Mavs’ Lack of Defensive Anchor More Evident Than Ever: ‘We Have to Do Better’

The gaping hole in the middle of Dallas' defense has been an issue for almost the last decade.

The Dallas Mavericks (32-31) may have two of the top dynamic scorers in the league with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, but their defense is on the opposite end of the spectrum. 

Since Irving joined the Mavs, the team’s defense has allowed 118 points per game, ranking 25th in the league. During that time, Dallas has lost five of eight contests and have only won one of the four games the two All-Stars have played together.

Although Doncic and Irving’s defensive shortcomings don’t help matters, the Mavs’ inconsistency at the center position over the last decade has been the biggest issue. 

When you really think about it, the last trusted middle man on the glass and defending the rim for Dallas was Tyson Chandler in 2014-15. 

That was eight seasons ago. 

From 2015-present, Dallas ranks 28th out of 30 teams in rebounding and 29th in blocks. 

Bottom of the league. 

In the Luka-era, the Mavs rank 17th in rebounding and 26th in blocks, which speaks to Doncic's ability on the glass, averaging 8.6 boards per game through his career.

Looking at the current roster makeup for the Mavericks, there's no defensive anchor to be found in the middle. 

Maxi Kleber is likely Dallas' best defender on the roster, showcasing versatility to guard big men while also switching out onto dynamic wing scorers like Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant. But with Dorian Finney-Smith out of the picture, the Mavericks have to ask too much of Kleber, who is fresh off a torn hamstring that kept him out for over two months.

Dwight Powell is a heady team defender but isn't a defensive stopper by any means, and he is a below average rebounding big. Christian Wood showed flashes of being able to defend the rim but overall earlier in the season, but his pick-and-roll defense is usually “food” for opposing teams. And JaVale McGee, well … he has been run off the floor as a negative in a failed signing in the offseason. 

Having a defensive anchor in the middle of the paint isn't the only issue hindering Dallas' defense, but it certainly helps a good bit to have a trusted giant defending the rim.

Having both Doncic and Irving on the floor for the majority of the game, specifically in crunch time, places a lot of pressure on the other three Mavericks on the court to get stops. 

And with the likes of Finney-Smith now in Brooklyn, and a revolving door of inconsistent defensive big men, the desire and demand for an anchor in the middle is louder than ever.

"I think we should be talking about the whole team because we play as a team. We lose and we win as a team. It's not just about two players,” said Doncic after Tuesday’s loss. “It is about the whole team. So, we have to do better as a team. That's it.

“We still have some things to figure out – especially on the defensive end."

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