Gilbert Arenas Names the One Player Who Can Save Mavs From Porzingis, and It Is Not Luka or Kyrie

Daniel Gafford almost thought he’d be on an early vacation before he landed in Dallas upon the NBA trade deadline. Now he’s in the postseason facing his former Washington Wizards teammate, Kristaps Porzingis, and the Boston Celtics. His Game 1 performance left a little to be desired, though. He was even posterized by Jaylen Brown in TD Garden last night. But by most observations, Gafford is on an early breakout with Dallas and is being touted as a game-changer for this series. It’s too soon to call it but Gilbert Arenas sees untapped potential in the newly-minted Maverick.

“It’s him, the key for this series is going to be Gafford being on the swivel,” Arenas said on the immediate edition of Nightcap after Game 1. The center played 14 minutes and had 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist as the Dallas Mavericks suffered a blowout 107-89 loss in their first Finals appearance since 2011. What gives Gil the confidence in Gafford?

The way Chet Holmgren and Rudy Gobert did during the playoffs, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford are holding Dallas’ 6’10” center at the three-point line. “So either he’s going to give up a three or he goes out there and he’s going to give up an offensive rebound,” as per Arenas.

Porzingis, who came back after a month-long absence and effortlessly scored 20 points in a mere 20 minutes very early in Game 1, was hyped for Gafford before the Finals. He knew better than to underestimate him too. Arenas contends that though inexperienced, Gafford has rebounding skills that Jrue Holiday or Derrick White can’t counter. It only remains for Gafford to realize that.

NBA veterans place heavy expectations on Dallas center

As even Magic Johnson noted, the Mavs are a different team since the acquisition of Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington. While Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving formed outstanding backcourt chemistry, Gafford filled a void. A good few veterans see remarkable potential in him if he makes a drive for it.

Even Arenas says Gafford could make or break Dallas’ defense claiming, “Because if he doesn’t understand how he has to challenge a shot and protect the rim and get the offensive, defensive rebound, and secure it, it’s going to be a problem for them.”

Everyone knows Gafford could be a threat. When Shannon Sharpe implied Gafford wasn’t able to take an opening, Arenas countered that Boston put Jayson Tatum to guard him. That didn’t leave Doncic any teammate to pass to and he had to score for himself. And as Arenas, Magic Johnson, Richard Jefferson, and more said before, the Celtics can afford to let Luka be the scoring machine he is when they have more than a few high scorers of their own.

So the only way Gafford can come through for his team with Tatum on his tail, “post him.” We have to wait and see if Gafford takes heed of Gilbert Arenas.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.