DALLAS — Many Mavericks followers vented their frustration, in what has just lately develop into acquainted vogue in Dallas, chanting for the termination of common supervisor Nico Harrison as the ultimate minute performed out in Friday night time’s 117-107 loss to the Washington Wizards.
“Hearth Nico!” chants have steadily been heard within the American Airways Heart because the gorgeous commerce of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 2, months after the homegrown celebrity had led the Mavs to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Dallas’ inconceivable win within the draft lottery, which delivered No. 1 choose Cooper Flagg to the Mavs, considerably reinvigorated the fan base over the summer season. However the Mavs have stumbled out of the gate, getting routed by 33 at residence by the San Antonio Spurs in Wednesday’s opener earlier than shedding by double digits to a Washington squad coming off an 18-64 season.
There have been scattered “Hearth Nico!” chants throughout the season-opening loss, though “Go Spurs Go!” and “MVP!” chants for San Antonio celebrity Victor Wembanyama had been louder. There have been hundreds of empty seats within the area by the point the chants broke out a number of occasions late in Friday’s loss.
“I feel they’ve a proper to vent, however there’s a endurance [needed],” Mavs coach Jason Kidd stated. “It’s a special crew, it’s a brand new crew. We’re simply getting to grasp one another. We’re going to continue to learn one another. So I might say be affected person, however I perceive the frustration. All of us need to win. All of us need to compete at a excessive stage, but it surely’s a sport of expression, and followers have a proper to specific themselves. However that doesn’t cease us from coming to work tomorrow and getting higher and preparing for Sunday [against the Toronto Raptors].”
Kidd signed a multiyear contract extension throughout the preseason, a negotiation that started after the Mavs denied the New York Knicks permission to pursue him for his or her head teaching emptiness within the offseason. Sources instructed ESPN that there haven’t been any discussions a few contract extension for Harrison, who has two years remaining on his deal.
The Mavs, who’re beginning Flagg at level guard regardless of him taking part in ahead at Duke, rank final within the league in offensive effectivity after two video games, averaging solely 95.5 factors per 100 possessions. Dallas has averaged 18.5 turnovers per sport, together with 20 within the loss to the Wizards.
“Every thing’s correctable and inner,” stated energy ahead Anthony Davis, the headliner within the package deal the Mavs obtained within the Doncic deal who had 27 factors, 13 rebounds and 5 turnovers in Friday’s loss. “We’re beating ourselves, and so long as we’re doing that, we will appropriate it,” he stated. “However we additionally need to be taught from it and be prepared for Sunday.”
In the meantime, Doncic is main the NBA in scoring at 46.0 factors per sport. He had 49 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists within the Lakers’ 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night time.
Flagg praised the Dallas crowd for its vitality Friday night time, particularly throughout the fourth quarter, when the Mavs rallied to slice a deficit that had been as excessive as 17 factors to 4 at one level.
“The followers confirmed up. They had been wonderful tonight,” stated Flagg, who had 11 of his 18 factors within the fourth quarter and in addition completed with 5 rebounds, six assists and 5 turnovers. “I assumed we had been competing at a excessive stage in that fourth quarter. Lots of issues had been proper — getting stops, taking part in the best way that we need to play, and that sort of sums it up. It was simply durations tonight, and we obtained to have the ability to maintain that for the entire sport. I feel we took considerably of a step in the proper path, but it surely must be loads higher.”
Flagg stated he didn’t hear the chants calling for Harrison’s termination, including that he was “locked in on the sport” and listening to his coaches and teammates. Veteran capturing guard Klay Thompson stated the blame needs to be shouldered by the gamers.
“You bought to present ’em one thing to cheer for,” stated Thompson, who had eight factors on 2-of-7 capturing in solely 17 minutes. “I obtained to present ’em one thing to cheer for. It’s the character of the sport, man. I’ve been there. I used to be a fan for 20 years earlier than I obtained within the NBA. I might’ve positively criticized gamers. I imply, we deserve a whole lot of criticism. We’re those on the market making it occur.”
Thompson described his concern about Dallas’ sluggish begin as “excessive” however expressed optimism that the Mavs would work their method out of the rut.
“There’s all the time this urgency,” Thompson stated. “We’re all aggressive. It’s embarrassing, particularly for myself [after] speaking championship preseason, all that. However I imply, it’s the one factor I play for at this level. So it’s not enjoyable, however there’s just one method out. Stick collectively and get higher and work even tougher every single day. I do know I’ll, and I do know the remainder of the blokes will. So it’s only a matter of being not affected person, however simply being relentless in our efforts.”
Requested about his concern stage after the 0-2 begin, Davis stated, “Zero.” He burdened that the Mavs’ enchancment wanted to begin on the defensive finish, however Davis shot down a query about how the Mavs and Flagg would take care of adversity.
“That is adversity? What’s adversity?” Davis stated. “We’ve obtained 80 video games left. You may run off 10 straight [wins] after which what? That is how I have a look at it and I’m certain that’s how he seems at it, and that’s what we talked about. We all know we now have to be higher on each ends of the ground, however the NBA season is a curler coaster, so we’re staying optimistic.”
The poor begin is especially international territory for the 18-year-old Flagg. In his solely school season, Duke went 35-4 and by no means misplaced consecutive video games.
“I do know I’m kicking myself and I’m clearly not completely happy,” Flagg stated. “I’m somewhat upset. I imply, it’s simply I’m a competitor. I like to win and I need to win as many video games as doable, so it’s not an ideal begin. We obtained a whole lot of movie to take a look at, a whole lot of stuff to take a look at and loads to enhance.”