The Dallas Mavericks fell to their second loss in three days to the Memphis Grizzlies, playing both games without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Dillon Brooks had called out Doncic and Irving before the first game between the two, as the two players recover from minor injuries. Brooks hit a big 3 in tonight’s game and blew a kiss to the crowd, in the same direction that Doncic and Irving were sitting.
Dillon Brooks hits a sidestep three and then blows a kiss to the crowd and Luka and Kyrie lmaooooo he's on a heater pic.twitter.com/b4gBO69qdx
— eric (@EricTweetsNBA) March 14, 2023
Doncic smiled and stood up after the incident but naturally couldn’t do anything on the bench. Luka tends to have really strong games whenever he’s playing after being disrespected by someone. His career-long performances against the Clippers, 2022 playoffs against the Suns, and recent 53-point game against Detroit are examples of that.
Brooks is an instigator and earned the right to trash-talk tonight. Whether he successfully guards Irving or Doncic whenever these players meet next is another question altogether.
The Mavericks Season Looks Ruined
The Mavericks are 34-35 now, falling to below .500 after tonight’s loss. They’re currently the 9th seed, sitting safely as the 5th seed just a week ago. They started 2023 in contention for the top 3 seeds in the West, so their fall-off has been dramatic and really ugly.
Jason Kidd has antagonized the fanbase, with #FireKidd trending on Twitter after their loss tonight. Analyst Kevin O’Connor openly called Kidd one of the worst coaches in the NBA, and it is showing now. He hasn’t been able to figure out a system that can maximize the dynamic offense Luka and Irving can create.
The roster this season also seems weak, especially after the loss of Dorian Finney-Smith, their primary defender. The refusal to give Christian Wood minutes over Dwight Powell, the lack of athletic wings on the roster, and the wear-and-tear that Doncic’s body is feeling after a historic start to the season has put the Mavs in danger of missing the playoffs.
If Kyrie Irving re-signs, Dallas needs to have a strong offseason and give Doncic the tools he needs to actually compete for a championship.
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