as a help side defender occurred when guarding Russell Westbrook on an isolation possession. Wood made his presence felt to Westbrook, prompting a drop-off pass to Wenyen Gabriel. Wood recovered and pried the ball loose and gave a major effort to come up with the basket.
Did you notice something after Wood was helped up by Doncic? The superstar guard showed his appreciation for his big man's effort by giving the athlete's ultimate sign of respect. Watch the clip again...
“C-Wood’s playing great,” said Mavs coach Jason Kidd, part of the leadership of an organization that has opened contract extension talks with Wood. “Being able to play off of Luka, he (gets) some great looks. And defensively, for rebounding and being able to protect the rim, he’s doing that at a high rate. We need that. Him and Luka are playing well. They got a great connection and they protect each other on the defensive end.”
When watching game film between games, Wood has placed a strong emphasis on his pick-and-roll coverage and his help defensive coverage. The progress has been clear and it's translating in needed ways with both of which are essential to being an anchor for a defense.
"My pick-and-roll coverage, my help-side coverage," Wood told us when asked where he's made the most strides defensively. "I think offensive-wise, I've been able to do a lot of great things on the court. It's kind of getting overlooked because I'm doing great things defensively. I think I've been very efficient throughout the whole season."
In terms of taking on more of a role as a communicator, Wood showed an intriguing example when containing a pick-and-roll late against the San Antonio Spurs, even when it starts to get a bit complicated.
Wood calls for a veer switch as he makes his presence felt on the initial drive attempt without allowing Jakob Poeltl to get behind him, prompting Tre Jones to use a hostage dribble with Frank Ntilikina trailing after getting by the screen. Jones was leveled off without a great place to go with the ball, allowing Doncic to jump the passing lane after being able to stay home on the shooter.
Doncic has great defensive instincts and quick hands, which can be maximized in on-ball defensive situations when playing alongside a big that can be trusted to hold his own. Jeremy Sochan tried to throw a pocket pass to Poeltl in a 4-5 pick-and-roll play after Wood stepped up to engage the ball after Doncic crashed into the screen. With the defense having communication, Doncic was comfortable enough to take a gamble by stabbing at the ball to rip it loose.
As the Mavs experienced firsthand during their Western Conference Finals run last season, what separates championship teams is in the details. Having the chemistry and communication to have the second, third, or fourth rotation on-point can be a big difference-making outcome.
An example of this occurring with Doncic and Wood occurred against the Spurs. After an initial ball screen action resulted in a kickout to the wing, Wood stayed in a position to help on the closeout attack. Meanwhile, Doncic was helping the helper to prevent a clean put-back for Poeltl in the event of a potential missed finish attempt.
There are effort plays that you see from Wood that would be ending all over social media if it was made by one of the top reputation defenders in the league. During the Mavs' overtime win over the New York Knicks, he got out to contest Miles McBride on a corner 3-pointer after recovering from helping as the low-man, and he successfully blocked the shot.
In some instances, the opposition may think they can best Wood when he's defending out in space, but he instead holds his own. After playing out of a handoff, Wood was staying tight on the strong side corner to prevent a possible catch-and-shoot look. The thought here for the offense is to punish Wood out in space, but instead he gets a block on the reverse finish after the closeout attack is made.
The next steps for Wood as he continues to grow defensively include maintaining physically when he's walling up against a perimeter player on a drive, but doing so without fouling. He's made real strides there. He mentioned that another focus area still involves physicality, but involves handling those hard-nosed, physical centers with big frames. Given the strides he's already made, both will be intriguing to monitor.
The Mavs return to action on Thursday when they take on Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics in a national TV matchup. It will be another test of C-Wood's defense and more.
"I've been playing a lot more minutes than I was at the beginning of the season,'' Wood told us, confident that he is up for the challenge. "It's just working out well for me. I think the more minutes I get, the better my defense will get."
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