Despite Kyrie Irving’s breakout, the Dallas Mavericks lost with another red flag on defense

His first two games Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas They have not gone as the fans of the team expected. Although yes, as we could guess, according to the new equipment configuration: overwhelming talent in attack, but too many problems in defence. The rest for now? two meetings two losses. First against the Kings and this Monday against Minnesota at home, 124-121 liar.

The Timberwolves dominated the matchup at will until the final period, where Irving went on one of those classic streaks for him: 26 points! in the fourth quarter to tie the score and give the Texans prospects for a memorable comeback.

In fact, Dallas got to have the last possession, with a difference of three, but neither Irving nor Doncic dared to go to the finals. In a rather flashy performance, both passed the ball on several consecutive occasions on the perimeter, reaching zero on the clock without attempting the potential game-tying 3-pointer. They sinned distractedly, which obviously isn’t often seen in two rampaging goalscorers of his style. Although of course, it was thanks to them that the Mavs reached the end: 36 Irving, 33 Doncic.

Losing aside, the Mavs’ defensive performance has to be concerning. They allowed 133 points (with overtime) in the first Irving-Doncic and 124 in the second. For large areas, the table is completely freed for the attacks of Anthony Edwards (32 points) and up Rudy Gobert (21 points).

Dallas’ lack of rim protection is concerning and there is no fix (although the return of Maxi Kleber should help). They are the fourth team with fewest blocks per game and against the Timberwolves they just added one thanks to none other than Kyrie Irving. Additionally, they lost the battle on the boards 39-33.

Knowing this lack of answers from his interior players (although Christian Wood, 24 points, gives them on offense), Jason Kidd is betting more and more on quintets small ball. Already opens the game with Josh Green and Reggie Bullock (two guards by nature) in positions 3 and 4, to then go long stretches without even large in the country.

The problem is that the second unit options for these series of small ball not very encouraging for Dallas. Kidd had to resort to French Frank Dilikina and strangely there is more and more room for Theo Pinson: Added his fifth straight game in double-digit minutes, when until recently he was someone known simply for his looks cheerleader from the Mavericks bench. Pinson’s performance, pitching air balls on open 3s and missing layups, explains why he had that point.

After all, Dallas will have to do its thing offensive talent (he has it to spare) weighs more than a few defensive problems which they probably won’t be able to eliminate for the rest of 2022-2023.

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