Dallas Mavericks face a hard task without Kristaps Porzingis

Dallas Mavericks face a tough task of topping the Clippers without Kristaps Porzingis

The Dallas Mavericks are fresh off a blowout loss in game five. The series continues on Sunday afternoon. The Mavs have to win to keep their season going.

Following an incredible victory in game four, it was too much to ask Dallas to win another game without Kristaps Porzingis. No one was prepared for what happened. The Mavericks were crushed by the LA Clippers, who should have been demoralized and vulnerable after the previous heart-breaking loss. Instead, they bounced back and destroyed the Mavs by 43 points.

It is evident that the Dallas Mavericks’ playoff run gets tough without Porzinigs, who was diagnosed with a meniscus tear in his right knee and ruled out for the rest of the series.

Dallas Mavericks face an uphill battle in defeating the Clippers without Kristaps Porzingis

Luka Doncic needs his star mate to drag the team and snatch a win in game six. While the Unicorn’s offensive contribution is undeniable (23.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in the series), Doncic can manage to handle the offense and make it productive with the help of his teammates. Where the Latvian is most missed is on defense.

In the regular season, he led the team in blocks per game, defensive rating, defensive win shares, and block percentage. His ability to protect the paint, defend on the perimeter, and switch on pick and rolls is strongly missed against the versatile Clippers.

The Mavericks’ defensive rating has gone from 111.2 in the regular season to 122.9 in the playoffs. Porzingis’ has followed suit in the three postseason games. As bad as Dallas’ defense might be, it gets worse without KP.

On offense, he would attract more attention from Clippers’ defense. That frees his teammates. Porzingis could share the load with Doncic, who is playing through a sprained ankle.

The Dallas Mavericks must be cautious with KP’s long-term health. They are doing the right thing not taking any chance on it. Although it would be great to see him on the floor and upset the second-seed Clippers, the future is the priority for this young team. They have just scratched the surface of their potential and must not put at risk the career of one of their stars.