NBA · 1 year ago

5 Things We Learned About the Dallas Mavericks in Round 1

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

5. Maxi Kleber Injury Is A Concern
Veteran forward Maxi Kleber suffered a right shoulder AC joint separation during the second quarter of the Mavericks’ game six victory. That injury will keep him out of action for at least three weeks and will prevent him from playing in the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have the best offensive rating in the Western Conference and Dallas is going to miss his versatility and shot-making. Minutes should increase for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford but those players will not offer the potential to go off for five three-pointers like Kleber did in the game five win.

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1. Despite Poor Shooting, Luka Doncic Leads Mavs
In a first-round series full of star power, Luka Doncic was consistently the best player on the floor, and he accomplished that despite some abysmal perimeter shooting. Doncic was only 4 for 27 on 3-pointers over the last three games of the set but still averaged 29.8 points during the series and had at least nine assists in games two through six. Doncic was effective on both offense and defense, and his control of the Mavericks overwhelmed the Los Angeles Clippers, who appeared to be a rudderless ship as soon as they faced a deficit.

OKC (-3.5) vs. Dallas - Game 1

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2. Kyrie Irving Showed Up...On Both Ends
Off the court, Kyrie Irving is one of the more controversial figures in the NBA. Since being traded to Dallas, the mercurial Irving has been quiet in public and his relationship with Luka Doncic has formed into one of the better storylines in the NBA Playoffs. The two stars appear to get along very well and Irving’s teammates and coaches have publicly lauded him for the way he has integrated himself into the locker room. A big part of that is undoubtedly due to his exemplary play of late. Irving scored 31 and 40 in the two losses and was outstanding in the closeout Game 6 win with 30 points on 19 shots, six rebounds, and four assists. Jason Kidd raved about Irving, “We don’t see the perception of him in the past. We only see the present. When we got him, people didn’t think he’d fit with Luka. That changed quickly and it’s a beautiful thing what he’s doing.”

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Dallas Mavericks Odds to Win NBA Title: +950
3. The Mavericks Are Winning on Defense
The defense of the Dallas Mavericks was expected to be the team’s undoing, but through one round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the defense has been the strength. The aforementioned Kyrie Irving has been weaponized as a defensive force on the perimeter, and the size of Luka Doncic causes problems for opposing backcourts when both are locked in. Add in uber-athlete Derrick Jones Jr. and rim-protector Dereck Lively Jr., plus the versatility of PJ Washington, and the Mavericks have turned into a very good defensive unit. That is a massive surprise, and it will be tested against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but it was the main reason they beat the Clippers.

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4. Jason Kidd Deserves Credit
Very few people gave Jason Kidd much of a chance of figuring out the partnership between Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic. Under Kidd’s guidance, Irving has been a model citizen (albeit, a sometimes injured one) and the pair has meshed seamlessly after a rocky beginning. In addition, the Mavs made a pair of midseason trades that added PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford. Both are 25 years old and make the roster younger and more athletic but Kidd deserves credit for making those additions work. The Mavericks have peaked at the right time, closing the regular season 22-7 (not counting the final two games when Dallas sat most starters) and they have the seventh-best defense during that time.

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Mavericks to Win Series Over Oklahoma City: -102
5. Maxi Kleber Injury Is A Concern
Veteran forward Maxi Kleber suffered a right shoulder AC joint separation during the second quarter of the Mavericks’ game six victory. That injury will keep him out of action for at least three weeks and will prevent him from playing in the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have the best offensive rating in the Western Conference and Dallas is going to miss his versatility and shot-making. Minutes should increase for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford but those players will not offer the potential to go off for five three-pointers like Kleber did in the game five win.

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1. Despite Poor Shooting, Luka Doncic Leads Mavs
In a first-round series full of star power, Luka Doncic was consistently the best player on the floor, and he accomplished that despite some abysmal perimeter shooting. Doncic was only 4 for 27 on 3-pointers over the last three games of the set but still averaged 29.8 points during the series and had at least nine assists in games two through six. Doncic was effective on both offense and defense, and his control of the Mavericks overwhelmed the Los Angeles Clippers, who appeared to be a rudderless ship as soon as they faced a deficit.

OKC (-3.5) vs. Dallas - Game 1

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5 Things We Learned About the Dallas Mavericks in Round 1

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