With too many lost balls and a very permeable defense, the Mavericks gave in to the Sixers. This is a fourth defeat in five matches. Is this a consequence of the failed “road trip” to the East, after the All-Star Game? Is the team tired?
“There are 29 other teams that have the same schedule, so that’s not an excuse,” replies Luka Doncicwho then concedes physical and mental fatigue. “I think it’s a bit of both. We have to be energetic from the first minute of the match. I can do better and, as others follow me, I must do better. »
If there is concern in Dallas, it is not only because of the setbacks, but also because of the liabilities. Last season, on February 10, 2023 exactly, the Mavericks had a record of 31 wins for 26 losses. The following ? 18 defeats in 25 matches and an end to the season without a play-in or playoffs.
So obviously, when, on February 22, Luka Doncic and his gang are at 33-23 and since then, they have only won one game out of the last five, the parallel naturally returns.
“We know what happened last year, we didn’t manage to finish well and we felt lousy”remembers Kyrie Irving. “We know what it’s like to have external pressure, with our fans. Afterwards, for some, it's new to have a target on their back. »
Kyrie Irving remains positive
Transferred to Texas on February 6, 2023, the leader symbolized this fall during the last two months of the competition. This year, there is no exchange of this magnitude to digest. Is this a reason for hope?
“We will share our experiences and say that everything will go well,” positive the 2016 champion with Cleveland. “And that goes for those watching: it’s going to be okay, we’re going to get through this. We have to have confidence in ourselves, we will do the work to win these matches. We already did it. We had a little drop in performance away from home, but we're coming back home and if we missed out in this match, it's our fault. »
In this dense Western Conference, things will move very quickly. Ten days ago, the Mavericks were in sixth place, very close to fifth, owned by the Pelicans. Today, they are in eighth place with the Warriors and Lakers just 1.5 wins behind them.
“We, the players, must take our responsibilities. We have to bring this energy. No more excuses. We have 21 matches left to play. We know what position we are in”concludes Kyrie Irving.
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Luka Doncic | 52 | 37.4 | 49.6 | 37.9 | 78.1 | 0.8 | 8.1 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 34.5 |
| Kyrie Irving | 38 | 34.2 | 49.1 | 41.8 | 89.1 | 0.8 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 25.7 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 57 | 29.3 | 41.3 | 36.3 | 87.5 | 0.3 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 16.7 |
| Pj Washington | 8 | 31.4 | 44.6 | 30.2 | 44.4 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 11.4 |
| Daniel Gafford | 8 | 17.3 | 64.6 | 0.0 | 75.0 | 2.8 | 4.4 | 7.1 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 9.3 |
| Derek Lively II | 42 | 25.0 | 75.1 | 0.0 | 52.9 | 2.7 | 4.7 | 7.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 9.1 |
| Derrick Jones | 55 | 24.2 | 48.1 | 33.9 | 72.9 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 8.9 |
| Dante Exum | 34 | 19.5 | 56.2 | 47.8 | 72.9 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 8.9 |
| Josh Green | 47 | 27.5 | 48.9 | 41.0 | 66.0 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.0 | 8.9 |
| Grant Williams | 47 | 26.4 | 41.3 | 37.6 | 74.5 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2.9 | 8.1 |
| Jaden Hardy | 54 | 14.8 | 40.7 | 36.5 | 71.7 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 7.8 |
| Dexter Dennis | 4 | 7.5 | 52.6 | 12.5 | 33.3 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 5.5 |
| Maxi Kleber | 23 | 22.1 | 44.8 | 35.7 | 63.0 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 5.3 |
| Seth Curry | 36 | 12.7 | 37.2 | 36.3 | 89.5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 4.3 |
| Dwight Powell | 50 | 14.7 | 70.5 | 50.0 | 72.3 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 3.9 |
| Aj Lawson | 28 | 8.3 | 47.1 | 32.5 | 63.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 3.8 |
| Richaun Holmes | 23 | 10.3 | 55.9 | 0.0 | 57.1 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 3.4 |
| Olivier-maxence Prosper | 33 | 7.9 | 35.1 | 23.5 | 67.6 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| Markieff Morris | 18 | 8.9 | 32.7 | 33.3 | 75.0 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 2.5 |
| Greg Brown III | 6 | 6.6 | 45.5 | 33.3 | 44.4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.5 |
| Brandon Williams | 12 | 4.9 | 36.4 | 33.3 | 54.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.0 |
