3 most disappointing Mavericks as NBA season winds down

The Dallas Mavericks are fighting for playoff position in the crowded Western Conference. They are currently three games behind the third-seeded Kings and just three games up on the 12th-place Trail Blazers. Anything can happen over the final six weeks of the regular season, but Dallas is betting on themselves after the blockbuster trade to acquire Kyrie Irving.

It has been an up-and-down season for the Mavs. Luka Doncic is the league’s leading scorer, and he has played like the MVP all year, but the team around him has not been good enough. Losing Jalen Brunson has hurt, and Dallas is hoping that the addition of Kyrie Irving can be the boost they need to make another deep postseason run.

What Mavericks have disappointed this season? Who is not playing well? Surprisingly most of the team’s rotation players have met or exceeded expectations, but here are three that are not producing when their opportunities arise.

Most disappointing Dallas Mavericks: 3. Theo Pinson

Pinson signed a ten-day contract with the Mavericks last season during their COVID outbreak, and he never left. He eventually inked a two-way contract, and the 6’5 wing caused so much havoc from the bench during the postseason that the NBA changed a rule because of him.

Dallas re-signed Pinson this summer as an end of the bench option, but they have needed him to play more than expected. In his career-high 33 games played, Pinson is averaging 1.9 points and 1.2 rebounds in 7.2 minutes per game. He is shooting 33.9 percent from the field and 35.7 percent on his threes.

The Dallas Mavericks' defense has been disappointing, and Theo cannot make the same impact from the bench because of the new rule. His on-court play has been inadequate, and the team needs more whenever his number gets called.