The Dallas Mavericks will face the San Antonio Spurs for the final time this season on Tuesday night in San Antonio. Dallas is looking to improve to 4-0 against its district rivals.
After defeating the Spurs in a close game in the season opener, the last two games have been disappointing losses in the Mavericks' favor. Dallas has a 21-5 record against losing teams this season and has had success against teams below .500. Although the Spurs still languish at the bottom of the standings, rookie sensation Victor Wembaneyama is improving week by week and will pose a challenge to the new-look Mavericks frontcourt.
Here are three questions to consider regarding the in-state matchup.
Does the Mavericks' starting five look like the team that just defeated the defending champions?
NBA starting lineups can be like a jigsaw puzzle, filled with disparities that look nothing like a Bosch painting until the true picture begins to reveal itself through the inherent skill of the anatomists at the helm of the puzzle. Similar to a harmonious scene. ) through a process of misfortune. Whatever it is, it looks like coach Jason Kidd has finally put together the Botticelli we've all been waiting for (yes, Luca is going to be a gold star).
The combination of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, and Derrick Jones Jr. has created a unique and effective blend of chemistry and rotational balance. And, especially when you realize that Luka and Kyrie can (almost) win games on their own offensive prowess alone, the ideal frontcourt to round out the remaining three spots in the Mavs' starting five has always been: It makes sense that it needs to be something. – A defensive-minded, athletic journeyman. Readers should remember that Gafford almost broke the field goal streak record. Yes, I know statistics have taken over the focus of sports coverage, but this record is no joke, especially for an organization that lacked quality big teams during my lifetime. As we all know, it's much easier to win ballgames when the ball goes in the bucket, but a team's identity is forged when you have a group that can set the tone every night. Not every match ends in a W, but building a reputation as a touch match is all the more important as this pony looks to make some noise in the West.
Will the Mavs' recent winning streak in the rebounding game continue?
There's a 7-foot-4 Frenchman casually waiting for a snitch at the Frostbank Center in case no one is looking. Well, maybe he has a caricature of himself painted next to where he parks his yacht along the riverside promenade. Victor Wembaneyama has yet to reach his full potential, but he has created matchup nightmares for teams around the league, showing his presence on the boards and blocking shots with the regularity of an elite missile defense system. There is. It won't be hard to beat a Nuggets team with a healthy Jokic at the helm, even with some slouch, but it will certainly be hard to take it to the Spurs in the paint and win that challenge. Obviously, Wenbanyama presents a different kind of matchup than Jokic. His frame and body movements are similar to Dallas' Derek Lively II. He recently said in an interview that one of his strengths is his stamina more than his arm strength (Luke, you'll get there).
We'll see if Dallas' frontcourt rotation can continue to be a big factor in the fight for another extremely talented big man. Don't be surprised if a few short-range floaters get loaded and sent back to North Texas.
Can Luka continue to put up historic numbers and lead the Mavs to a strong end to the season?
I don't think anyone needs to be reminded of what Luka does every night. But…he's the NBA's leading scorer this season (as of now), and lately he's been feeling kind of disappointed that he doesn't reach the 30-point triple-double line, and he routinely justifies the coining of ” I'm doing something like this. Luka Magic”. Still…his name consistently trails a few others in his MVP race this year. This continues to cause frustration and anger for many within the fanbase. However, you need to get your priorities straight. Personally, I think it's clear he's been playing at an MVP level this season and therefore should be recognized for that. But the trophy is awarded not only for individual accomplishment, but also for the accomplishment of an objectively successful regular season team campaign fueled by that individual accomplishment. Lately, many analysts have drawn attention to the fact that this Mavs team is prone to stripes. Well, their skills live up to their titles. The Mavs were doing well. This is the season when you need grit to build momentum. Sometimes luck determines the final score, but greatness finds ways to position themselves to increase their chances of success.
The Mavs have already begun their final push toward the postseason. A large part of their fortunes can be attributed to the success Luka can lead them in in the coming weeks. Fortunately, his trust in his teammates seems to be his strength, which seems to make him even better at his job.
How to watch
Tipoff will be on Tuesday at 7pm CT on Sports Southwest or NBA League Pass in Barry.
