The Dallas Mavericks continue to struggle on the defensive end of the floor, and even though they have won their last two games against the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons, they need to improve on that front if they want to be a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. There is a need to. .
Dallas got off to a very strong start after acquiring P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford in a trade, but their defense has been preventing them from emerging as a true contender lately. The solution to getting Dallas to play good defense seems to be to communicate as much as possible, and they haven't been able to do that lately.
The Mavs need to fully embrace head coach Jason Kidd's defensive scheme so they can get back to being a force in the Western Conference.
Dallas is at its best when playing tough defense, and they've been playing well over the last two games, so hope isn't lost just yet.
While Dallas' focus remains on the Western Conference, here's a look back at 11 players who have turned their backs on the Dallas Mavericks over the years.
Spencer Dinwiddie provided great memories for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2022 NBA Playoffs and quickly became a fan favorite in Dallas, but when the Mavs were chasing him on the buyout market earlier this season, many Mavs fans were unhappy with him.
The Mavs clearly need a backup point guard, and Dinwiddie's return to Dallas was a logical move for both teams. Dinwiddie played the best basketball of his career while a member of the Mavs, and had he signed with the Mavs, he would have stepped into a key role right away.
The Mavs are competing hard for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, and signing Dinwiddie could catapult them over the top. Dinwiddie ended up signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, but his reasons for choosing them over Dallas were strange.
“Let's say you were a kid and a bully hit you (expletive), and Dallas would be like your mother and say, 'It's okay, baby,'” Dinwiddie said. “The Lakers are like your dad: 'No, you better go out and fight 'til you win.'
Dinwiddie later explained that his reasoning referred to a “comfort zone” and said, “The most fun I've had in my career so far was in Dallas.”
At the end of the day, his comments were a bit strange, as returning to Dallas would have been a pretty beneficial move for both parties, but he chose the Lakers over the Mavs.
Dinwiddie hasn't been doing well since arriving in Los Angeles, but thinks things might have been different had he come to Dallas.
