Daniel Gafford on Learning Mavs' System, Playing for Jason Kidd: 'He's Gonna Hold Me Accountable, Push Me'
Given Daniel Gafford's stats through his first three games with the Dallas Mavericks – 15.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks – you would assume that he's had a 100-percent seamless transition after coming over from the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline.
However, it took Gafford a few games to really nail down the different terminology the Mavs use on offense and defense. After having an extended All-Star Weekend break to soak everything in, Gafford feels like he's caught up to speed as the Mavs jump back into action on Thursday night against the Phoenix Suns.
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"I feel like I'm good," Gafford told DallasBasketball.com. "You know, when it comes to the NBA, it's just like all teams have the same plays, it's just different terminology. Even before All-Star break, before our last game against San Antonio, we were going through a lot of stuff that I was slowly picking up on, but at the same time, I was already locked into it because I was used to it.
"Most of the pays we've ran for Luka, Kyrie, etc., have been plays that I've ran in the past for other teams. I was with Chicago and Washington, and both of those teams have different terminology, but they run the same plays. So it's like ok ... all I have to do is just remember what the name of it is."
On defense specifically, Gafford knows that he'll experience the most success by getting to his spots as quickly as possible when it comes to helping his teammates.
"And with the defense, the defense is really easy because of the simple fact that it's putting me in a position to where I'm being more included in pick-and-roll coverages – I'm always the low man protecting home," Gafford said. "So it's basically pushing me to the point where I'm just [telling myself], 'do your job, and be in the position you need to be in as early as possible, be there for your teammates, and make sure you talk.' Those are some of the main things they hold you accountable on, and they push you to be better game-in and game-out. Because that's what helps us win games, is being the defensive anchor.
"Being better in that situation throughout this whole All-Star break has just really been good, because now I finally got a chance to decompress, relax my brain, go out and just kinda like be normal for a good couple of days. Now I'm recharged and ready to get back to it."
Gafford is no stranger to having a new head coach, as he's now had six of them through his first five seasons in the NBA. Jason Kidd is known for being a player's coach, and Gafford tells DallasBasketball.com that his relationship with the third-year Mavs head coach has gotten off to a great start.
"From the jump, from the phone call [Kidd] made to me when the trade happened, it's been great," Gafford said. "He told me he's gonna hold me accountable. He told me he's gonna put me in a position to succeed, it was just up to me to be out there to do that. ... Just come in and do my job. With his vibe and his demeanor, the atmosphere around him when he's in the locker room making sure everybody's locked into the personnel – all of that good stuff is just something that I've been a part of throughout my whole career. ... You know, this is my sixth coach in five years, so I've been through my fair share for sure."
Although Gafford welcomes Kidd keeping him accountable if he makes mistakes, he's not planning on making many of them. With as good of a fit as Gafford has been alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, continued high-quality play from the big man shouldn't be an issue going forward.
"With somebody like Jason, I know he's gonna hold me accountable, he's gonna push me, he's gonna get on me if he needs to, at the end of the day," Gafford said. "But in all honesty, I'm trying to make sure that doesn't happen. I'm trying to make sure I'm doing my job, coming out and giving 110 percent and just being in full locked-in mode instead of taking steps back and not really being consistent in the things that I want to be better at. So I'm just pushing myself, and he's right there behind me doing the same thing."
The Mavs are seeking their seventh consecutive win on Thursday night as they take on the Suns at American Airlines Center. We'll see if Gafford and the new-look Mavs can pick up where they left off before the All-Star break began.
