All-Star weekend is over, and the Dallas Mavericks are on a roll with six straight wins. Most recently, the Mavericks defeated their in-state rival San Antonio Spurs. After struggling in the first quarter, the Mavs found their groove and won 116-93.
It's huge for the team to win against the Spurs and get a week off. That's even bigger considering the Mavericks are on a six-game winning streak and currently sit seventh in the Western Conference.
Adding Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington at the trade deadline improved the Mavericks' rebounding and defensive ability. Since the addition, the OKC Thunder are the only team to have scored more than 110 points.
Despite going 6-0 in their last six games, it's clear the Mavericks still have work to do before Thursday's rematch. The most obvious hole in the Mavericks' rotation is Washington's lack of offensive power.
If Washington can understand his offense and become more comfortable with the Mavs' system, the sky is the limit for Dallas. Despite struggling offensively, Washington has been the team's lockdown defenseman. He is always tasked with the toughest defensive duties, with fans even labeling his defense as “P Prison.”
Plus, Gafford was a great addition. The former Wizard has been eliminating shots and catching lobs. Along with Doncic, Gafford played the best basketball of his career in just three games.
The Mavs are on a six-game winning streak, but superstar Luka Doncic is crying. He led the Mavericks in scoring throughout their recent winning streak and looked much improved defensively. Before the regular season resumes on Thursday, take a look at this week's MVP power rankings.
Last week's ranking: N/A
Kevin Durant is back in the top 10 for the first time in over a month. After participating in the All-Star Game, Durant and the Suns will aim to advance to the postseason.
Final rank: N/A
Donovan Mitchell has led the Cavaliers many times. Despite leading the Cavs to a second-place finish in the East, this is the first time Mitchell has been in the MVP conversation.
Final rank: 10
Devin Booker and Kevin Durant appear to be competing for the MVP spot. The two have played great throughout the season and encouraged each other during difficult times.
Final ranking: 7
One of the only players left in the same spot is Domantas Sabonis. Despite not being selected as an All-Star, Sabonis dominated the floor in multiple categories. He leads the league in rebounds, triple-doubles and double-doubles.
Final ranking: 8
Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics are in a good position for the second half of the postseason. The Celtics are currently in first place in the Eastern Conference and have the best record in the league. Tatum proved to be one of the best facilitators in the league last season, which is a big reason for the Celtics' success.
