Winners of six of the last ten games, the Dallas Mavericks are getting closer to a guaranteed playoff spot in the Western Conference.
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With the official transformation in the spring, we realize that the 2023-2024 NBA regular season is starting to end. There are few matches left for the Dallas Mavericks and even fewer marquee matches.
As Dallas has improved its standing by winning six of its last seven games, and as they continue to develop chemistry from their mid-season trade acquisitions, it’s time to showcase their best talents against the elite of the league and to see what the squad will be. can accomplish in a playoff context is now.
It’s that premise that made the week’s opener against reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Denver Nuggets’ matchup so important for a Mavericks team that was looking for a signature win. With the opportunity to have a true measuring contest against a top Western Conference opponent, Dallas took advantage.
A playoff atmosphere filled the AAC on Sunday afternoon and gave the Mavs their proof of concept for a team that had struggled against the league’s elite. Every loose ball was contested vigorously, and Dallas’ offensive stars were once again bolstered by the frontcourt running to the rim while fiercely protecting it. Threatening in overtime, Jokic and compatriot Jamal Murray swung the pendulum in favor of the road team twice in the final possessions, and the Dallas backcourt responded each time.
Kyrie Irving clinched the victory for Dallas on a crazy 20-foot hook shot with his weak hand as time expired, one play after MVP candidate Luka Doncic made a deep three to tie the game with seconds to go. the end of regulation time.
The decisive 107-105 victory over Denver was the team’s biggest of the season thus far, and Dallas displayed its new identity in front of a national audience. The superstar tandem of Kyrie and Luka made life miserable for Nuggets head coach Michael Malone all afternoon, and ultimately, the defending champions had to shrug their shoulders and pay their respects.
The Mavericks are no longer one-sided in their attempts to win. The Luka Show is still playing, but it’s also quite likely that Irving is in the bag as a dynamic playmaker and shot creator. Desperation three-point spurts without better alternatives are now rare, and two-headed monster Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford at center, has been fruitful in providing the Dallas backcourt with a competent rim runner to dump on then let them challenge the double. teams.
Do you let Luka or Kyrie take off or can your center stop a high percentage lob or basket while you swarm? It really was a choice situation for the unfortunate defenders who had to make these decisions. Gafford’s extra play inside also led to a positive change for the interior defense.
The win over Denver will be remembered for Kyrie striking a Von Erich pose after the picturesque buzzerbeater, but the game was won on the boards, with Dallas’ 60 total rebounds eclipsing the Nuggets’ total of 23.
Finally, having a healthy rotation allowed Dallas to cycle through the defensive support trio of wing Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr. and PJ Washington. By being able to survive Tim Hardaway Jr.’s streaky shooting thanks to clutch performance from their depth, as well as efficient shooting and strong rim protection from their bigs, Dallas is starting to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
Most recently, Dallas earned a 113-107 victory in San Antonio. It wasn’t as pretty as the season’s signature win over Denver, but the Mavs took care of business when they needed to and reached 40 wins on the season with 13 games remaining.
Tuesday’s win over the Spurs would have been a likely loss a few weeks ago, with Doncic having a below-average shooting night at 22% from the field. But Irving’s 28 points and Exum’s three points made the difference. Dallas now benefits from winning possessions everywhere, helping the team breathe when its star player isn’t superhuman on a rare off night.
Even with South Texas’ 6-of-27 shooting night, Doncic is still averaging close to a triple-double for the month, averaging 32.3 points, 10.6 assists and 9.9 rebounds so far in March. .
The upcoming week couldn’t be more timely, with Dallas poised to potentially overtake Sacramento for 6th in the West, avoiding the play-in tournament and jumping into a potential first-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves .
The Minnesota bigs tormented Dallas earlier this season, but are now without Karl Anthony-Towns for the remainder of their regular season. The final rankings are still a few weeks away, but for now, the Mavs will see double, with their next four games, two each against the Jazz and Kings. Utah has lost eight of 10 and its top playmakers, Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson, are nursing injuries.
After the Utah and Sacramento dates, the teams remaining on the Maverick schedule are all in 8th place or worse in their respective conferences, with the only exception being their regular season finale in Oklahoma City.
Surpassing the 50-win mark seemed unimaginable just a week ago, but the Mavs have gone 6-1 since their Eastern Conference skid that opened the month. Now, Dallas has seemingly found its winning formula as it heads into the home stretch of the season.
Do you think the Mavericks will avoid the Western play-in tournament? Share your thoughts with Irvin on Twitter @Twittirv.
