The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals a few weeks ago.
Dallas fell behind 0–3, and even though they prevailed handily in Game 4, the Celtics prevailed in Game 5 to win the series.
Despite Luka Doncic’s outstanding performance in the Finals, Kyrie Irving, his co-star, had trouble early in this series. The Mavs sorely needed more from Irving in addition to all the role players, even though he managed to turn things around in Games 3 and 4.
Dallas Mavericks looking to add another shooter after poor shooting in Finals
3-point shooting was a major area of weakness for the Mavs in the NBA Finals.
The Dallas Mavericks struggled with their three-point shooting during the series, collectively hitting just 31.6 percent from beyond the arc. The only players who managed to make eight or more threes were Irving and Doncic. None of the role players stepped up to hit open shots, highlighting a glaring issue that the Mavericks are determined to address this offseason.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, improving their outside shooting is a top priority for the Mavericks this summer.
While their primary focus remains on re-signing Derrick Jones Jr., the Mavericks are keenly focused on bolstering their ability to shoot from outside. They recognize the importance of having players who can consistently convert open shots, especially given the number of scoring opportunities created by Doncic and Irving. Addressing this area of weakness is critical for the team’s success moving forward.
Due to Tim Hardaway Jr.’s near-unplayability throughout the playoffs, Dallas was lacking a real sniper in their lineup. Although P.J. Washington had a fantastic shooting series with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was unable to maintain it.
Although Jaden Hardy and Derrick Jones Jr. also had scoring runs, having a player who is constantly willing to shoot with confidence is essential for winning in the postseason.
The Mavs ultimately suffered because they lacked that.
The Mavs are working with Washington to improve his shooting, while Dallas will probably strive hard to find another shooter in free agency or on the trade market. After experiencing highs and lows as a shooter last season, Washington’s transformation into an effective shooter together with the Mavs’ acquisition of a sharpshooter elsewhere may be the difference between them becoming an unstoppable team.
Keep checking back for all the latest during this offseason on P.J. Washington and the Dallas Mavericks.
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