SUMMARY
- The Dallas Mavericks are #1 in the NBA at clutch winning percentage.
- The Mavs may have been a top 4 seed if not for injuries to their main stars.
Do the Dallas Mavericks deserve more credit than what they are being given? Most NBA fans will be aware that the Mavericks have Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on their roster. With the addition of several other talented stars, there is no denying that the Mavs have enough firepower to contend for and even win an NBA championship.
However, the team is currently in the 8th position of the Western Conference and will almost certainly have to go through the play-in tournament in order to qualify for the playoffs. Be that as it may, a recent statistical report reveals that the Mavs are significantly better than other teams in the NBA. With that being said, a closer look at this report is required.
The Dallas Mavericks lead the NBA in clutch game victories
The term clutch is used quite frequently in the NBA world. Although the definition tends to vary at times, it refers to the points scored during the last 5 minutes of a game when the score gap between the two teams facing off is less than 5 points. Buckets scored in that timeframe are considered clutch points due to the pressure of the moment.
A recent report reveals that the Dallas Mavericks sit atop the NBA in clutch winning percentage, having won 70.4% of the games. That means the majority of games that come down to the final possessions for the Mavs are usually won.
NBA Leaders in Clutch Winning Percentage:
1. Dallas Mavericks: .704
2. Los Angeles Lakers: .679
3. Milwaukee Bucks: .667
4. Denver Nuggets: .657
5. Boston Celtics: .655— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) March 18, 2024
This makes sense given that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are well known as established clutch performers. The rest of their team also appears to do fairly well under pressure given that this is a team stat. However, fans may wonder why the team hasn’t been doing better this season despite excelling in clutch time.
How are the Mavs positioned 8th in the Western Conference?
At the moment, the Dallas Mavericks are in the 8th spot of the Western Conference and will have to go through the play-in tournament. While the team might do well in clutch time, this statistic does not take into account all the games that are lost by a larger margin and out of reach before the final stretch. Moreover, the Mavs have been dealing with a significant amount of injuries all season long.