The Dallas Mavericks v/s Los Angeles Clippers Round 1 of the Playoffs has reached its penultimate game. Game 7 in the Playoffs has been an exciting one. Nobody thought that Mavs would stretch it to Game 7 of Round 1 against an All-Star LA Clippers team. Luka Doncic has been a star of the Playoffs who have played against the Clipper team. Alongside Luka, the role players like Tim Hardaway Jr, Jaylen Brunson, and Dorian Finney-Smith have been great and shooting the lights out. However, the Mavericks have a Porzingis problem here.
The Dallas Mavericks just had to close out the series at home against the Clippers, they were leading 3-2 in the best of 7 series and the 6th Game was at the Home of the Mavs. And after another poor performance by Kristaps Porzingis, NBA Analyst Kevin O’Connor mentions – “
The Mavs pay Kristaps Porzingis $30M to be more than a tall wing who shoots 3s yet that’s all he is now. Averaging 12.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists vs. Clippers. KP can’t create his shot and he’s average at best on defense. It’s the Tim Hardaway Jr. Trade from now on”.
Game 6 Porzingis
Luka Doncic had a poor shooting night in Game 6, but there was a situation where none of the players were getting the ball inside the basket. With Ibaka injured, Porzingis had an opportunity to dominate the paint with Zubac in the paint. The positioning of Porzingis throughout the game is not inside the paint, when Luka brings down the ball from the half-court, Porzingis goes down the corner 3 and just waits for the ball to come there and shoot.
Porzingis has constantly suffered from injuries throughout his career and even has missed the entire 2018-19 due to ACL. This season, Porzingis has been suffering from back injuries but has made a timely recovery before the Playoffs. Dallas has been constantly a great shooting team throughout the Playoffs; however, the LA Clippers have a squad with high-quality defense. Tim Hardaway Jr has played second fiddle to Donic after an excellent 18.0 points with 45.8% shooting from beyond the arc. There are situations when Kawhi Leonard guards Luka Doncic and Paul George guards Tim, no big man apart from Zubac is on the court to Guard him, still, he goes down at corner 3 and stops in and waits for an opportunity to get an assist from Luka.
When you are 7-foot-3 with the ability of Porzingis you don’t have a choice but to be special. That’s the price that comes with that level of talent. Without a question, Porzingis has to step up in Game 7, if Luka cools down, he has to step up, or it's the end of the road for the Mavericks in the Playoffs. Game 7 of the Playoffs will be aired in India at 1 am on 7th June 2021.
Round 1 Averages – Kristaps Porzingis
Games | Minutes | Points | Assists | Rebounds | Steals | Blocks | FG% | 3 PT % |
6 | 31.7 | 12.7 | 1.3 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 46.7% | 36.4% |
Game 7 will be aired in India at 1 am on Monday 7th June 2021.
