The Dallas Mavericks fan base expected the Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving pairing to shine. However, shining has been far from what they've seen. The Mavericks are 1-4 in their last five games. Dropping a shootout to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, 132-130. The offense doesn't seem to be the issue with this team. Now, stopping the other team looks to be the Achilles heel. In their last five games, the Mavericks have allowed 110 points or more. That number isn't a recipe for success for any team.
The frustration is visible on the court and is being shared off the court too. Doncic has shared his frustrations with the media over the last month. As well as, Irving being vocal about what's going wrong in Dallas. It's no secret that Irving isn't afraid to share his feelings. Irving has found himself in media cycles over the past year for more than just basketball. Many believed the Mavericks were taking a significant risk in bringing in the former NBA champion. A chance that Mark Cuban felt didn't outweigh the reward. Now Dallas finds itself with an All-Star cast but no playoff appearance to show for it. How did they get here?
Luka Doncic Claims Defensive Struggles Are Costing Mavericks
The answer is easy to find. However, just because the answer is easy doesn't mean it is fixable. “It’s every time the same problem,” Doncic stated. “The offense is fine. But if we give up 130 points in four quarters, that’s hard to win.” The defensive struggles of this team will not be fixed overnight. The organization is coming to the realization that this season is a failure. The biggest issue may not be the combo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The issues could come from the other three positions. Many forget that just because a team has an amazing duo, there are still three other players on the floor. Dwight Powell, Reggie Bullock, and Tim Hardaway Jr. also shoulder some blame.
The 2022-23 season has been a failure. However, that doesn't necessarily mean burning this down and starting from scratch. Kyrie and Luka can still be a successful backcourt leading the Mavericks to the playoffs next season. While the team can look to the future, everyone knows that some change is inevitable. How can the Mavericks bolster their roster for the 2023-24 season? Can the Mavericks keep Luka and Kyrie together? Will Dallas be an enticing destination for free agents this summer? Let us know your thoughts on the Mavericks in the comment section below. For the latest NBA news, stay locked in with HNHH.
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