By james art The Dallas Mavericks recently secured a 110-102 victory over Utah Jazzmarking their second win of NBA season. Kyrie Irving led by 23 points, but was candid after the game, expressing that the team still has a long way to go before reaching championship level.
The Mavericks are adjusting to a new team dynamic following the big signing of Klay Thompson. It should be noted that Thompson did not play alongside Luka Doncic and Irving in the preseason, meaning the chemistry between the trio will take time to develop.
“It’s just finding the flow of the game… It just depends from night to night, but specifically the beginning of the season, man,” Irving told reporters after the game. “It’s not just our team. If you look around the league, it hasn’t been the best possession for a lot of people. Guys come back in the course of the game.”
Irving emphasized that even though it is early in the season, there is still significant room for improvement. “Outside of that, I feel like we’re moving in the right direction, but we’ve still got to be better, man.” he added.
Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks tries to outplay Taylor Hendricks #0 of the Utah Jazz in the first period at American Airlines Center. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images
“We are nowhere near our championship habits at the moment.” Irving continued. “We are at this stage of development, trying not to get too down but also stay encouraged, stay motivated, get our feet under us. When that happens, I feel like we’ll be fine.”
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Klay Thompson makes NBA history against the Jazz
Despite missing preseason games with the starters, Thompson is off to a strong start with the Mavericks, showcasing his talent in a recent win over the Jazz. where he made history.
Thompson scored 18 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists, shooting 7-for-15 from the field and 4-for-11 from beyond the arc. His 15 3-pointers in the first three games are the most in NBA history for a franchise debutaccording to StatMamba.
Mavs HC focuses on rebounds
After the victory against the Jazz, Ph.D Jason Kidd noted a key area for improvement: rebounding. “We have to get better at rebounding the ball.” Kidd said.
Through the first three games, the Mavs have yet to win the rebounding battle, something Kidd finds troubling. Luka Doncic currently leads the team with an average of 9.7 rebounds per game, followed by Derek Lively II with 8.7. Behind them, PJ Washington and Gafford are averaging about seven rebounds, with Thompson trailing at 4.7.