Nico Harrison is a man of few words and fewer insights in good times or bad or even after one of the best seasons in Mavs history, which the organization wrapped up with a surprisingly brisk 20-minute Q-and-A Friday. Like the clock was ticking on their beach chairs. Compared with the Cowboys’ general manager, who talks like he’s paid by the word, the Mavs’ GM is a recluse. Given the thin perspective, let’s employ a little history.
Going into last offseason, Harrison said everything was fine with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving except the players around them.
And what about the supporting cast now after only the third NBA Finals run in team history ended with a thud?
Hard to expect them to play well, Harrison said, when Luka and Kyrie don’t.
Basically, the general manager said, the Mavs just ran out of gas against Boston, which was evident but still a little hard to hear, and not just because Harrison speaks barely above a whisper. Granted, the Celtics didn’t have to expend as much energy in their previous three rounds as the Mavs did, but they weren’t exactly lounging in Cabo, either.
Boston simply outclassed the Mavs with a gentlemen’s sweep. No shame in that. The Celtics’ NBA-record 18th title has been a long time coming. Harrison built a Finals team on the fly. Simply making it to TD Garden for Game 5 meant a long, grueling playoff push that started on March 7 after they’d dropped five of six, nearly ending all hope.
The Mavs salvaged their season by winning 11 of 12 and 16 of 18 to capture the fifth seed. But the effort apparently came at a price, particularly from the superstars.
For instance, starting Feb. 5, Kyrie appeared in 30 straight regular-season games, sat out two, then played in all 22 playoff games. He hasn’t endured that kind of workload since 2017. Might explain why, the last two rounds, only twice did he put together back-to-back games of 20 or more points. His point totals in the last eight games went 33, 16, 36, 12, 16, 35, 21 and 15.
Of course, neither Jayson Tatum nor Jaylen Brown hung a string of numbers any better. But Boston’s hopes aren’t built on the backs of two players. If Kyrie and Luka don’t score big, chances are the Mavs won’t win.
The problem with all the criticism heaped on Luka after Game 3 of the finals was that, whether he plays defense or not, he just became the first player to lead the league in points, rebounds, assists and steals in the playoffs. He also gets extra credit for playing with a bad knee, bum ankle and a chest contusion. We know he’ll play hurt.
The question is, is he also playing heavy?
Speculation about Luka’s conditioning this season was mostly allayed after he showed up in shape. Stayed that way, too, at least until the injuries piled up. It’s hard to remain in top form when both wheels are affected. Makes for a pretty good excuse, anyway.
When asked about Luka’s conditioning or plans for a surgical procedure, Harrison tip-toed around the questions. But he included Luka when calling for an expected 10-15% improvement from everyone in the organization.
“He’s going to be reflective of how does he get to his best, how does he get 10-15% better,” Harrison said, “and I think you’ll see him coming back ready to address those issues.”
Given the state of his health, not to mention the brevity of his off-season, it would seem prudent if Luka skipped the Olympics this summer. He declined to address the issue after Game 5.
Harrison seemed to think the Slovenia question was a foregone conclusion.
“I think that’s one of his biggest joys,” he said, smiling. “So I think that as long as he can walk, he’s probably going to go out there and play for them. That would be my expectation.”
Frankly, I don’t know how you expect Luka to be 10-15% better next season if he doesn’t have time to get over the one that ended in mid-June. We also know Kyrie’s history suggests he’ll miss time next season.
Sort of makes it incumbent upon the rest of the roster to pick up more slack than it did this season. They’d better, because Harrison said their core of “seven or eight” players probably won’t change, unless they can’t re-sign Derrick Jones Jr.
Besides the starting lineup, the core consists of Dereck Lively II, a revelation, and Josh Green, under contract for three more years. As for the eighth player, take your pick of Maxi Kleber, Dante Exum or Jaden Hardy.
And don’t say Tim Hardaway Jr.
The Mavs’ lack of a reliable shooter off the bench was their biggest weakness this season. Harrison disagreed with my premise, claiming someone off the bench always stepped up.
“Now, it didn’t happen in the finals,” he said, “but our team didn’t play that good in the finals, either. Including our best players. So it’s tough when we’re not playing good as a team to expect the guys on the bench to come out and all of a sudden they’re going to play miraculously.”
Just asking for a few timely 3s, not divine intervention. Miracle enough that this team made it to the finals. Enjoy the beach while you can, Luka and Kyrie. The load’s not getting any lighter next season.
Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN
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