The interview asked to compare how Porziņģis’ game had progressed since the Latvian basketball player moved from the New York “Knicks” team to the Dallas “Mavericks” team in a player exchange deal.
“He is extremely eager to win. He will do everything the team needs. He is really selfless,” said Kubans, describing the 24-year-old Latvian basketball player from Liepaja.
“But the most impressive side of his game is the ability to take the initiative at crucial moments. He just gets better and better when it’s time to win. It’s impressive,” said the Mavericks owner.
However, statistics show that the Mavericks team is not successful this season at crucial moments, which are NBA-defined games in which teams score no more than five points five minutes before the end of the match.
The Dallas Morning News has highlighted a number of statistics that the Mavericks team should improve to make the NBA season a success.
In the “Clutch time” games, the Mavericks have won 14 victories and suffered 21 losses this season, which is only the 22nd index among 30 league teams.
The Dallas club has won only 18.8% of games in which teams score one point at the last minute of the match.
The Mavericks have six wins and 16 losses in games where the teams score no more than five points in the end.
Before the season ended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mavericks ranked seventh in the Western Conference with 40 wins and 27 losses.
Porziņģis has averaged 19.2 points in 51 games this season, won 9.5 rebounds and blocked 2.1 throws.
Before the season continues, the Mavericks will play three test matches – on July 23 with the Los Angeles Lakers, three days later a duel with the Indian “Pacers” is expected, but the final test game is scheduled for July 28 against the Philadelphia “76ers”.
The NBA season will resume on July 31 in Orlando with 22 teams participating.
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