Two latest losses have raised a million-dollar query for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder — have they got a match downside towards the Dallas Mavericks? The reply have to be nuanced after OKC completed its common season collection towards Dallas with a disheartening 1-3 report.
The Thunder are just about on the prime of the West with a 36-8 report. However the depleted Mavericks are liable for three of their eight losses. Coupled with final yr’s playoff elimination, this brought on panic amongst OKC followers.
On a micro stage, these have been two victories obtained for the Thunder. With out Luka Doncic, the Mavericks fell within the standings. They’ve gone 5-11 since he suffered a calf pressure on Christmas. They’re on the verge of lacking the playoffs altogether. They’re only one.5 video games forward of the eleventh seed with three months remaining. The frustration is comprehensible after OKC knocked out higher groups left and proper.
The Thunder, on the very least, ought to have received their 121-115 defeat in Dallas. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams are sufficient to beat Kyrie Irving. They entered as double-digit favorites however left a stink.
THE Defeat 106-98 to the Mavericks is lots simpler to digest due to Gilgeous-Alexander’s shock absence, however that does not make it any much less annoying for OKC followers — one thing Dallas has accomplished an important job of doing since final yr.
The Mavericks have been the most effective within the league at stepping into OKC’s footwear. Each match concerned a combat. Technical fouls are handed out like free sweet to each side. Lu Dort was even ejected for the primary time in his profession after hitting Daniel Gafford within the groin whereas attempting to get via a display.
The all-pro Thunder have been compelled to combat again towards the Mavericks, who outplayed the bodily OKC of their video games towards one another. They tried to be on prime of that, however generally a staff has to combat mud with mud. To their credit score, the Thunder did it of their final loss. Regardless that OKC downplays the rivalry, Dallas has been a psychological impediment for the reason that playoffs. Step one to breaking that is to push again. The subsequent step is to browse the dashboard and style the much-needed wins.
In need of a playoff rematch, that will not occur this season. However the subsequent time they meet, OKC ought to achieve this with a wholesome twin lineup. In any case, the Thunder’s destruction of Chet Holmgren’s taking part in minutes in final yr’s playoffs was one of many foremost motivations for including Isaiah Hartenstein. Theoretically, they’ll now not should endure this. Not less than one might be current on the bottom always.
This also needs to assist restrict Washington’s impression. It is no coincidence that he went out in all three video games towards OKC with no true middle. The Thunder realized their lesson and added Hartenstein to place that apart. His on-field antics will not have the identical impact if he cannot again them up on the sphere. As an alternative of battling within the paint towards OKC’s smaller bench wings, he’ll should battle towards Williams, Hartenstein and Holmgren. He has no weak factors to assault.
On the macro stage, these 4 confrontations imply nothing. Too many necessary variables have been lacking on each side. Holmgren missed all 4 video games; Doncic and Hartenstein every missed three video games; Gilgeous-Alexander missed one sport; Derek Full of life II has missed the final two video games.
Even the actors have been injured. Washington, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Joe and Ajay Mitchell all missed no less than one sport. Irving and Williams have been the one conventional starters to decorate and play all 4 video games with out interruption.
It wasn’t any worse than their final common season sport. The Thunder have been compelled to play Dillon Jones and Jaylin Williams within the clutch. For the Mavericks, they began Kessler Edwards and dusted off Markieff Morris. All 4 seemingly will not see time on the sphere with each groups being wholesome.
It is honest to say that the Mavericks might be a playoff nightmare – particularly towards rising playoff gamers like Doncic and Irving. However basing that on these 4 video games is a mistake. Too many necessary issues got here out in every match on each side to attract any massive conclusions.
Utilizing final yr’s playoff collection additionally matches this class. Each groups have advanced since then. Josh Giddey is now not in OKC and Derrick Jones Jr. used his profession season to land an enormous take care of the LA Clippers. Gilgeous-Alexander has additionally taken the following step in his stardom and the hole between him and Doncic is the smallest it has ever been.
Whereas Mavericks followers take a victory lap for his or her three wins, Thunder followers ought to keep calm and consider these video games in a vacuum as irrelevant – albeit boring – losses full of caveats for a staff that rapidly rose via the ranks as his most hated rival.
This text was initially printed on OKC Thunder Wire: Do the OKC Thunder have an issue with the Dallas Mavericks?
