The Mavericks were 1-3 this past week and did not move from 13th place in the West. They split their short road trip to the Pacific Northwest with a loss in Denver (142-135) and a win in Portland (100-93). They then got blown out twice with losses at home to Minnesota (124-94) and in Milwaukee (123-99). Naji Marshall led the team in scoring with 20.5 points per game. Marshall and P.J. Washington both missed the last two games.
Grade: F
It is hard to sugarcoat the barf stew that the Mavericks are right now.
They eclipsed 101 points once this week and played two of the least competitive games of the year. The physicality allowed has clearly taken a jump as the refs prepare for the postseason, which has effectively given Cooper Flagg his first taste at playoff officiating. This has resulted in 11-of-38 shooting for him the last two games, and it’s played no small part in Dallas getting run off the floor in both contests.
At the very least, the Mavericks are now in sole possession of the sixth-best odds for the top pick in the draft, which comes with a 37-ish percent chance to move up to the top four. The Mavericks have just two games this week, at home against the Magic and the Lakers. A third Luka Doncic homecoming should provide a much-needed serotonin boost as Dallas will likely limp to the finish line.
Straight A’s: John Poulakidas
Full stop, the Mavericks should sign John Poulakidas. He may not have crazy statistics, but I have seen enough. We knew he was a knock-down shooter off the catch, but the creation of his own shot in limited opportunity is something new and exciting. He has the step-back in his bag and can attack a closeout if he needs to. Cooper Flagg needs shooting around him, and if they decide to move on from their current wings, Poulakidas can provide a much-needed utility.
Currently Failing: Seller’s remorse
Mark Cuban was recently on a podcast where he dropped a plethora of not-so-inspiring quotes. The first one that made the rounds expressed his regret, not for selling the team, but for selling it specifically to Miriam Adelson & Co. If you connect the dots from the beginning, this outcome was inevitable. Cuban’s vision for a casino-arena venue was never rooted in reality, as Texas does not have legal gambling or the right politicians in office to push for it. That left Cuban selling to a family that he had little in common with and an understanding that the team governor he was handing the keys to couldn’t even correctly name the NBA Finals. It was always going to be a disaster, and Cuban confirmed this out loud for the first time. The trade that sent Doncic to Los Angeles was ultimately an extension of that disconnect.
Extra Credit: Cooper Flagg
It is hard to give anyone credit for anything right now, but I don’t think it should be taken for granted that Cooper Flagg is playing back-to-backs. The NBA has a toxic rest culture, and in a league where uncertainty is both the selling point and the downfall, Flagg is providing a steady reason to tune in to the Mavericks nightly. Like they say, “it ain’t much, but it’s honest work.”
