Mavs need wins in tough West as Doncic and Irving struggle to grapple

Luka Doncic and Kairi Irving are just two games to figure out how to partner with the Dallas Mavericks, who are behind schedule due to last season’s surge that spurred a deep playoff race.

The Mavericks have no other choice but to win games while working off excesses from a tight Western Conference.

The difference between a first-round home court advantage and a total playoff absence is roughly three games, and second-year coach Jason Kidd is accepting that reality a year after a strong second half that sent the Mavs on their way to the finals in the West. .

“That would be the right time for that kick, but then again, with Kai we’re still getting to know each other,” Kidd said on Wednesday, as the club returned from the All-Star break with a practice the day before kickoff. six-game home position against San Antonio.

At the same time, Kidd smiled and referred to the last time Doncic and Irving were on the court with the Mavs, when they passed back and forth several times and missed in the final seconds of a 124-121 loss. Minnesota.

“There will be moments where you can see these two playing ball with each other,” Kidd said. “I hope it’s all over. One of them will shoot the ball, I guarantee.”

Irving missed the last game before the break with back strain, and Doncic’s solo was not enough in a 118-109 loss in Denver with Dallas trailing by a full 21 points.

Doncic was out of Irving’s debut with a heel injury that sidelined him for four games. The pair are 0-2 together, but injuries aside, Dallas can expect Doncic and Irving to be together on the court for most, if not all, of their 22 remaining games.

Center forward Dwight Powell is one of the starting players tasked with helping the new pair work.

“At the end of the day, I just have to be ready for the opportunities they create because the seriousness of these two is insane,” Powell said. “Having them at the same time, I really have to be ready for a lot of situations, and their creativity means I have to make decisions on the fly.

“It’s a lot of film. It’s getting used to the guys in training. But it’s one of those things that comes with time. Looking forward to how we all get together over the next few games.”

A year ago, the Mavs began to gain momentum towards the New Year, finishing fourth in the West and beating Utah twice without an injured Doncic in a six-game series won in the first round.

After beating Phoenix on the road in Game 7 of the West Semifinals, Dallas lost to Golden State in five games before the Warriors won the title.

The roster changed this season after Jalen Brunson, who played a huge role in the Utah win in the first round, left for New York on a free transfer. There was no such outburst.

The Mavs have plenty of time to return to where they finished in the standings last season, and maybe even higher if their All-Star team can reach their potential.

“It’s nice to see someone play the game as creatively as he does,” Powell said, referring to Irving but knowing he’d seen something similar from Doncic for five seasons. “Two guys who are at that level of skill excite us around them and give us crazy firepower. We must stay ready.”

Irving had 32 points, 15 assists and played 29 minutes at Team LeBron’s level in a 184–175 All-Star Game loss to Team Giannis. Doncic, LeBron’s teammate, played 19 minutes and scored four points.

Now the numbers will be more similar – both hit 20s on their debut together and 30s against the Timberwolves. And both will run for 40 minutes per game, another problem that Kidd needs to solve.

The future 24-year-old Doncic probably won’t play every minute after the break, which he did several times, staying head to head with Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid in the scoring race.

“For Kai, I think it’s just a matter of time on and off the court with the guys,” Kidd said. “With a break, everyone kind of goes their own way. We have 22 games left. Now we are talking about connecting not only on the floor, but also outside it. He is an adult. He knows how to do it.”

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