The Mavericks have lost five of their last seven games and are just 1.5 to 2.5 games behind the Warriors and Lakers in the playoffs. This is the second year in a row that their playoff chances disappear in the middle of the season, despite having All-Star Kyrie Irving and MVP candidate Luka Doncic at the top of their lineup. All of this begs the question of what's wrong with the Mavericks.
What's wrong with the Mavericks: Dallas faces back-to-back cold snaps
potential cause
It would be obvious to think that the star is in decline. But that wasn't the case. Luka was as elite as ever, averaging 34.6 PPG, 9.0 RPG, and 9.8 APG. Irving was the perfect Robin to Luke's Batman, so it's not his fault either.
The real problem is the bench. Tim Hardaway Jr. has been in a slump lately, shooting below 30 percent from the field in each of his last three games. Additionally, P.J. Washington is coming back down to earth after being great in his first few games with Dallas, earning a negative plus/minus in four of his last games. Finally, the center position has been a revolving door of average to below-average play. Derek Lively II is on a roll, but he's still a rookie, and it shows at times. The team's other center, Maxi Kleber, had a down year, averaging career lows in points, rebounds, eFG and FG%. This void at the center position creates a sieve in the defense, allowing opposing big men to dominate the Mavs.
Second, some would argue that coach Jason Kidd is the main reason for the Mavericks' recent misfortunes. Kidd has been making some really baffling roster decisions lately. His decision to continue giving Kleber significant playing time was one such decision. Lively isn't perfect, but he's clearly the better and more reliable center of the two available. Another such decision is continuing to give Hardaway Jr. significant playing time despite his downturn. I understand that it is important not to lose confidence in players by putting them on the bench. But Hardaway has been extremely anti-clutch and has essentially had a direct impact on wins over the 76ers and Celtics in recent weeks. The Mavericks' roster is a bit weak due to its top-tier roster, but Kidd hasn't been able to make the most of it.
Potential fix for Mavericks Cold Streak
The best possible solution is a coaching decision. Kidd needs to take a good look at his roster and make some changes to his lineup decisions. Lively should get more minutes and Clever should get less. Some will argue that the team needs to keep Lively fresh for the playoffs. But the Mavs actually need to make the playoffs, and they are currently falling down the standings and being eliminated from the playoffs at an alarming rate.
Additionally, Hardaway Jr. needs to improve his time, especially in the clutch. I understand that putting him on the bench is not good for his confidence, but he can't take a game logo shot in the final seconds of the game. That would be devastating for the team and its position in the standings.
Finally, the last modification may seem counterintuitive. Luka may have to play less. Luka is without a doubt the best player on the team and the team is significantly better when he is on the court. Luka's usage rate of 36.0 is the highest of any active player. There is a significant risk that he will be completely gassed out by the time the Mavs make the playoffs. The Mavs rely on Luka for everything, so getting Luka gassed would be a disaster. They need to save him for the playoffs. However, it also needs to be balanced with stopping the recent series of cold snaps.
The last word
The Mavericks are an exciting team, and Luka and Kyrie are two of the most exciting players in the league. However, their extremely top-tier roster, combined with poor coaching decisions and an unfortunate slump among their key players, have led to their recent slump. They currently sit in 8th place in the West, with the Lakers and Warriors hot on their heels. They need to break this cold streak now. Otherwise, they may be eliminated from the playoffs altogether. That would be another wasted year of Luka's prime. The team doesn't have that luxury.
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