Dallas Mavs ‘Lackadaisical Play’ Leads to Game 4 Letdown: WCF Podcast
The Dallas Mavericks have to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night after failing to slam the door on the series in Game 4 at home on Tuesday night.
Several things went wrong for Dallas, including Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and P.J. Washington combined to shoot 16-52 overall (25%) and 7-26 from deep (26.9%) with eight turnovers. Also, with Dereck Lively II out due to a neck sprain, Minnesota took advantage by controlling the boards and points in the paint en route to a 105-100 win.
On the latest episode of our Mavs Step Back Podcast, we break down all the simple (and obvious) things that went wrong for Dallas in Game 4. As much as the Mavs would’ve loved to finish the West Finals out with a sweep, they’re still up 3-1 in the series and have been undefeated this postseason following a loss.
“I mean, we’re in the NBA, man,” Irving said after losing the first closeout game of his career. “No team is just going to lay down and give me and Luka [Doncic] open shots. I think when I look at just the quality of our shots, I think a few of them could be better. A few of them were rushed. A few of them were in and out. Especially when the game is in the balance, I’m thinking about all the plays where it could’ve gone either way.”
Although the Mavs’ shooting struggles played a big part in their Game 4 loss, their 13 turnovers were just as much to blame. Irving says his team must go into Game 5 with a higher level of focus.
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“It just takes a high level of focus and also just understanding we have to run the plays that work and continue to pick on guys that we want to see guarding us and just continue to feed each other confidence and continue to feed our teammates,” Irving said.
“Good things happen when we consistently turn to the next play, and I think that’s what we’ve done. [Luka] can speak for himself too, but we’ve seen it, just on to the next play. Down the stretch, we just have to stay close and go to our plays and make sure we’re ready to knock down shots and be decisive.”
For most of the postseason, Irving has been a late riser in games, as it usually takes him at least two quarters to really get going. In Game 5, Irving will need to channel the player that put up 24 points in the first half of Game 1 in Minnesota.
“There were a few times I got in the lane and was indecisive,” Irving said. “I turned the ball over late, so a lot of this is on me being able to start the game well and also finish the game well. We had spurts, I had spurts, but I have to put a full 48 minutes together for my teammates and be better for them.”
Game 5 of the WCF between the Mavs and Timberwolves will tip off Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CT on TNT.
