2 ‘other’ Mavs who could give the Utah Jazz trouble

‘Other’ Mavs who could give the Utah Jazz trouble: Jalen Brunson

Fourth-year guard Jalen Brunson has been the most consistent No. 2 option for Dallas this year. He’s proven that he can carry the load when Luka Doncic is off the floor. And Brunson has learned how to play well alongside Doncic when he’s on the floor.

Standing at a modest 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Brunson uses craftiness to get his buckets. While he’s a solid 3-point shooter at 37.3 percent from deep, where he’s most lethal is in the midrange. He kills teams with jumpers and tough floaters.

Averaging 16.3 points and 4.8 assists per game, the former Villanova Wildcat has proven to be a very serviceable guard in this league.

However, Brunson has his weaknesses. He doesn’t have elite athleticism. Plus, because of his lack of size, he often struggles against bigger, longer wings.

In the three games that he’s played against Utah this year, Brunson has done damage, averaging 19.0 points and 4.3 assists per game. But if Doncic isn’t ready to go in this series, the Jazz surely could slow him down by throwing their best perimeter defenders at him in Royce O’Neale and Danuel House.