The Mavs are considering shutting down their two best players — Kyrie Irving and Luka as the playoffs seem increasingly out of reach.
According to Shams Charania, the Mavs are considering shutting down Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic as making the playoffs seem unlikely. The Mavs have a top-10 protection on their pick this season — it goes to the Knicks if not in the top 10. This pick was traded as a part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
Recent losses to the Heat and Hawks have made a chance to get into the play-in a bit unlikely. Dallas does have a favorable schedule over their last three games playing the Bulls and Spurs while having one more hard game in the Kings (who may not be playing for anything at that point in real reality). Missing the playoffs gives them a chance to move up in the draft lottery and perhaps keep their pick.
Will the Mavs and Luka Doncic really miss the playoffs?
Still, the Mavs are only a game back of the last spot in the play-in and Thunder have a harder schedule than them the rest of the way. The Thunder are finishing off the season with the Warriors, Grizzlies, and Jazz. Even if they can get to the play-in, this team isn’t simply good enough to beat Lakers, Pelicans, or Warriors (if they fall; or in the craziest scenario; Clippers).
Things in Dallas are not looking great for a team that looked like it was going to get past the first round at least and have a chance to get to the Western Conference Finals. Lack of defense, amongst other issues, has led Dallas to perhaps an early vacation and lots of questions.
As reported by Tim MacMahon, Luka wants to play for the play-in. While this is just competitiveness at the end of the day the Mavs are at best a play-in tournament team based on recent evidence. Even if they were able to get out of the tournament, they would not beat the Nuggets or the Grizzles in the first round of the playoffs.
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