The Dallas Mavericks’ experiment of pairing up Luka Doncic with Kyrie Irving has seriously backfired. They are currently the 11th seed in the Western Conference, hoping to advance to the postseason almost over.
Many have blamed Kyrie Irving for the Mavs’ downfall this season, but NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith believes Luka Doncic is the biggest problem for the team this season.
“I don’t have a single negative syllable to utter about Kyrie Irving. He is not the problem in Dallas,” Smith said. “He has brought to Dallas what you brought him to Dallas to do. Luka is the one, dare I say, that has a huge question mark hovering over him, and it’s nothing statistical. … Luka gets 41, and they lose the game. Luka’s not only depressed after the game, he looks depressed during the game.
“You talk about a level of demoralization that has kicked in, this is one of the things I was told before Kyrie Irving ever played a game: ‘We’re gonna find out about Luka as a leader.’ And I don’t recall seeing a player that looked in better shape at the beginning of the season than they look during the season. Luka’s gotten heavier! I haven’t spoken to anybody in Dallas, but there’s something going on. In terms of galvanizing the troops, maximizing potential around him, and leading, he is sorely lacking.”
.@stephenasmith talks about what is going on in Dallas:
"I don't have a single negative syllable to utter about Kyrie Irving. He is not the problem in Dallas. … Luka is the one, dare I say, that has a huge question mark hovering over him, and it's nothing statistical." pic.twitter.com/w8XZ91FUtU
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 3, 2023
Luka Doncic has averaged 32.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 8.1 APG this season. So Luka’s stats are certainly not an issue for the struggling Mavericks.
It’s his depressed body language that is affecting the morale of the team. Doncic recently admitted his frustration about the team, and things have seemingly only gotten worse for the European superstar.
The Mavericks Are Considering Shutting Down Luka Doncic And Kyrie Irving For The Season
The Mavericks have three games left to be played in the 2022-23 NBA season. With a 37-42 record, the Mavs have a minimal chance of clinching the 10th seed in the West, thus advancing to the play-in tournament.
But that shot also depends on how the Oklahoma City Thunder perform in their remaining schedule for the season. Keeping that in mind, NBA analyst Shams Charania believes the Mavs may shut down the dynamic duo for the last three games of the season.
“I think the Mavericks have to seriously look at whether you shut down Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving these last three games of the regular season,” reported Shams Charania. “This is a team that is one game out of the play-in behind Oklahoma City and OKC has the tie-breaker over them so they are essentially two games out of the play-in with just four games left. You have to see what happens with Utah and Oklahoma City between now and Wednesday when the Mavs play at home against the Kings. I’m told the organization is seriously considering shutting down those three guys.”
If the Mavericks indeed decide to rest Luka and Kyrie for the final games of the season, they will be essentially hoping to land a lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
The Mavs are all set to play the Sacramento Kings next, and fans will find out whether Charania’s report is correct or not a couple of hours before the game.
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