The Dallas Mavericks have been a team that alternated ups and downs throughout all this NBA season. Sometimes showing flashes of greatness, but sometimes losing games that they should've won. This is the case of what happened yesterday against the Indiana Pacers. At home, full squad healthy and despite all that Dallas lost by a 17 points margin. Three losses in a row and it looks like Jason Kidd can't find a way.
Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic once again proved his worth by recording his fourth consecutive triple-double with 39 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. However, his outstanding performance was not enough to guide his team to victory as the Pacers displayed balanced production with nine players scoring in double figures.
Despite Doncic's heroic effort, the loss knocks the Mavericks out of contention for a direct playoff spot, putting them in the play-in phase if the postseason were to begin today.
PLAYOFFS OPTIONS
With 20 games remaining in their regular season schedule, the Mavericks find themselves in a crucial situation in the Western Conference playoff race. They currently sit in eighth place with a 34-28 record, two games behind the Phoenix Suns, who occupy sixth place and the final playoff spot.
Dallas now finds itself in the play-in bracket, along with the seventh-place Sacramento Kings (34-26), ninth-place Los Angeles Lakers (34-29) and tenth-place Golden State Warriors (32-28). In a competitive landscape where the fourth through tenth place teams are tightly bunched, the Mavericks win as many games as possible to strengthen their position in the playoff race.
The remaining schedule presents significant challenges: twelve of the twenty games scheduled are on the road. They will face high-caliber teams such as the OKC Thunder and Denver Nuggets, as well as weaker contenders such as the Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz.
Despite the challenges ahead, the Mavericks have key players like Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the recent additions of PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford to strengthen their inside game. However, the contribution of players like Tim Hardaway Jr. becomes crucial. Hardaway, who has been a viable third option for the team, must commit and step up his performance to give the team the needed boost off the bench.
Luka Doncic Last 6 Games: 39-10-11 38-11-10 37-12-11 30-10-16 45-9-14 33-6-6 The Mavs have gone 1-5 & have a 127.3 defensive rating over that stretch. 5 points per 100 worse than the 29th ranked Wizards. All-time poor defense being played in Dallas. Something(s) needs to change.
