The Dallas Mavericks’ run in the 2022 NBA Playoffs ended after the Golden State Warriors eliminated them in the Western Conference Finals.
One of the questions that the Mavs organization will have to answer this coming offseason is whether or not it should add another star or two to complement Luka Doncic. Some Dallas players, including Dorian Finney-Smith, believe that such a move is not necessary.
“We’ve definitely got enough in this locker room to do something special,” Finney-Smith told ESPN during the conference finals. “We’re here. We’re a top-four team in the NBA. You can try to find another star, but you never know how that’s going to mesh with Luka or the other personnel. It’s an adjustment to play with somebody like Luka, too, and I feel like [Jalen Brunson] adjusted well and [Spencer Dinwiddie], too.
“The bunch-of-stars s— don’t even work anymore. Fit matters.”
Finney-Smith’s take is certainly interesting. There is an ongoing belief around the league that in order for a team to win an NBA championship, multiple stars should be on the roster. But it is clear that the 29-year-old has faith that the current iteration of the Mavs has what it takes to deliver the city its second title.
The team’s first NBA championship came in the 2010-11 season. That year, Dallas only had one star in Dirk Nowitzki. The organization surrounded the Mavs legend with several role players, including current head coach Jason Kidd.
That proved to be enough as it upset the highly favored Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. During the postseason, only three players averaged double digits in scoring. Nowitzki paced the team with 27.7 points per game.
Even though the Mavs failed to reach the Finals this year, some still see it as a successful campaign for the franchise. Not only did it win its first playoff series since 2011, but it was also able to beat the No. 1 seed Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals.
Doncic registered another impressive postseason, averaging 31.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists per contest in 15 matches. Only time will tell if Dallas makes a splash this offseason to surround the three-time All-Star with better talent.
