The Dallas Mavericks were defeated 130-104 by the Denver Nuggets on Monday, handing the team a significant defeat. In addition, All-Star Luka Doncic contributed with a double-double of 38 points and 11 rebounds.
With 11 points on 100 percent shooting on Monday, Dante Exum was the Mavs’ second-highest scorer. The guard has scored 10 points or more in six straight games going into this one.
But aside from Doncic and Exum, Dallas had trouble getting points from the other players on the club.
The Mavericks defense shows the team still needs to fill a significant deficiency.
What then appears to be the issue? Is it possible that Dallas only made 33 percent of their 3-pointers? How is the defense of the squad doing? Could it function successfully without Dereck Lively, the rookie?
To begin with, Denver was able to shoot 53.8 percent from beyond the arc thanks to the Mavs’ defense. Additionally, the Nuggets made 56.3% of their field goals.
The primary conflict occurred within the paint. Dallas was outrebounded 37–28 on defense and gave up 60 points in the low post to the Nuggets.
What’s actually wrong? The news that rookie Dereck Lively II would miss time due to a left ankle sprain hurt the Mavs’ defense. The injury occurred on Saturday during the first quarter of the Dallas rookie’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Dallas Mavericks need to find a big man who can dominate the paint and prevent the opposition from getting so many easy points in the low post now that Lively II is out. But that’s the problem. There isn’t a substitute center on the squad that can match Lively’s effort.
Dwight Powell is the Mavs’ backup center on paper. Powell has been the team’s starting center for the last two seasons, so he is becoming used to this job. He started 64 of the 76 games he played in the previous season.
With all due respect, Powell is not the same as Lively II in this regard. He can hustle and rim roll the ball well, but he has trouble stopping the opposition. A rim protector with perimeter switching capabilities, Lively II can free up space below the surface.
What worries me is the defense. A comparison of the Mavs’ defense with Lively II both on and off the court was published by the Dallas Morning News earlier this month. (Requires subscription) Dallas’s defensive rating is 110.7 when Lively II is on the court, according to the article. When he isn’t playing, the team’s rating is 114.8.
Therefore, without Lively II, the Mavs’ defense is almost nonexistent.
In terms of defensive rating, the Dallas Mavericks are currently ranked 23rd in the league. Compared to last season, this is a two-spot rise. I think Lively II is mostly to blame for this.
Dallas needs to locate another big player with a skill set comparable to Lively II’s if it wants to go deep into the playoffs.
Is Isaiah Stewart, the center for the Detroit Pistons, a possibility? We’ll have to hold off and see.
Keep checking back for the most recent information on Dereck Lively II and the Dallas Mavericks this season.
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