With most of their early-season goals now out of reach, the Mavericks are focused on trying to earn a spot in the play-in tournament, writes Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. It’s a far cry from where the team expected to be after last year’s run to the Western Conference Finals, but the players realize they still have a chance to salvage their season.
“Obviously the rankings don’t look great,” Maxi Kleber said. “But we’ve just got to do our job, have good practices, improve and stay together as a team.”
The Mavs entered tonight in 11th place at 37-40, just a half-game behind Oklahoma City for the final play-in spot. Townsend cites a Basketball-Reference playoff probabilities report that shows Dallas with just a 1.7% chance of finishing seventh and a 5.9% shot at eighth. The more likely scenarios are ninth (14.7%) or 10th (22.4%), which means having to win two play-in games just to make the playoffs.
“We know where we realistically are,” Kyrie Irving said, “and our destiny is in some other teams’ hands losing games.”
There’s more on the Mavericks:
- Past mistakes are more to blame for the team’s downfall than the decision to trade for Irving, claims Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. Goodwill says the organization erred by trading for Kristaps Porzingis, who turned out to be a poor fit alongside Luka Doncic, and in not recognizing the value of Jalen Brunson before he became an unrestricted free agent.
- Doncic is committed to playing for Slovenia in exhibition games Aug. 11 against Spain and Aug. 12 against the United States, even though the dates conflict with Dirk Nowitzki‘s Hall of Fame induction, Townsend adds in another Dallas Morning News story. Doncic said he hates to miss the ceremony, but he’s committed to helping his nation try to qualify for the 2024 Olympics. “I think everybody knew he was gonna make it,” Doncic said of Nowitzki. “He was really very, very excited for it. I’m really happy for him.”
- Friday was the deadline for the Mavericks and Warriors to submit information to the league office regarding Dallas’ protest of its March 22 loss, Marc Stein tweets. The league will have up to five business days to make a final ruling.
Wie we are on the subject. I was fouled by James Cole in the final minute of the Arkansas State 4-b playoffs in 1984. Let’s do something aout that, too.
There’s still time. Did you fill out the paperwork? I have extra copies from my complaint against Big Fred and LA Fitness when he purposely tripped me on the way to the basket and I lost the ball out of bounds. Cost us the game.
Dallas is a horrific defensive team, and has 2 superstar guards in Luka and Kyrie. However, despite being guards, Luka and Kyrie are both struggling to make 3-point shots. Both are typically in the 30% range as high-volume shooters. Trae Young and Brad Beal would fit right in with this team if they value superstar guards who cannot make 3-point shots despite being volume shooters from distance. That is an absolute recipe for disaster in the current NBA.
Just keep losing, thank you.
Mavs are 7-11 since Kyrie came over.
Doncic & the Mavs do not want to make the play-in, or the play-offs.
Funny that a year where tanking is being watched nobody can seem to identify when it is happening.
You understand Knicks own their pick ….
Check again. Top 10 protected
And Dallas traded 2 starters for 1. If the franchise employees didn’t see it coming, how intelligent is that?
Because I did, in my spare time!
I’d love the 11th pick. It means Gold. 2 PFs should be there for us. 4 gms to go.
Except, if you’re trying to tank, you don’t try to trade for another Superstar. Sure, they grabbed the wrong Superstar, but Dallas didn’t have a lot to give up in a deal. You sell off assets if you’re trying to tank.
Agreed its not a full-tank, but I think there was some encouragement to not try for a play-in at the deadline. Portland/Utah shifted in a similar fashion.
With the implosion of Utah/N.O. I have no doubt with a little effort Dallas, or Portland could have challenged for a play-in, and maybe the playoffs.
“Not a full tank” aka they’re just not that good lol figured it out for ya, once again
Sure you trade for another Superstar…, on an expiring contract !! Without checking, weren’t a couple of the guys sent out on longer deals? Probably part of the Mavericks motivation?
Again its idiotic to think that the Mavs had plans on the playoff when making the trade.
I have little care about about fanatic ideas, but I do put time into building NBA team’s, and experimenting with strategies. And not on NBA2K…
To think Dallas should be in the Playoffs with zero defensive help is laughable. Its comes off as simple media led Irving hate, and nothing more.
No Dallas GM made that deal without telling the owner, hey we probably won’t make the playoffs.
If I’m wrong Dallas should be hiring a new GM at the end of the season, if you’re right