The NBA Playoffs just exposed the Mavericks' fatal flaw

If the 2026 NBA Playoffs have proven anything, it's that teams must have multiple creators to be a true contender. Dallas Mavericks fans know this well after watching Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic lead them to the 2024 NBA Finals, and since Doncic was traded, Dallas has had a massive shot-creation and playmaking hole.

These playoff teams are showing Dallas the blueprint

Just take a look at the teams that are leading 1-0 in their series. Many of them have a surplus of playmaking, while some teams trailing have a deficiency in this area.

The Detroit Pistons, the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference, just lost Game 1 to the Orlando Magic due to not having enough offense. Cade Cunningham had 39 points, but no one else outside of Tobias Harris had more than 10 points. Additionally, no one had more than four assists.

The Pistons have been one of the best teams in the league all season, but were exposed in their first playoff game. Jalen Duren and Cunningham can only get them so far, and they're likely wishing that they had gotten Cunningham some help.

The playoffs are a different ball game, and if Dallas doesn't add more shot creation, they're going to get played off the floor in the postseason as soon as next season.

This rule almost always holds true, and the Mavericks have to find another player who can create for themselves and others to play alongside Irving and Cooper Flagg. The rookie phenom showed incredible growth as the season progressed, but without someone to create for him, he struggled at times.

Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving aren't enough

Flagg needs a lead creator to play with, and the 2025-26 season showed this.

Without Irving, Dallas' season went south quickly.

Ryan Nembhard and Brandon Williams shouldered the majority of the backcourt burden, and while both players proved that they should remain on the roster next season, they weren't enough to make up for Irving's absence. The Mavericks' bet on defense and size over playmaking and shooting blew up in their face, and they can't make a similar gamble as the Flagg era officially begins next season.

They have the MLE, a trade exception, and multiple draft picks to fix this issue, giving them an incredible shot at doing so.

With Irving and Flagg, the Mavericks will be in a much better position. But not adding someone to help them out won't suffice. They have to look elsewhere to add more creation, and if they address this problem adequately, Dallas could find themselves back in the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2024.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow