If you're an NBA team preparing for the playoffs, you want to play your best basketball heading into the tournament. The Dallas Mavericks have certainly done that, winning 14 of their last 16 games and boasting the best defense in the league during that time.
On Monday's segment on SiriusXM NBA Radio, former player Eddie Johnson acknowledged how hot the Mavs, led by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, are, going so far as to say they are the “most dangerous team” in the playoffs. Stated.
“Look, for me right now this is above Denver, for me, [Dallas is] “They're the most dangerous team that any team in the playoffs will face,” Johnson said. “They are the most dangerous.
undefined
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
“Okay, Denver has the advantage when it comes to execution, but what do you think? At least you can figure it out and run the offense. You'll know it when you see it. Now, the hard part is stopping it, but you can run it. Look, you know what you have to do. With Dallas, you don't know anything. That's the problem. You don't know anything. When Kyrie drives right, left I can't imagine being able to spin around and throw a hook. Like, you're not ready for that. You just hope he misses.
“Luka, what I mean is his unconventional shooting and his uncanny ability to see things off the dribble in traffic, which is different than Jokic,” Johnson continued. “Jokic's passes are almost from a standstill. It's like you're pinned to a certain area of the floor. Dare you double up, try it, and I'll tear you apart.” For Luka, it's like doing all the rotations and twists to get to the rim. And try me, be brave. You can still see the floor. It's actually there. You can't just sit there and strategize. That's what's scary about them.”
Before the trade deadline, the Mavs lacked the defensive talent to be considered a true title contender, but that changed with the additions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington. Not only have these two players performed well and gotten comfortable with each passing game, but their presence has allowed other players on the roster to step into better roles.
With Doncic and Irving leading the way and difference-makers like Gafford, Washington, Derrick Jones Jr., Dante Exum, and Derek Lively II surrounding them, the Mavs have great depth and I hope this will lead to overtime. play off. If the Mavs have shown us anything over the past two months, it's that seven straight games against them will be tough.
