Klay moved to the bench, and the Mavericks dropped to last place.

Ultimately, Klay ended up on the Mavericks' bench, averaging only 8.1 points per game this season, with a shooting percentage of 31.8% and a three-point accuracy of 26.2%, which clearly doesn't justify a starting role. In fact, in recent games, Klay has been more of a nominal starter, often sitting out during the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

So moving to the bench was somewhat expected, even though the Mavericks initially promised him a starting spot and about 30 minutes per game. But the reality is, this Mavericks team is completely different from the one he joined; times have changed, and Klay needs to adjust his mindset accordingly.

When Klay first joined the Mavericks, Luka Doncic was definitely a major reason. Recently, Klay said, "The first time I saw Luka, I told him, I knew you would be special because Kobe made a point to watch your game."

However, Klay and Luka didn’t play many games together before Luka was traded away by the Mavericks—who would have thought they’d part ways with Luka? Last season, when Klay and Luka teamed up, they had good chemistry, with Klay averaging 14 points per game and shooting 39% from three-point range.

But at the start of this season, Klay’s form was really poor, and Kidd’s trust in him waned. There was a game where Klay started hot, yet Kidd subbed him out at a precise moment; afterward, Klay lost his touch and angrily threw a water bottle after the game to show his frustration.

Warriors fans are familiar with Klay's slow start to the season, but back then, the whole team supported him in regaining his rhythm. Even if Klay missed shots, they encouraged him to keep shooting, and his recovery always came after a big game performance.

But with the Mavericks, Klay doesn’t get that kind of support. If he misses shots, his playing time is cut. Last season he averaged 27 minutes per game; this season, just over 20 minutes, and he’s often benched during crucial moments. Today, he was even removed from the starting lineup. When everything changes, sometimes all you can do is accept it quietly.

This isn’t Klay’s first time coming off the bench; he did so both early and late in his Warriors career. As a historically great shooter, don’t doubt his ability to adapt. Once he overcomes the mental hurdle, adjusting on the court won’t be an issue.

In today’s game, at 5:06 of the first quarter, Klay entered from the bench and hit a three-pointer on his first shot. Then, running a pick-and-roll, he nailed a step-back jumper and scored 5 straight points. I recall that when Klay came off the Warriors’ bench, he could heat up quickly like a microwave, scoring immediately upon entering.

So for Klay, coming off the bench might not be a bad thing. From 5 minutes in the first quarter until 8:14 in the second, he played over eight consecutive minutes, handling the ball more often and enjoying relatively stable minutes and touches.

During those eight-plus minutes, Klay scored 8 points. In the second half, he re-entered at 5:40 of the third quarter and stayed on the floor until the final moments of the fourth quarter, which is certainly a positive sign, though a turnover in the last two minutes was unfortunate.

Overall, Klay played 21 minutes, shooting 4 of 7 from the field and 3 of 6 from three, finishing with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 turnovers—his best three-point shooting performance since the season began. However, the second-to-last Mavericks lost to the last-place Pelicans, handing their opponents two straight wins while dropping themselves to the bottom of the standings.

Russell starting has somewhat freed up Flagg, since it’s clear he isn’t ready to run point guard yet. With Russell as a starter, Flagg plays on the wing, focusing on defense and transition offense, delivering impact performances worthy of a core player.

Today, Flagg played 35 minutes, shooting 8 of 19, scoring 20 points with 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 2 turnovers, showing glimpses of a top draft pick’s potential. It seems unlikely that Flagg will be handling the primary point guard duties anytime soon.

But the Mavericks’ situation is dire, standing at 2-6 and last place in the Western Conference. Both key big men, Davis and Love, are on the injury list, and Irving won’t be back soon. This explains why Kidd stubbornly insists on having Flagg run point guard, prompting today’s lineup adjustments.

The season is only one-tenth complete, yet the Mavericks face an unsolvable problem: no one can adequately fill in for the injured players. PJ, Gafford, Christie, and rookie Flagg are all quality contributors, but no one can deliver a decisive impact at critical moments. Kidd’s coaching style ultimately requires a core leader to carry the team.

On a night like this, I wonder if Mavericks fans might switch channels to catch a glimpse of the No. 77, gradually getting used to seeing him wear the golden yellow jersey. Just to say: if only back then...