The Dallas Mavericks have struggled recently. They are on a two-game losing streak and have lost three of their last four games. Their only win came against a hobbled Chicago Bulls team last week. Some reasons for the team’s struggles include injuries and the Mavs’ inability to find consistency in their offense.
In simple terms, Dallas has an identity crisis after starting the first ten games with a .500 record. It also doesn’t help when key role players Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, and Dante Exum have missed extended time. All three players played a pivotal role in helping Dallas advance to the Western Conference Finals last year.
Other issues, can be traced to the Mavs’ bench. The team is struggling to find a dominant guard off the bench. Spencer Dinwiddie, Jaden Hardy, and Quentin Grimes have all spent some time in this role, but no one has been particularly superior. As of late though, Kidd has failed to utilize Grimes effectively, as he has seen a big dip in his minutes per game.
Mavericks should utilize Thompson more in the clutch
However, one big issue has been the team’s inability to connect on game-winning shots and finish strong in the clutch. Last Friday, Dallas had an opportunity to beat the Phoenix Suns with .8 seconds left on the clock. The team inbounded the ball to Luka Doncic who heaved a deep 3-pointer that fell just short.
On Sunday, the same sequence occurred. Dallas was down by two points, as Kyrie Irving got the final shot. Irving threw up a 25-foot 3-pointer with two defenders in his face. The shot hit the rim, and Dallas lost their second game in a row.
One solution to Dallas’ late-game tactics is to utilize Klay Thompson in some of these situations. Thompson is one of the top catch-and-shot guards in the league, and they have to start getting him involved more often. He connects on 44.9 percent of his attempts. He also shoots well when he touches the ball in a timespan of 2-6 seconds, as he converts 47.1 percent of his shots.
This is where Thompson comes into play. Dallas should consider straying away from so many isolation plays and moving the ball more to give Thompson some touches. It’s obvious defenses will be highly focused on Doncic and Irving. The team needs to focus on swinging the ball and allowing players like Thompson to sometimes shoot the final shot (if there is a significant amount of time on the clock).
Klay is also no stranger when it comes to game winners. He has hit many clutch shots in his career, as he is one of the most dangerous shooters in league history.
One of his most recent game-winning shots came last November when he played for the Golden State Warriors. Last year, Thompson knocked down a critical mid-range shot with .2 seconds on the clock to give Golden State a last-minute victory over the Sacramento Kings.
It is no wonder Mavs fans were calling for coach Jason Kidd to get Thompson early touches. This strategy worked last week, as he hit a couple of shots early to help Dallas take an early lead against the Bulls.
Thompson could be the solution to help Dallas close out late-game situations. His clutch gene and key shooting might be the alternative to getting the Mavs back on track. This isn’t to say that Doncic and Irving shouldn’t get plays drawn up for them in the clutch at all, but Dallas’ lack of creativity has hurt them at the end of games for years, and it’s time to get innovative and get Thompson involved as well. He has already hit some timely 3-pointers in the fourth quarter even after being cold in those games this season, and he’s the type of player who defenses can never leave open.
Thompson will face his biggest test on Tuesday when he matches up against his former team. Look for Dallas to end the snap losing streak as they face off against the Warriors. This will mark the first NBA Cup match for Dallas.
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