Cooper Flag finally filled the role the Mavericks desperately needed against the Clippers

Cooper Flagg took a huge step in the right direction from an offensive standpoint Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. Not only did Flagg lead the Mavs to a 114-110 victory, but the rookie scored 35 points on 13-22 shooting from the field. Flagg’s 35 points and 22 field goals were career highs.

Flagg’s 35 points were obviously impressive, but his aggressive offensive approach stood out. He looked confident and ready to lead the way offensively against the Clippers, and the results spoke for themselves.

The Mavs initially had Flagg at the point guard position to start the season. Jason Kidd and the team realized the experiment wasn’t working after a few games and moved him back to his natural position when he progressed.

Flagg has had some ups and downs, and Dallas’ offense has been lackluster. Over the past few weeks, it became clear that the Mavericks needed Cooper Flagg to be more aggressive on the offensive end of the floor. Heading into Saturday night’s game, Flagg’s previous career mark for most field goal attempts was 19. Against the Clippers, however, it looked like Flagg knew he needed to step up – and he answered the call.

With Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving among the Mavs — as well as PJ Washington is injured during warmups that kept him out — Flagg was aggressive and led the Mavericks in a competitive contest against the Clippers.

Cooper Flagg’s role becomes clear

Flagg features legitimate two-way power. However, as the Anthony Davis trade rumors continue to swirl, Flagg could have plenty of opportunities to lead the offense this season.

If Flagg can become a dominant scorer in the NBA, the Mavericks offense will get a big boost. He’s only 18 years old and won’t reach his true potential for a few more years, but Saturday’s performance provided a glimpse of who Flagg can be on the offensive end of the floor.

Flagg must continue to be aggressive with the ball. The Mavericks desperately need him to score if their current offense has any hope of finding a groove.