THE Dallas Mavericks finished the 2020-21 NBA season with the seventh best defense in the league. Last season, that fell to the 25th defense. They have improved slightly this year and currently sit in 22nd place out of 30 teams.
Winning an NBA championship requires elite production on both ends of the court. Until Jason Kidd’s Mavs can address their defensive woes, they are doomed to failure in pursuit of the ultimate goal.
On Monday, ESPN’s Tim Legler questioned the Mavericks’ commitment.
āIām just going to call them,ā Legler said. “They’re not playing hard enough. It’s that simple. They’re not playing defensively the way they need to be considered a legitimate contender. They have everything they need offensively, every night, to go to the -ahead. play any team in this league…They don’t compete on the defensive side of the field to the extent you need them to. Plain and simple…If they don’t, they go home them earlier.
Dallas has a top 10 offense. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are a superstar duo. They can both win matches with their incredible scoring abilities. However, neither is known to be a solid defensive force. The Mavericks lack legitimate defenders.
PJ Washington was acquired to provide some versatility on that side of the court, but has never been seen among the NBA’s elite 3-and-D players.
To win in the NBA, you need balance. You need defensive-minded players. Doncic and Irving need versatile wing defenders and rim protectors to bolster them on offense. They must be sure that missed shots will not quickly trigger an opponent’s offensive.
Derek Lively II will undoubtedly become a top rim protector. However, there are only so many expectations you can put on the shoulders of the starting big man.
Dallas failed to make a significant improvement on defense at the trade deadline. Kidd will have to galvanize the players at his disposal. He has to sell them by digging deep on the defensive end.
Otherwise, it will be another lost season in the Doncic era. The Mavericks can’t afford it. Not if they want to keep their generational talent happy and engaged with the franchise.
