Lack of Bench Production Costs Mavs on 4-Game Road Trip: ‘The Takeaways’ plus Luka Doncic gets real one Kristaps Porzingis
It will take more than Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving if the Dallas Mavericks are going to make it to the playoffs and then make a run.
The bench’s performance and ability to keep the team afloat will go a long way toward deciding what the Mavs’ ceiling truly is, and their performance during their four-game road trip was further proof of that. Dallas’ bench scored 20 points compared to the Celtics’ 33 in a 138-110 loss on Friday at the TD Garden.
Dallas needs to improve as a team rather than relying on heroics from Doncic and Irving, though head coach Jason Kidd believes his team is trending the right way.
“It wasn’t the game that we wanted, but we learned a lot about ourselves,” Kidd said. “Some things to correct, but it’s going in the right direction.”
The Mavs went 1-3 during their four-game road trip, and the common denominator for their struggles was the bench getting outscored in each of their losses. In their 121-119 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, the Mavs bench was outscored 30-17. Against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, Dallas’ bench got outscored 42-29.
The lack of assists from the second unit loomed large too, as the Mavs’ bench had five assists against the Pacers, three against the Cavs and four against Boston.
In the Mavs’ lone win during their road trip, a 136-125 victory against the Toronto Raptors, their bench outscored the Raptors 40-25. They also had 11 assists. Tim Hardaway Jr.’s four assists against Toronto improved the Mavs’ record to 13-2 when he records at least three assists.
It’s going to take growth from the team and their bench playing more team-friendly basketball if Dallas is going to reach its full potential. If the bench continues to play how it played in the three losses during the four-game road trip, not even Doncic or Irving may be able to overcome that when the games matter most.
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Mavericks’ Luka Doncic gets real on Kristaps Porzingis-Celtics fit
Luka Doncic gets real one Kristaps Porzingis
Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis were once teammates on a promising Dallas Mavericks team. The situation did not work out in the end and Porzingis was traded.
Porzingis now plays for a talented Boston Celtics team with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Meanwhile, Doncic is playing alongside another superstar in Kyrie Irving.
Porzingis’ Celtics defeated the Mavs on Friday, however, as the big man scored 24 points and added six rebounds. Luka Doncic addressed Porzingis’ performance and his fit with the Celtics after the game, via Grant Afseth of Sports Illustrated.
“He was just popping and shooting that thing, you know? He’s been a great addition to them,” Doncic said of Porzingis. “I talked to him for a little bit and he’s really happy that he’s here. So, I’m happy for him, too.”
Luka Doncic ‘happy’ for ex-teammate Kristaps Porzingis
When the New York Knicks originally selected Kristaps Porzingis fourth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, there were a number of critics. But Porzingis silenced his doubters and displayed signs of stardom early in his career.
Prior to the 2019-20 season, Porzingis joined Dallas. The Mavericks had a young superstar by the name of Luka Doncic who was catching everyone’s attention around the NBA. Dallas believed Luka and Porzingis could become the next great NBA duo.
Although Porzingis’ time in Dallas did not go according to plan, he and Doncic did have some memorable moments together. However, the Mavericks ended up trading Porzingis to the Washington Wizards during the 2021-22 campaign.
Porzingis is now enjoying his first year with the Celtics, who currently hold the NBA’s best record. There were question marks about his NBA future after the Mavericks decided to trade him, but Porzingis has revitalized his career.
Luka Doncic was impressed by Porzingis’ performance on Friday. Doncic also thinks Porzingis fits well in Boston. The Celtics needed a reliable post presence alongside Tatum and Brown, and Porzingis certainly addresses that need.
The Celtics are regarded as a legitimate NBA Finals contender. Meanwhile, Luka and the Mavs have serious playoff aspirations. They have endured some ups and downs during the 2023-24 season, but Dallas features the potential to upset the best teams in the Western Conference.
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