A HARSH DECISION: Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd Has Suspended Three Top Star After Shocking Game 1 Loss

The NBA Playoffs are officially underway, but the Dallas Mavericks appeared to have no idea on Sunday. The Mavericks were a complete no-show against the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers, scoring only 30 points in the first half before being chased out of the arena.

This was not the way Dallas wanted to start the series. The Mavericks were one of the hottest teams in the league during the last month, and they had all the momentum in the world. With Kawhi Leonard’s injury on the other side, Dallas was anticipated to win Game 1. By failing to appear, they made Game 2 a must-win situation for themselves.

Kawhi Leonard’s status is questionable, but he has been practicing. He will most likely return for Game 2 or 3. When Leonard returns to Dallas, the Mavericks must hold a one-game series lead. However, for that to happen, a couple of players must perform significantly better. Otherwise, their positions and futures with the Mavs will be jeopardized.

1. Daniel Gafford.
The Washington Wizards acquired Gafford in the middle of the season to bolster their centre rotation as youngster Dereck Lively was still adjusting. The Mavericks were looking for rim protection and interior presence from Gafford, but that has not yet materialized.

Gafford was ineffective in Game 1 against the Clippers. He drew two fast fouls in three minutes to begin the game and never settled into a rhythm, finishing with three points and zero rebounds on 1/4 shooting from the floor in 14 minutes. Ivica Zubac, the Clippers’ centre, controlled the paint with 20 points and 15 rebounds in the contest.

Gafford must play considerably better in the upcoming game. He cannot afford to be physically overwhelmed by Zubac again. Otherwise, the Mavericks might be better off giving Lively more minutes or playing small for longer stretches.

2. Max Kleber.

In his prime, Maxi Kleber was one of the league’s most underappreciated 3-and-D power forwards. He could guard several places on defence and make shots on the other end, allowing Dallas to use switchable small-ball lineups. However, injuries have taken their toll on the 32-year-old, as he has missed more than half of the regular-season games over the last two seasons.

Game 1 against the Clippers revealed even more of his deterioration in performance. He remains a competent defender, and he played well as Dallas’ small-ball centre on Sunday. In fact, the Mavericks were +6 throughout his 27 minutes.

However, his attacking game is currently non-existent. He was 1/5 from the field and 0/3 from downtown. Given that he only made 34.8% of his three-point attempts this season, the Clippers were leaving him plenty of room to pack the paint. This created serious spacing concerns for the Mavericks.

Dallas’ inability to score was due in large part to a lack of shooting threats and spacing. They shot 30% from three as a team and failed to reach 100 points. Unfortunately, Kleber played a significant role in this.

Unless he starts making shots and forces the Clippers to guard him, Kleber will struggle to play extended minutes. Because, unlike Gafford and Lively, he is neither a lob threat nor an inside finisher. One of the most important concerns for coach Jason Kidd to answer is how many minutes his frontcourt players will play.

3. Derrick Jones, Jr.

Derrick Jones Jr., another member of the Mavs rotation, is playing for defensive reasons. Jones spent time protecting James Harden in addition to his primary matchup against Paul George. When Kawhi Leonard returns, he will play a significant part in attempting to slow him down.

However, the 27-year-old attacker struggled with his task on Sunday. Harden and George both had good games.

However, Jones’ major issue is on the attacking end. His limits and hesitancy to shoot are causing all sorts of issues for the Mavericks. They left Jones wide open, just like the Clippers do with Kleber, and he can’t make them pay. He shot 0/4 from the field and 0/1 from three in 18 minutes, finishing with no points, one rebound, and one assist.

Having non-shooters at your centre is one thing. Gafford and Lively’s lack of threats outside the paint is manageable. However, when your small forward refuses to take three-pointers, the entire offense’s rhythm is disrupted. Jones’ shot improved this season, increasing to 34.3% from downtown. However, defences still do not respect him, which might be a major liability in the playoffs.

This exposes the Mavs’ lack of two-way guys. Jason Kidd must strike the appropriate balance between trading shooting for defence and vice versa. Either Jones improves significantly quickly, or Kidd will face difficult options regarding playing time.

The Mavericks are currently a little underdog (+116) to win the series against the Clippers. Go to FanDuel Sportsbook right now to get in on the action. Don’t forget to take advantage of your $150 sign-up bonus after your first $5 wager.