There are 12 games left in the Dallas Mavericks season. The next few games will be critical if Dallas is to stay out of the play-in tournament.
The Mavs have won seven of their last eight games, so the team appears to understand the task ahead of them. They are on a three-game winning streak that started with a win over the Denver Nuggets. Kyrie Irving struck out the winner, Nikola Jokic, to help seal the deal.
Since then, the team has also won against the San Antonio Spurs and Utah Jazz.
So what makes the Mavs special? Can they make a late-game playoff berth? How serious is Jason Kidd's team?
First, it all starts with the Mavs' new center this season. Daniel Gafford and Derrick Lively II have done a great job adapting to their roles on the team.
When Dallas traded for Gafford, Kidd allowed Lively II to remain the team's starter. However, the team has changed its lineup over the past eight games, with Gafford taking over as the starter.
This is a move that worked in Dallas' favor. Gafford is averaging 14.9 points, nine rebounds and 2.3 blockers per game as a starter for the Mavs. In his most recent performance, Gafford took scoring practice, scoring 24 points on 90.9 percent shooting. The Mavs center has scored in double figures in eight of his last nine games.
Meanwhile, Lively II also handled her new role well. He has grabbed five or more rebounds in four of his last five games. The Mavs rookie is also averaging 9.7 points per game in March. This is important for Dallas because the team has two capable centers who can perform at a high level.
This is something that stands out from the past. The team went through a variety of centers last season, as players like Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, JaVale McGee and Christian Wood all thrived at the center position. Right now, they have two primary big men who are interchangeable.
Other positives this season have been the production of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Dallas' duo has been dominant since Irving returned from injury. Doncic has averaged over 32 points and nine rebounds per game over the past two months.
Irving is also a dominant scorer, averaging over 23 points per game and shooting over 48 percent from the field. The team has an offensive rating of 122.0 with both players on the court, making the balance between him and Doncic the best it's ever been.
The health of both players will be important for the team going forward. The team has both Doncic and Irving performing well on the court. Therefore, their production will be needed if the Mavs are to make a deep run in the playoffs.
But the biggest sign is the team chemistry. See the connections between players and admire each other. for example. Doncic has performed well this season, establishing chemistry with his teammates. The Mavs star has a keen eye for finding the open man, as he knows exactly where his teammates should be.
The accuracy of Luka Doncic's alley-oop pass to Derrick Jones Jr. is amazing. 🤯pic.twitter.com/ULTTzDKh6d
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) March 20, 2024
Look at the pass to Derrick Jones Jr. Dallas' forwards do a great job of reading Doncic and understanding his placement.
Coach Kidd understands team chemistry best. He mentions the connections between the players and the encouragement they bring.
“The characters of the players are great. They're so cool. It's unbelievable. They're all rooting for each other.”
– jason kidd
It's clear why the Mavericks are serious playoff contenders. The team performs well on both sides of the court as the players bring flare to the game.
If the team can continue to perform at a high level, the sky is the limit for Kidd and the Mavericks.
Stay tuned for updates on Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the rest of the Dallas Mavericks.
