Max Christie’s rough opening has put the Mavericks’ shooting guard spot back in play.
Dallas entered the season with some uncertainty about who would hold down the starting job between Christie and newcomer Zaccharie Risacher, and Christie got the nod on opening night. Three games later, the debate is still alive - maybe even louder.
Christie’s numbers through those first three contests are modest: 8.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 made 3-pointers per game. He has yet to attempt a free throw and has recorded just two steals while logging 30.7 minutes a night. For a player in his fifth professional season, it has not been the start Dallas wanted.
Risacher hasn’t exactly blown the door off the hinges either, but he’s making a case in his own way. He’s averaging 8.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 30.3 minutes per game, while shooting 38.5 percent from the field and 18.2 percent from deep. Those are not eye-catching shooting splits, but the broader impact has been impossible to ignore.
The defensive production stands out right away. Risacher is averaging 1.7 blocks and 2.3 steals per game, compared with Christie’s 0.7 blocks and 0.7 steals. The on/off numbers are even more dramatic: Dallas is 31.4 points per 100 possessions better with Risacher on the floor, while the team is 38.6 points per 100 possessions worse with Christie out there.
Those splits don’t tell the entire story by themselves. Sergio de Larrea, for instance, has been strong so far even though Dallas is 33.5 points per 100 possessions worse with the 20-year-old on the court. Still, the numbers carry some weight, and Risacher’s overall swing is hard to dismiss.
What also separates the two is the shape of their games. Christie brings real value when his shot is falling, but that’s where a lot of his usefulness begins and ends. The 23-year-old gives Dallas plenty as a floor spacer, but not much beyond that.
Risacher offers a broader package. He rebounds, plays with energy, can guard three positions and has shown he can contribute on offense in more ways than one. He has a catch-and-shoot three in his bag, and he can also push the pace and finish in transition.
Risacher still hasn’t taken full control of the job, and he has work to do to clean up his game. But Christie’s sluggish start has reopened the question almost immediately. The starting spot was settled for one night; it certainly doesn’t feel settled for the season.
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