Here are my 5 takeaways from the Dallas Mavericks’ 120-114 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday in Shanghai, China:
1. DEANDRE JORDAN WAS TREMENDOUSLY MISSED: It’s games like the one against the Sixers where the scales of justice in the middle would have been even – or perhaps tipped in the Mavs’ favor — with Jordan, who missed Friday’s contest because of a death in the family. Jordan could have used his length, strength, power and experience to neutralize Sixers center Joel Embiid, who finished with 22 points and 10 boards.
2. MAVS NEEDED HARRISON BARNES’ SCORING: It’s difficult for any team to take on a “business as usual” approach sans their leading scorer. With Dirk Nowitzki on the backside of his illustrious career, Barnes has led the Mavs in scoring in each of the past two seasons. Many of the same plays the Mavs have run for Nowitzki over the years are now being ran by Barnes. However, Barnes didn’t even make the trip to China due to a strained right hamstring.
3. DENNIS SMITH JR. IS A BEAST: All of that work Dennis Smith Jr. did in the offseason is paying off. The second-year point guard scored 15 of his 20 points in the game’s first eight minutes — and he did so in electrifying fashion. Smith also contributed five rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes, and was 8-of-16 from the field. In addition, Smith showed off the improvements he’s made in his outside game by converting 3-of-6 shots from 3-point territory.
4. MAVS MUST FIND MINUTES FOR MAXI KLEBER: Somehow, the Mavs are going to have the make room for Maxi Kleber in their rotation. The unassuming forward collected 17 points, seven rebounds and blocked four shots in 25 minutes against the Sixers. That came after Kleber finished with 15 points and eight boards while playing just 18 minutes in the preseason opener against Beijing last Saturday. In two games, Kleber is 9-of-13 from the field and 5-of-8 from 3-point land.
5. LUKA DONCIC IS WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION: Old Mavs fans remember when Jason Kidd was a rookie in 1994, and folks came to the game wondering what type of spectacular pass(es) he was going to make that night. The same holds true with Doncic, who continues to show that he may indeed have eyes in the back of his head. Lazor no-look passes like the one Doncic delivered to Dwight Powell for a basket are as common to Doncic as putting on a pair of socks.
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