The Dallas Mavericks struggled to score during Sunday’s blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors, bringing their three-game winning streak to an end.
Currently, the Mavericks are in a tough two-game road stretch. They’ll need to stay focused, as back-to-back emotionally charged away games await them. Facing the Warriors, they had to contend with the energy from Andre Iguodala’s jersey retirement, which fueled Golden State. Now, they must prepare for another challenge—Luka Dončić facing the Mavericks for the first time in his career when Dallas plays in Los Angeles tomorrow.
This matchup has been circled on both teams’ calendars ever since the blockbuster trade in early February. Many fans are still puzzled by the move, and while some have questioned it for a while, injuries to Dallas’ big men appear to be improving.
At the trade deadline, Dallas bolstered its frontcourt by acquiring Anthony Davis but sacrificed backcourt depth. Quentin Grimes was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Caleb Martin, a proven 3-and-D forward with significant playoff experience. However, losing Grimes may have been a bigger setback than many initially thought.
Losing Dončić and Grimes Leaves a Major Shot-Creation Void
The trade significantly impacted the Mavericks’ offense—not just because Dončić is gone, but because the team lost key shot creators. Their struggles were evident in the game against Golden State, and the same issues could surface against other opponents.
Grimes’ contributions didn’t go unnoticed, as he was performing at a high level in a Mavericks uniform.
His ability to create shots on his own gave Dallas multiple options late in the shot clock. That absence was glaring in the loss to Golden State, where the team looked lost on offense. With defenders relentlessly double-teaming Kyrie Irving, he had few reliable outlets.
Of course, losing Dončić was a massive blow. His elite playmaking created high-quality looks for his teammates all over the floor. While his impact is undeniable, Grimes provided an extra scoring threat, and his absence was felt in the lopsided defeat.
During his time in Dallas, Grimes proved to be more than just a 3-and-D player—his ability to score off the dribble was vastly underrated. The Mavericks are already feeling the effects of his departure, while he has been thriving in Philadelphia.
At 32 years old, Irving being forced to battle double teams all game is not ideal for his endurance. The Mavericks needed more young shot creators to ease the burden. Once Davis returns, running more pick-and-rolls with him could help compensate for the team’s diminished shot-making options.
