Washington Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma Says Dallas Mavericks ‘Don’t Play Winning Basketball’

After the Dallas Mavericks fell to the Washington Wizards at house Tuesday evening, 127-126, Wizards ahead Kyle Kuzma took to Twitter to chastise the Mavericks. “The humorous factor is that they don’t play profitable basketball,” Kuzma wrote, adopted by a string of emojis.

Kuzma was responding to a tweet from The Dallas Morning Information beat author Callie Caplan, who had quoted Mavericks guard Spencer Dinwiddie after the sport. “For them, it’s a showcase. They’re over there making an attempt to receives a commission, not making an attempt to play profitable basketball. For a group that has actual aspirations and has an MVP, went to the convention finals final 12 months, we’ve got to be higher to a person,” Dinwiddie mentioned.

Whereas Kuzma’s tweet expectedly went viral, his remarks aren’t completely with out advantage. The Mavericks haven’t been taking part in profitable basketball—not too long ago and for a lot of the season. Dropping Tuesday’s sport to Washington, who had simply traded Rui Hachimura and had been with out Kristaps Porzingis, is one other reminder that Dallas is heading within the improper course.

“Simply not getting the wins,” Mavericks star Luka Doncic mentioned about his frustrations after the sport. “We let a pair video games go.”

The Mavericks are 3-7 of their final 10 video games and have misplaced two in a row. Dallas dropped video games to the Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers (twice), Atlanta Hawks, Portland Path Blazers (twice) and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. The Clippers and Hawks are the one groups at the moment in playoff rivalry.

Dallas’ protection has suffered mightily in that span. It ranks twenty-seventh in league with a defensive ranking of 121.3. Solely the Charlotte Hornets, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs have a worse ranking of their final 10 video games. Every of these franchises is lottery-bound, vying for Victor Wembanyama.

It isn’t only a dreadful protection that’s doing Dallas in. The group can also’t make its free throws. Towards the Wizards, the Mavericks shot decently from the charity stripe, making 22 of their 26 makes an attempt. Nevertheless, they solely shoot 75.1% on the line of their final 10 video games, regardless of capturing free throws with the second-highest frequency within the league.

Issues are grim from a wins and losses perspective of late, however the temper within the locker room continues to be good, Dinwiddie says. He is aware of that the one place the group can look to position blame is with itself.

“I feel this is likely one of the highest character, extra close-knit groups I’ve been part of,” Dinwiddie mentioned. “Speaking about Theo [Pinson] and DP [Dwight Powell] and people guys rather a lot, simply by way of maintaining the temper strong. So far as the frustration and disappointment in ourselves, we will all look within the mirror with that very same maturity and acknowledge that we aren’t doing our jobs on the stage we’re able to.”

The Mavericks had been capable of flip their season round final 12 months, primarily as a result of a commerce with the Wizards that shipped out Porzingis and introduced in Dinwiddie. There’s no indication that one other season-saving commerce is on the horizon, but it surely’s obvious that the Dallas entrance workplace must do one thing to energise the group.

Kuzma’s condescending description completely defines the Mavericks at this time second. The group is mired in mediocrity and heading within the improper course. They sit one sport over .500 at 25-24 and are in peril of falling into the play-in match bracket. Dallas must put the loss to the Wizards—and different current disappointments—within the rearview mirror in the event that they hope to show issues round.

“I feel it may very well be disappointment,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd mentioned, describing the group’s temper. “Within the shootout, we had our probabilities. Give the Wizards credit score there for getting a cease on the finish of the sport. We had our probabilities coming down the stretch, and we simply couldn’t shut the door. However, the blokes fought. Disappointment, in all probability. It’s a sport we’ll be taught from and prepare for this street journey.”