The Dallas Mavericks are no strangers to controversy. Once a powerhouse under Dirk Nowitzki, they’ve faced years of mediocrity since his departure. Even with Luka Doncic emerging as a superstar, the team struggled to make deep playoff runs. Remember when the Mavs fell in the first round twice to the LA Clippers during Doncic’s second and third seasons? Those were tough times for Dallas fans, and now, with critics buzzing, some are even saying the Mavericks are heading for disaster once again.
The Disrespect is Real: Are the Mavericks Heading for Disaster?
But things have changed—at least on paper. In the last three seasons, the Mavericks reached the Western Conference Finals twice and, for the first time since 2011, made it to the NBA Finals. With one of the best offseasons in years, Dallas stacked their roster, adding big names like Klay Thompson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Naji Marshall, and Quentin Grimes. You’d think the experts would be all in on their success, right? Think again.
Despite these moves, critics aren’t convinced. CBS’s recent NBA coach ranking put Jason Kidd at a dismal 18th place, a slap in the face to his achievements. But the real bombshell came from Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA champion, who boldly predicted that the Mavs would “crash and burn” this season. Talk about stirring the pot!
Perkins, on an episode of NBA Today, didn’t hold back. He claimed Thompson’s decline and Doncic’s fatigue after last year’s Finals would doom the team. “No one fears them anymore,” he declared, suggesting that teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers are poised to surpass Dallas.
But hold up. Is Perkins really seeing the whole picture? Sure, Thompson isn’t the unstoppable “Splash Brother” from his prime, but he still knocked down 38.7% of his threes last season and averaged nearly 18 points per game. In April alone, he shot a blistering 43.7% from deep. Doncic, meanwhile, delivered in the Finals, averaging 29.2 points on 47.2% shooting, all while nursing injuries like a knee sprain and sore Achilles.
And what about those Timberwolves and Lakers? Minnesota made minor tweaks, and the Lakers lost two key free agents to Dallas. It’s laughable to think they’ve made bigger strides than the Mavs. The truth? Perkins’ take feels more like an attention grab than a solid prediction.
As the scrutiny mounts, Dallas has every reason to prove their doubters wrong. With multiple chips on their shoulders, this might just be the fire that fuels their return to the Finals. The Mavericks are far from finished.
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