The Dallas Mavericks are one of the most-watched teams heading into the playoffs. The team finished April with a record of 5 wins and 3 losses, but two of those losses came late in the season when the team was resting players. Dallas also finished the second half of the season with 17 wins and nine losses.
The Mavs' strong record will be put to the test Sunday when they face the LA Clippers in the first round of the playoffs.
Historically, the Clippers have had the advantage, winning the season series against Dallas 2-1. Dallas didn't have PJ Washington or Daniel Gafford in these matchups, but they're still notable. LA has also won the last two playoff series against the Mavericks in 2020 and 2021.
But one Mavs legend believes Dallas will pull off the upset.
Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki recently spoke about the Mavs' upcoming playoff series. He sat down with former teammate Devin Harris on the Top Shelf Podcast to discuss the team's outlook.
“But the Clippers are tough. The Clippers are always tough against us. They have a lot of length on the perimeter. They have a lot of guys who can throw to Luka, so it's going to be a fun series. We're doing something that's never been done before.'' Kawhi (Leonard) really had an answer, so I think it's going to be fun, but I think the Mavs have six.''
– Dirk Nowitzki
The main reason for his selection is the team's recent success. Nowitzki detailed how the Mavs are deploying at the right time. He focuses on team chemistry.
Dirk primarily emphasizes the relationship between Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Through his observations, he believes the Dallas duo has a more mature approach to each other.
“Since last year, Kyrie and Luka understand each other better, play better, know when to be aggressive and when to defer. They understand each other better.”
– Dirk Nowitzki
Doncic and Irving were averaging 59 points, 15 assists and 14 rebounds per game at the beginning of the month. With their success, the Mavs outscored their opponents by nine points per 100 possessions.
Their progress can be traced back to the beginning of the season. Last year, Irving arrived midway through the year and was expected to help Dallas reach the postseason. However, due to a series of injuries, the duo was unable to form a team.
This year, both players started training camp together and were able to spend more time on the court. This allowed them to understand each other better. Luka knows when to let Kyrie take over the game and does a great job of finding Kyrie when Dallas needs an extra bucket.
Dirk also believes the new additions of P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford were important. He said the team needs another center who can play in the pick-and-roll game. He believes Gafford gives the team a two-headed center with Derek Lively II. Mavs fans can only hope that the new acquisitions will further strengthen the team before the playoffs. They must do their part to make Dark's predictions come true.
Stay tuned for updates on Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the rest of the team as they prepare for the postseason.
