Renewed Ambitions: Can the Mavericks Bounce Back After a Disappointing Season?

2023-08-02 10:40:00

NBA – After the arrival of Kyrie Irving and a missed end of the year, without playoffs, the Mavericks must bounce back and find the heights.

While there are now not many people left on the free agent market and the workforce, except for upheaval via the expected trades of Damian Lillard and James Harden, is almost complete, it is time to take stock summer for all 30 NBA franchises.

And after Detroit, Houston, San Antonio, Charlotte, Portland, then Orlando, Washington, and finally Indiana and Utah, it’s Dallas’ turn. The Mavericks totally missed their last season, even failing to join the “play-in”! A huge disappointment for such an ambitious team.

SAISON 2022/23

38 wins – 44 losses (21st)
6th attack: 115.9 points scored on 100 possessions
25th defense: 116.1 points conceded on 100 possessions

ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES

Arrivals: Richaun Holmes, Dante Exum, Grant Williams, Seth Curry
Departures: Davis Bertans, Justin Holiday, Reggie Bullock

WORKFORCE 2023/24

Leaders: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum
Fullbacks/Wingers: Tim Hardaway Jr., Seth Curry, Josh Green, Jaden Hardy
Interiors: Grant Williams, Maxi Kleber, Richaun Holmes, JaVale McGee, Dwight Powell, Dereck Lively II, Olivier-Maxence Prosper

THE LIKELY MAJOR FIVE

Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr., Grant Williams, Dwight Powell

THE OBJECTIVE

Become a playoff team again. After the disputed and lost conference final against the Warriors in 2022, the Mavericks seemed to have found the right formula, but very quickly, we understood that there was a problem… The Texans chained very disappointing results and Mark Cuban attempted a gamble in February, bringing in Kyrie Irving. The electroshock did not take place because the defense is too weak to sublimate the offensive qualities of Luka Doncic and the former leader of Cleveland. Dallas players were even whistled by their fans: ” It is deserved ” slipped the Slovenian, when Irving spoke of a ” beautiful shit in which he had just landed…

No playoffs, nor “play-in” therefore, and the season even ended with an undisguised abandonment of the last matches of the regular season, in order to keep a precious first round of the Draft. The NBA therefore sanctioned the franchise with a fine of 750,000 dollars! A sad conclusion to an equally sad and disappointing season.

To rebound, the Mavericks signed an interesting offseason, with the extension of Kyrie Irving and the arrivals of Richaun Holmes, Grant Williams and Seth Curry. Solid recruits who bring density to Jason Kidd’s group. While Dante Exum is a bet. Nevertheless, this workforce still has weaknesses, especially in defense, and the leaders are still looking to recruit a pivot (Clint Capela especially) who could have a real impact in this area.

QUESTIONS

– Can the Mavericks improve on defense?

It is no coincidence that Dallas tried to sign Matisse Thybulle (ultimately retained by the Blazers) and if interest in Clint Capela does not drop week after week. This team needs to strengthen in defense, the area that weighed on the results of the last campaign when progress had been observed in 2021/2022. The departure of Dorian Finney-Smith, to bring in Kyrie Irving, has done a lot of damage. The summer arrival of Grant Williams, to replace Christian Wood in particular, is obviously good news, but that does not raise all doubts.

If the Mavericks want to become a feared team again, which can go far in the playoffs, they will have to defend. For that, we must already find the desire, which will be essential, then then have the right men on the court to do it. A pivot and / or a winger with references in defense would clearly not be too much…

– The last chance season for Jason Kidd?

Even before the regular season was over, Mark Cuban was defending his coach in front of the press. “Jason Kidd is not really popular on Twitter… Yes, but Twitter is not reality. » The latter was quickly fixed on his fate: despite a failed season, he knows that he will lead the Mavericks at the start of the school year since the owner of the franchise believes that it is not his fault if Dallas sank. The tactician still has his share of responsibility.

Even if he is not on the pitch and the connection between Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving – big question mark at the time of the transfer – works rather well, it is up to him to defend his group, to make it more mature too. This summer, Nate McMillan was approached to come and support him and several new assistants will be at his side on the bench next season. There is no doubt that the pressure will be great on the shoulders of the former Milwaukee coach, especially if, as has been the case for several seasons, his team skates at the start of the exercise.