The Dallas Mavericks, led by young Slovenian prodigy Luka Doncic, are 8-11 at the start of the NBA 2020-21 season, shortened by the lockout. The Mavs have lost a series of six exciting games to the popular Los Angeles Clippers. One could argue that the outcome of that series would have been much different had Kristaps Porzingis not been injured. It seems that the time Dallas has to participate in the Western Conference is short. After such a promising season, it is surprising that the team finished 13th in the Western Conference.
Is it time to worry about the Dallas Mavericks?
Purchase
The Mavs had lost four games. Their last loss was convincingly against the Utah Jazz, who did not even have Donovan Mitchell.
Last season, Dallas had a strong offense and a defense that fell behind. That’s one of the reasons Josh Richardson took up the cause. He sent Seth Curry to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Mavs needed a more balanced team, especially defensively. The Sixers needed perimeter shooters. It had to be a win-win situation.
So far, only the Sixers are winning. Curry is currently scoring 14.3 points per game and shooting from over 50% range. Meanwhile, Richardson has played a few good games, but has been ineffective for the most part. He is shooting less than 30% from 3 in the 2019-20 season and 34.1% in the 2019-20 season. The acquisition of James Johnson should also strengthen the defense and add some stamina.
Despite these measures, the Mavericks have an average defense close to that of last season. The difference is that Dallas ranks 22nd in offense. That’s a lot different than the third-best offense they committed last year.
Soic has an MVP of 27.3 points, 9.2 boards, 9.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He averages nearly a triple-double per game, reminiscent of Russell Westbrook’s MVP campaign. It has been shown time and time again that there is a hard ceiling for all-star teams. That’s where Porzingis comes in. The Latvian All-Star is a great addition for Doncic.
When Porzingis is on the field, he produces as much as he did in his first year with the Mavs, although his percentage is 3 points lower. He has only played 10 games due to injuries.
Sales
On the other hand, several actors have lost considerable time due to COVID-19 protocols. This includes Richardson. Eventually, the Mavs will be healthy and more cohesive. By the end of the season, when injuries have been ruled out again, Porzingis will be able to play more and be less pressed for time. Head coach Rick Carlisle is still one of the best in the league. He will be able to determine which rotations and lineups work.
In addition, the Mavs could be buyers on the trade market. There are rumors linking them to Cleveland Cavaliers center, Andre Drummond. If Drummond’s game is more like that of the 1990s or early 2000s, he is a double-double and an elite defender. Dallas desperately needs a rebound, a category in which Drummond has led the league four times.
The law of averages still applies. The Mavs have the lowest 3-point percentage in the league at 32.9%. You can only go up. It’s only a matter of time before Dallas finds its collective rhythm on the outskirts.
After all, Dallas played 19 games in the ’72 season. There was more than enough basketball for everyone. We saw some teams that seemed to have recovered after the All-Star break or earlier and had a good regular season.
Frequently asked questions
What do you have on Luke Doncic?
Luka Doncic, the young superstar of the Dallas Mavericks, has a 13-letter message written on his back. His message reads as follows: “Enakopravnost”…. Doncic’s message is in Slovenian for “equality.”
What did LeBron say about Luca Doncic?
Languages
What is Luka Doncic’s salary?
The team signed fourth-year rookie Luka Doncic and guaranteed him a salary of $10.17 million for the 2021-22 season, a source told the Dallas Morning News.
