By james art It’s been a rough start for the Dallas Mavericks this season. In five games they won three. Tonight, despite a blistering fourth quarter, the Mavs didn’t have enough firepower to blow away the 23-point lead Houston built early on. Led by another Kyrie Irving shooting clinic, the Mavericks had a need. They need to regain their spirit as a team that was just in the NBA Finals.
They really look different from what they did last season. The key inclusion of Klay Thompson in particular offered them considerable distance. With that, there should be a change in their playing style. Early glimpses suggest that Luka Doncic’s usage rate has taken a slight dip. While this is a positive for avoiding injuries, there is another vital aspect that the young players in the squad have to deal with.
After the loss, Kyrie Irving talked about avoiding “overthinking.” But they also need to forget their success from last season and readjust their attitudes rather than letting a finals appearance make them complacent. “Obviously we had success last year, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be bad this year because we haven’t achieved anything. You know the champions are the Boston Celtics.” he told the media.
USA Today via Reuters
June 14, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics in Game Four of the 2024 NBA Finals at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The hidden feeling beneath his words is probably that he is not satisfied. After being a champion and losing in the NBA Finals, KAI knows the product of overconfidence. Ironically, preserving the memory of the Celtics’ celebration may be the fire that pushes the Dallas Mavericks to find a different dimension of themselves.
Yes, they had a slow start. But given that they are still finding their footing, the scope for improvement is limitless.