PJ Washington, a key player for the Dallas Mavericks, pointed to inconsistency as the main reason for their loss in the 2024 NBA Finals.
The Mavericks fell to the Boston Celtics in five games after a strong playoff run, and Washington believes that they did not maintain the level of play that brought them success earlier in the postseason.
“Inconsistency is what cost us,” Washington told Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. “We didn’t play the way we did in the first three rounds.”
Washington, who made his playoff debut with Dallas, joined the Mavericks via trade in February 2024, bringing added versatility to the team. He quickly became a crucial part of the Mavericks’ success in the playoffs.
Despite these highlights, Washington acknowledged that the team’s failure to play up to their potential in the Finals was a learning experience.
“It was a learning curve for us,” he said. “Everybody’s excited to get back, and everybody’s wanting to get back to that mountaintop.”
Washington’s trade to the Mavericks came with high expectations, as Dallas parted ways with Seth Curry, Grant Williams, and a 2027 first-round pick in the deal.
During the playoffs, Washington played pivotal roles in several series, including a series-clinching victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals.
His clutch free throws in the final seconds of Game 6 against the Thunder secured Dallas’ advancement to the Western Conference Finals.
However, the Mavericks could not carry that momentum into the Finals, where the Celtics’ defense proved too much for the team.
