There have been a lot of ups and downs for the Dallas Mavericks so far this season.
Right now, we are in the midst of an upswing for the team as they have experienced a string of wins and are now 4th in the West with a 23-18 record.
No one would ever deny that the team’s best player is Luka Doncic, who is averaging 34 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists a game and has had a downright historic season.
But can the team get by without Doncic?
Dallas has yet to win a game without Luka this season 😬 pic.twitter.com/OwLep8F5Ya
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 9, 2023
Apparently not.
The Mavericks were without Doncic on Sunday night for a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder and they lost 120-109.
This means that the Mavs are now 0-4 without Doncic this season.
It is very troubling that the team cannot secure any victories without Doncic and it is a sign that this team needs to either step up, make some trades, or rest Doncic a lot in the months ahead.
The team is very lucky to have someone as legitimately wonderful as Doncic, he’s one of the greatest players alive.
But if they aren’t building a team that can win in his absence then the chances of them making the Finals and winning it all are slim.
Doncic will experience injuries and illness, just like every NBA player does, which means he will have to sit out some games.
The Mavs need to step up without him, especially if he continues to play as hard as he has all year.
Head coach Jason Kidd and the front office will need to decide if they are going to make some trades before the deadline or if they are going to rest Doncic so that long-term injuries are less likely.
The Mavericks are definitely Doncic’s team but they need to find an identity without him.
NEXT: How Good Are The Mavericks Without Luka Doncic?