Kyrie Irving: The Calm Amongst Luka's Storm

As the Dallas Mavericks prepare for their Western Semi-Finals matchup with the 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, it seems as good a time as ever to reflect on the Mavericks’ journey here.

While the avid followers of the Mavericks majority-wise did NOT have these worries, the 

broader scope of NBA fans, followers, haters & national media had one giant question about this iteration of the Luka era: How are Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving going to work together? No one ever questioned either’s individual basketball abilities, but the meshing of the two dynamic forces in a cohesive, championship contending manner was in question. Would Luka learn to defer in a healthy way? Would Kyrie welcome the season-long effort of being the clear #2? Would the team’s defense be good enough with two average, below-average if you ask some, defenders as the co-stars?

Those questions were answered, with resounding positivity, over the 82-game stretch from mid-October thru early-April. They each showed a concerted effort and willingness to change how they play their individual games to enhance the other and the team. When healthy, the duo is arguably the most lethal in the NBA. The team, when healthy and post-trade deadline, showed to also be one of the most lethal threats to the defending champion Denver Nuggets to hoist this seasons’ Larry O’Brien trophy. All of this is fantastic. It has produced Dallas’ best odds at a championship since 2011. But why, truly, does this pairing of Luka & Kyrie work so well?

The answer is, flatly, Kyrie.

When Dallas traded for Kyrie, the outside-looking-in vantage point saw this as a significant talent upgrade for the franchise. But a vibes & leadership upgrade? Far from it. How could the masses be so wrong about something they were so sure of? That’s another question for another day.

What can be answered today is that the entire organization feels the impact of the calm that is Kyrie. His calmness in the locker room, at practice, in press conferences, and on the court. It seems as if every individual who has media availability in the franchise has touted his leadership. And that, amongst all the other positives, is the key to the Mavericks machine.

Luka Doncic is a thunderstorm of emotion. He is a thunderous force on the court in all ways. Whether it’s the elite post-up ability, proving to his opponent 99% of the time to be weaker than he.

Or his sensational one-man in-game takeovers where you blink twice and he has a 15-0 run on his own.

Or how his presence rumbles throughout a 48-minute game. Sometimes doesn’t seem like it’s there, but it’s there. The thunder is there.

(Or how he is thunderous in his emotions towards officials but we won’t stay on that topic.)

You may think the analogy goes a step further as to say Kyrie is the lightning to Luka’s thunder. In another universe you may be right.

In this universe, Kyrie is not the lightning.

For the Mavericks, he is the calm amongst Luka’s storm. The steady force that balances the ferociousness of Luka’s game. Just as smooth and aesthetically pleasing as it is to watch Kyrie take on the challenge of a 1-on-3 fast break and glide on the court, it’s also that same grace that has encaptured this team to stay ferocious, but calm in the same light.

The Dallas Mavericks now face the task that is the Oklahoma City Thunder, and that task will be lofty. The serenity that comes with Kyrie’s role on this team will be key to a successful outcome for Dallas.

Now, let’s all watch the storm roll-in together.

Dallas Mavericks Playoff Preview Round 1

Issues Solved?

Lengthy teams have been an Achilles heel for the Dallas Mavericks this season. However, now it appears that they may have solved the issue with their acquisitions at the trade deadline.

Daniel Gafford – Gafford is an immediate upgrade to this roster. Dereck Lively II has been a breath of fresh air this season, but once he is off the floor, whether for foul trouble or injury, there is a significant drop off in production from the center position. Gafford at 6’10 and an immense athletic ability helps them maintain a paint presence. Since joining Dallas, he is averaging 13 rebounds per game, including his most recent game against his former team, where he racked up 17 boards. He is an absolute workhorse on the offensive glass, which has been huge in allowing his team to get some key second-chance points.

He also has proven his worth on the defensive end, which also answers a huge need for the Mavericks, as they have been dominated in the points in the paint category by bigger teams. This past game against the Washington Wizards, Gafford tallied 5 blocked shots. While the Wizards still were able to score points in the paint, Gafford still forced them to alter several shots at the rim.

PJ Washington – Washington had a strong debut for the Dallas Mavericks against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and brought several things to the table that will translate well for the Dallas Mavericks. Washington brings something that the team was definitely missing with Grant Williams, who was part of the package Wiliams was traded for. Washington dropped 14 points, and showed the ability to score from all areas of the floor. He drove to the basket, knocked down shots from the outside, and finished lobs at the rim. His physicality is a huge benefit to this team as they make a push toward the playoffs.

PJ Washington also shows his worth on another front for the Dallas Mavericks. He provides versatility to cover multiple positions for this team, and willingly fills the role. Washington and teammate Maxi Kleber played some stifling defense down the stretch against the Wizards to close out the game. He averages approximately one steal and one block for his career. He averaged roughly the same defensive statistics during his time in college for the Kentucky Wildcats.

The Mavericks have ultimately upgraded in the frontcourt, and are poised to make a run, provided the team stays healthy. They should be exciting to watch down the stretch. The next chance to see them in action will be against this year’s number one pick, Victor Wembenyama.

Predicting the Deadline

It is that time of year, where we finished with Christmas cheer and the New Year has given much hope and renewal of confidence as new goals present themselves to us. This isn’t unlike the NBA. There are some teams that have a renewal of hope. However, maybe they’re a contender that is getting a piece back that is healthy,they have a clear vision that they need help that isn't coming or that they need to give coveted pieces away to those in need. It is NBAs most fun time of year. 

In the Mavs case, there are specific targets that have been recently identified by NBA Analyst James Weinbech on the Mavs post-Christmas, pre-Valentines day wish list. Here are their names, numbers, addresses and in most cases there are no trade backs. 

Jerami Grant- Portland Trailblazers 

Age: 29 6’8” 210lbs

Contract

2023/24

$27,586,207

2024/25

$29,793,104

2025/26

$32,000,001

2026/27

$34,206,898

2027/28

$36,413,790

Current Averages

21.7ppg/3.6rpg/2.4apg/.8spg/.7blg 

48.7% from 2 (11.1/g)

40.3% from 3 (5.4/g)

80.3% from FT (5.4/g)

52.5% efg

Jerami Grant represents a player that on paper has everything you want. He has size, versatility. He can shoot the 3, put it on the floor.and in theory, he can play a little bit of defense. Jerami’s defensive chops are more from his reputation when he was playing with Denver. Over the last several years with Detroit and Portland, he has let things on that side of the ball lapse, choosing to instead focus on his offensive skill set. He represents an upgrade to the starting lineup that desperately needs more consistent scoring help for Luka and Kyrie. If he put in the same energy on defense when he was with Denver this would be a great move for the Mavericks. Although, in a recent interview he indicated he would not welcome a change and is happy in Portland. 

Kyle Kuzma- Washington Wizards

Age: 28, 6’9” 220lbs

Contract

2023/24

$25,568,182

2024/25

$23,522,727

2025/26

$21,477,272

2026/27

$19,431,819

Current Averages

21.8ppg/6.4rpg/4.3apg/.5spg/.6bpg

51.7% from 2 (12/g)

34.3% from 3 (6.7/g)

78.7% from FT (3.2/g)

51.6% eFG

Kuzma is a polarizing figure. He is routinely on twitter making controversial statement. Such as, the Mavs don't play winning basketball. He has feuded with former WCF Mav guard, Spencer Dinwiddie. On the court he does a little of everything and some of it not well. Defensively, he is not good. He is not really good off the ball and does not create a lot of turnovers or deflections where he is in the 2nd percentile. OOF. However, as a tertiary playmaker he is really good, he is in the 90th percentile and has a passer rating in the 66th percentile. He is a scorer, albeit not the most efficient scorer. In a tertiary score role perhaps he would become more efficient. It is something that the Maverick will have to weigh. There is upside, he is a good rebounder for his position and has good size.  

Daniel Gafford- Washington Wizards 

Age: 25, 6’10” 235lb

Contract

2023/24

$12,402,000

2024/25

$13,394,160

2025/26

$14,386,320

Current Averages

10.5ppg/7.6rpg/1.6apg/.9spg/2.1bpg

68.5% from 2 (6.3/g)

0.0% from 3 (None Taken)

72.7% from FT (2.4/g)

68.5% eFG

The other Wizard, Gafford AKA “The Landlord” is a long defender that has good instincts to defend the rim. His over 2bpg would be a nice change for when Lively is off the court. He's not tall but has a good wingspan and athleticism. He is great on the boards . His role offensively would a roll man. His current PNR partners are not always the greatest, however he make the most of the opportunities when he gets them. He is in the 98% as a roll man, which would factor in well with Luka. He plays well in space and has the determination to be one of the best big man defenders in the league. A Lively/Gafford duo would provide the Mavs with a dynamic big man duo they have lacked since the 2011 season. 

PJ Washington- Charlotte Hornets

Age 25 6’7” 230lbs

Contract

2023/24

$16,847,826

2024/25

$15,500,000

2025/26

$14,152,174

Current Averages

12.7ppg/5.2rpg/2.1apg/.9spg/.7bpg

52.8% from 2 (5.7/g)

31.7% from 3 (5.5/g)

75.8% from FT (1.9/g)

50.3 eFG

PJ Washington is coming off his best year and was rewarded with a 3yr and $46M contract in his RFA. He wasnt really pursued by many teams so his FA was more like a hostage negotiation than him really wanting to return to the Hornets. I am sure he was grateful, but i think his heart is elsewhere. You can see that in his play this year. He has not been nearly as good. He is down in just about every statistical category. If he resorts to last years player it would create another dynaminc in the Mavs offense and defense. He is not known as a 3 point shooter but he does shoot for his career 36% on 5/g with a career high of 38.6%. He was used as a floor spacer at the 5 position and his 7’2” wingspan allows him to guard 5 positions. This is definitely a buy low candidate that could be very fruitful in Dallas. 

Isaiah Stewart- Detroit Pistons

Age 22, 6’8” 250

Contract

2023/24

$5,266,713

2024/25

$15,000,000

2025/26

$15,000,000

2026/27

$15,000,000

2027/28

$15,000,000

Current Averages

10.8ppg/6.9rpg/1.8apg/.3spg/.7bpg

53.0% from 2 (4.9/g)

38.5% from 3 (3.8/g)

73.6% from FT (1.7/g)

55.0% eFG

Isaiah Stewart, the man known for going crazy to get to Lebron. Stewart is a young and improving player but it is hard to get a read on him as a player or even any Pistion player at the moment. He plays hard on a nightly basis and is very strong big body. His offensive skill set is mostly dunks and 3 point shooting. He does have decent touch from about 16ft but he doesn't shoot from mid range very often. Defensively he competes hard and is solid defensively. He isnt an anchor of a defense but will try hard. He is a good defensive rebounder but offensively he is not around the rim player so he doesnt crash the offenseive glass. His contract may make him a prohibitive option, however he is young and sometimes you pay for the opportunity to see a player grow. 

Chris Boucher

Age 31, 6’9” 200lbs

Contract

2023/24

$11,750,000

2024/25

$10,810,000

Current Averages

6.2ppg/4.0rpg/.4apg/.3spg/.5bpg

58.6% from 2 (2.5/g)

32.9% from 3 (2.0/g)

74.3% from FT (1.8/g)

54.5% eFG% 

Chris Boucher would undoubtedly cost the least to get. He doesn't seem to fit the new Raptors timeline. I do not see him as a huge upgrade over what the Mavs have in place already, but he could help the big man depth. As a player that is not a high minute player but when he is on the court he can be seen as a decent defender and is normally efficient offensively. He will shoot the occasional 3, but he is not great at it. His contract would be a good offseason expirer to use in trade. 

Other names that have been floated around for the Mavs are: 

Deni Adjvia, Quentin Grimes, Buddy Heild, Wendell Carter Jr, Bruce Brown

Further Along Than You May Think

On Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks played the 1st seed in the West Minnesota Timberwolves, while missing Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Seth Curry & Maxi Kleber. The game was competitive until around the 8-minute mark, where then the Timberwolves would break away and turn the game into a blowout. Not many blowout losses leave a fan base with positive vibes and a clear direction of a team, but this was different. Let’s talk about 3 reasons why Dallas is closer to contention than anyone in Mavs Land may have believed entering this season.

The Stars

The Dallas Mavericks’ beginning, middle & end of being a contender starts with Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving. Much was made of the star duos handful of games played together last season and the negative outcomes in the clutch. The question was asked over & over again by countless observers and outlets: “Can Luka Doncic & Kyrie Irving co-exist on a contending team?” The answer was yes, is yes & will continue to be YES. 

• Can they perform in the clutch together? The Mavericks are 9-2 this season in clutch games. Question has been answered.

• Can Luka learn to play off-ball, so Kyrie isn’t only a spot-up offensive player? Luka is 40.4% on spot-up 3-point shots through 23 games on 47 attempts (roughly 2 attempts per game.) Luka was 35.2% last season on just 71 attempts in 66 games (roughly 1 attempt per game.) Question has been answered.

• Can the 2-man Luka/Kyrie lineups produce positive results? In 344 minutes played, Dallas has a 119.6 offensive rating & 113.5 defensive rating with both Luka & Kyrie on the floor. The offense would be the 3rd best offense in the NBA and the defense would be 14th in the NBA. Net rating of 6.1 would be 5th in the NBA. Question has been answered.

The key question for the Luka/Kyrie duo has never been about if they could co-exist. It has always been about could the organization surround the 2 stars with the proper talent to be able to contend. So far, the front-office has done a great job of surrounding them with complementary talent. However, the job is not done. BUT, they are closer to being “done” than some may think. More on this later.

The Newcomers

The work that Nico Harrison has done as the GM of the Dallas Mavericks has been wonderful so far. The retooling he has done through the past 2 ½ years as the head of the Mavs’ front office was needed and his vision gets clearer and clearer each day. Along with Kyrie Irving & Markieff Morris (I still consider them newcomers to this team since they were in Dallas very briefly last season), the draft night moves to draft Dereck Lively II, OMax Prosper & to acquire Richaun Holmes have paid off MAJORLY. Lively’s development as the center the Mavs have needed for the past 6 years is already a success and he seems like a surefire all-Rookie team member. OMax is rough around the edges, but you can already see with a couple development years that Dallas will have a versatile defensive wing-presence from OMax. Holmes has been fine in his time in Dallas, but also a major upgrade from other backup big men of the past. Then you have the signings of Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr & Grant Williams. All have been upgrades over the supporting cast members of last years’ team, and all are YOUNGER. Outside of the on-court positive play from each of the newcomers in Dallas, I believe the biggest factor in Dallas is that the youth injection into this team is the exact thing Dallas needed to be a more competitive regular season squad. 82 game seasons are tough. Injuries happen, off nights happen, wear & tear on aging NBA bodies happen. A remedy to this is having 6 of your top 10 players in minutes played being 26 years old & younger. Compare this to last season, where 8 of the top 10 in minutes played were 27 years old & OLDER. A vital difference in the makeup of this roster. The newcomers are good, the newcomers are (mostly) young, and they are so very vital to fulfilling the vision that Nico Harrison has instilled into this team’s plans.

The Vibes

There are many reason the Vibes in Dallas are great this season. Luka is in shape. Luka has bought into the team’s new direction. Kyrie is a leader on & off the court for the young guys. The newcomers have brought energy, as well as the rookies bringing vibrance. Jason Kidd has even been clamoring for some “Positive Sh*t” to be written about this team. Well, here is something positive for everyone…

The Dallas Mavericks’ vibes are indicative of a team that is one, MAYBE two, and I stress maybe, moves away from being a clear-cut contender. The vibes amongst the team seem great, and the vibes they are provoking of the fanbase are the best since Game 7 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals in 2022 in Phoenix. Why are these vibes so important? Again, it cannot be stressed enough that an 82-game regular season is a GRIND. A grind that a certain level & type of vibes can help win you a few extra games here and there.

Early November game @ Orlando on the 2nd night of a B2B, overcoming a double-digit 2nd half deficit to then win by 15? Vibes win.

Earlier this week at home versus the Lakers, while missing 4 of your top 10 best players? Vibes win.

The power of vibes is something that can make you like the Detroit Pistons who have lost 23 straight games. Or they can make you like the current Dallas Mavericks, battling through injuries and tough travel schedules to a 16-9 record. Talent can only take you so far. Vibes are something that can turn a play-in team into a possible top 4 seed.

Dallas has vibes. They have talent. They just need one more piece to combine the two into an Immaculate feeling that hasn’t been felt in the DFW area for this team since Jalen Brunson departed.

Are the Mavs Good or Not?

Josh and Mike list their pros and cons of the season so far. Which lineups are most effective so far and which players have surprised us for the better or worse. Find out on episode 26 of the 214 The Win Podcast.

Got to Keep it Level-Headed

It’s hard to take things one step at a time when you’re as excited as Mavs Fans are to see Luka Doncic back on the hardwood, especially when the good guys keep winning. Even with a hot start there are some flaws in Dallas’ game that should help keep your feet on the ground while the Mavs head into the in-season tournament Friday night.

Mavs defense is still not great, especially in the first quarters. The team has enough defensive minded players to think that eventually they will find their groove on that end of the floor but even then they are probably looking at a mediocre to average defense.

The offense looks great even with some of the guys jacking up shots that should probably be holstered. As frustrating as he is to watch THJ on the bench with the second unit makes sense. He's a huge threat when he heats up. Let him cook early on in the season so teams can look at his PPG stats and want to trade for him. With an expanded role on this team as opposed to his role on Boston, Grant Williams is thriving. Grant is a defensive stopper and better as a spot up shooter than we imagined when he signed as a free agent. It's early but Williams is averaging career highs in ppg, minutes, and shooting percentages.

As predicted Jaden Hardy is having a hard time finding his place so far this season. Even in a game that Kyrie Irving didn't play at all Jason Kidd only played Hardy for 10 minutes. Word is that he's continuing to work on his game, let's hope he's adding some presence on defense.

Derrick Jones Jr. is benefitting from playing with Luka Doncic in a way that he's never seen. Let's all hope that continues head in the direction of him meeting the potential that analysts once saw in him.

The Dereck Lively II situation is giving Mavs fans across DFW a bi-weekly aneurysm. When he's on the court he's a complete game changer - keyword: "when". Through the first 3 games, Lively II has been kept off the court by Kidd's coaching or most recently because of foul trouble. Expect those issues to level out soon, Lively needs to be on the court. There is no question he's the best center on the roster at this point.

Grant Williams is More Than Advertised

For the Dallas Mavericks, the start of the new season brought about many questions as to how the new roster will mesh moving forward. Grant Williams is proving to be piece the Mavericks can rely on.

Grant Williams provided in multiple ways for the Mavericks in game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs. One of those areas of impact came on the defensive end of the floor. For the limited time that Victor Wembanyama was on the floor (foul trouble) Williams would draw the majority of defensive responsibility on him. Williams would provide a physical presence that seemed to disrupt what Wembanyama was trying to do in the paint. Williams would also finish with a blocked shot.

Grant Williams would also provide an offensive lift for Dallas, scoring 17 points, including four out of eight from behind the arc. Williams has always been a player who is not afraid to fire from three if called upon, and with teammates like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, spot shooters like Williams will have their opportunities to contribute.

After only 3 games WIlliams looks even more than advertised when the Mavericks signed him, averaging career high shooting percentages, points, and minutes. He helps to solidify the starting power forward position for Dallas. His offense and defense are both things the Mavericks need to be a consistent factor moving forward if they hope to achieve their dream of getting back to the NBA finals.

We Love You, Dorian Finney-Smith

The Dallas Mavericks began their 2023-2024 season on Wednesday night with a tough win over the now-in-the-spotlight Spurs in San Antonio, playing spoiler to rookie Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut. They now travel back up to Dallas for their season home opener on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. Most home openers are energetic, special, and full of optimism. This year’s opener will be no different, although it will feature another element: Raw Emotion.

This Friday’s game will be headlined by the return of former Maverick, Dorian Finney-Smith, for the first time to play in Dallas NOT as a member of the Mavericks. This man needs no introduction to those of you reading this piece. He has made an impact on any Mavs fan who followed the team at any point from 2017-2023. However, I will delve into my emotional fan connection to Dorian, and I know many of you will empathize. Get your tissues ready, Mavs fans, Friday night is going to be emotional.

Dorian played most of his college career at the University of Florida before going undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft. Dallas signed Finney-Smith as an undrafted free agent in the 2016 off-season, and he began playing for the franchise immediately. He never averaged under 20 minutes per game during any season in his 6 ½ seasons in Dallas, and he began his career for the Mavs at the perfect time. Dorian was a player who needed time to develop, and the Mavs were a team who had time to develop players such as him. Years removed from their 2011 NBA Championship, Dallas had been middling for the most of the next 5 seasons, and the first few years of Finney-Smith’s career were no different for the team. Dorian is the epitome of a 3&D player in the modern NBA. At least, he eventually developed into one. He developed his jump shot so well with the franchise that he began his career with 3 straight seasons under 32% from the 3pt line, to eventually having 3 seasons straight of better than 37.5% from the 3pt line. Drastic improvement for a drastically lovable guy. As he grew as a player, his role grew with the team, and his impact on the organization and community at large grew even more.

You won’t find a single person with a bad thing to say about Dorian. His teammates love him, his coaches love him, the front office loves him, and the fans adore him. And most importantly, Dorian loved everyone back. There are plenty of professional athletes who do not reciprocate the love and adoration that an organization and fanbase display to the player. Rightfully so. There are no mandates that a player must have undying loyalty to the team, and they have every right to guard themselves from being attached to the community they are in. But it’s the players who love back just as much as they have been loved that make the largest impact.

I don’t have a singular moment that defines my love for Dorian Finney-Smith during his time in Dallas. It’s just an unexplainable vibe that you get when you say the name and observe the guy. The hilarious nickname duo of “Bang Bros” with former Maverick Reggie Bullock. His humorous and galvanizing post-game press conferences with Jeff “Skin” Wade several times every season. His grit and grind style on the court. His subtle way of talking trash to opposing teams every time he made a 3-point shot near the opposing bench. This and many more moments define his on the court time with Dallas and are the epitome of the impact he made for the team. His impact doesn’t stop there, for he loved the Dallas community and gave back many times more than he was given.

When Dorian Finney-Smith was traded in February 2023 to the Brooklyn Nets in part for Kyrie Irving, it was the melancholiest day. I was happy to have Kyrie in Dallas, who would raise the ceiling for contention. But losing Dorian hurt. Really hurt. In the back of my mind, I knew for a couple of years that if Dallas were to contend eventually for a title, then it would be without Dorian on the team. Contracts, age timeline and talent ceilings being the main reasons. Knowing the day was coming didn’t make it any easier when it occurred. But that’s how professional sports go.

One of my favorite Texas Rangers players of all-time was Elvis Andrus, and as we prepare for a Texas Rangers 2023 World Series, it hurts me inside that he is not a part of it. But he will always be in my eyes. Just as Dorian would be if the Mavericks make a championship run in the near future. You can’t ever forget the impact that a player like Dorian has made on a team, even years after they part ways.

In the end, it is not the end of the world. Dorian no longer being a Maverick is not a real-life tragedy. There are hundreds and hundreds of world calamities on a continual basis that require the mental headspace of grief and mourning. But as a sports fan, seeing an impactful person on your sports fanhood like Finney-Smith be in a different team’s jersey, playing in your home stadium… that’s tough.

There will be tears. There will be smiles. And there absolutely will be standing ovations galore. As we prepare for the first time Dorian returns to Dallas, I must say I have zero doubts that he has not played his final games in a Dallas uniform. That’s one of the sweet parts of this bittersweet evening that we encroach upon.

Dorian, Dallas Loves You, and we always will.

Dereck Lively is Instant Impact

On a night where the focus was undoubtedly on first overall pick Victor Wembanyama, it was another rookie that made an eye-opening impact for his team. Here is a look at the breakdown of Dereck Lively II’s first game for the Dallas Mavericks.

Instant Improvement

Lively II, in just his first game in the National Basketball Association notched a very strong double-double. There were several aspects that were an immediate improvement for both the Dallas Mavericks and him.

He finished the game scoring 16 points on an efficient 7 out of 8 shooting. The 16 he scored was more than any game that he recorded while anchoring the paint for the Duke Blue Devils last year. He presented himself at the rim as a lob threat, and also showed his ability to play with his back to the basket and score inside. He has been spending a lot of time learning from and working with Tyson Chandler, and his game is a very similar approach.

Lively finished the game tallying ten rebounds, six of which came on the offensive end of the floor, providing a rebounding presence that they have been sorely missing for some time at the center position. In the third quarter, Lively threw down an emphatic put-back dunk, which surely excited Mavericks fans. We will see if this trend continues Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. He is projected to be the starting center, however, whether starting or off the bench, Lively has proven he is willing to do what is necessary to help the team win.

Area For Improvement

The one main area for improvement for Lively would be to make sure he is in the right places defensively. At times, Lively could be seen out of place, and then having to hurry to get back into the right place on the floor. In a league where the players are as talented as they are in the NBA, this will lead to almost certain foul trouble, especially in the scenario of players driving to the basket. Late rotation will not help him to stay on the floor if he begins to rack up fouls as he did in the preseason. If he continues to focus on this area, he will become a very solid piece for Dallas moving forward.

The excitement for Lively is definitely there in Dallas. Mavericks fans want to see him remain consistent and contribute. Playing with two stars like Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will definitely help him evolve and become a strong player in this league.

Game 1 Win 1: Mavericks Steal a Win in San Antonio

Fresh episode of 214 The Win Podcast out now. Mike Sanders and Josh Mazur talk about our pros and cons from the Mavericks first game. Available everywhere:

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hd9teClhN2I9gDlf4ceZT?si=F1EIKSy7Rj-3-gCwvYirgg
Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/game-1-win-1-mavs-season-starts-with-a-win/id1638717066?i=1000632682422
Amazon:
https://www.audible.com/pd/B0CLV9BLTJ?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic Player Profiles 2023-24

Mike Sanders and Josh Mazur conduct their final player profile before the start of the 2023-24 NBA season. There are lots of questions surrounding the Dallas Mavericks and their two stars Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.

Can they work together?

Can Kyrie be happy in Dallas?

Who will take the leadership role?

Do they need another star to lineup beside them?

Dallas Mavericks Preseason Overreactions

Josh and Mike overreact to the Mavericks preseason so far as they get ready for the NBA season to start. 

Preseason Game 1 Takeaways

In their first preseason game of the season, the Dallas Mavericks fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-99. Here are a few takeaways and bright spots from the game.

 The biggest takeaway is arguably the performance of the potential starters Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper. Lively II had a few bright spots in this game, such as his energy on the defensive end, and his willingness to switch seamlessly. He seemed to make the Timberwolves at least think before driving into the paint. He also rebounded well, finishing the game with five boards. A big area of improvement to keep an eye out for is how quickly the fouls pile up. This is not something new with Lively. He had the same issue of staying on the court because of the foul count when he played last season for the Duke Blue Devils. No doubt, with him working so closely with Tyson Chandler, he will show improvement on defending without fouling.

 Prosper did not have a great showing in the first game. He finished with one point and one rebound. He seemed to be out of place defensively, and while he also displayed some energy, he lacked the physicality needed to be able to defend the elite perimeter players in this league, such as Anthony Edwards. If Prosper is going to want to earn and keep the starting spot on the roster, he is the player that needs to make the biggest adjustment in the remainder of the preseason games.

 Grant Williams showed some flashes of what was intriguing about acquiring him in the offseason. He knocked down two shots from outside in a pivotal moment where the Mavericks went on a scoring run in the third quarter. Williams also finished with two rebounds and a blocked shot.

 Jaden Hardy has really improved on some of the items that the coaching staff really wanted him to focus on in summer league and heading into this season. One of those being his ability to facilitate on the offensive end. Dallas fans are aware that Hardy knows how to shoot the ball, but he showed obvious signs of his improvement in finding open teammates to knock down shots. He made an impressive play early in the third quarter, where he drove to the rim and found AJ Lawson in the corner with a one-handed no-look pass. If he continues to improve in this area, it should help to solidify his spot in the rotation, even with the addition of Seth Curry and Dante Exum.

 The Mavericks play their second game in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, October 7 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Preseason Game 1 Reactions: Pros and Cons

Mike and Josh try not to overreact to the first preseason game. Is Luka alone? Which surprising player shined? Find out on the 214 The Win Podcast.

Practice? We're Talkin' 'bout Practice?!

Mike and Josh talk about the Mavericks first day of practice before a hectic preseason schedule starts. Jason Kidd and Luka Doncic met with the media to discuss their first day back on the practice court.

FIBA Injury Panic and New Rules for Rest

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The guys break down the new NBA rule regarding resting "star" players and talk about their feelings regarding Luka Doncic' nagging leg injury. 

Luka vs Refs and Christian Wood Pointing Fingers Share Episode Stats Edit Episode

Josh and Mike break down the effect Luka's complaining has on the game and talk about Christian Wood thinks Dallas did. 

Predicting the Future: Are the Mavericks Championship Contenders?

Take a moment and think about every championship contender in modern NBA history. After just 30 seconds, it would be common to recognize the various forms of contenders that would encompass that list. Superteams, star duos with adequate supporting casts, teams with one star and a sound slew of role players, balanced teams with no stars, teams built through the draft, teams built through free agency, teams who built both ways, teams who just couldn’t make it over the hump. The constant theme is that there is no one singular way to build a title contender. There are themes that have higher success rates, but the term success itself is relative. What makes a contender… a contender? For the Dallas Mavericks, this is a question that every player, coach, front office member, media member and fan is asking. How will Dallas become a contender again, and is it a replicable formula for the entirety of Luka Doncic’s era with the franchise?

The Now

As things stand in August 2023, there’s optimism on what this new season will bring to the city of Dallas, but conflicting feelings on whether or not the franchise has altered the makeup of the roster enough to be 2023-2024 contenders. Most would say the cautiously optimistic sweet spot in terms of predictions for the Mavericks would be to make the playoffs after a year away from the tournament, and contend for a 5 or 6 seed. Pessimism looks at a stacked Western Conference and a couple of serious needs left unfilled on the roster and see the Mavs contending for home-court in the play-in tournament at best. Consensus is that they are not a legitimate title contender, now just 10 months away from when we will find out who the next two contenders for the NBA Finals will be.

The additions of multiple defensive-minded rookies, an elite wing defender, and some solid role players to fill out the end spots of your bench are what we have seen thus far in the Summer of 2023 from Nico Harrison & co. The recipe they are preparing for the fanbase to feast on is centered around 2 stars, one under 25 years old and one over 30 years old (more on this later) who happen to be below-average defenders, but in the highest tier of the elites offensively. The way to build around Luka & Kyrie for contention is to surround them with sound defensive players who also possess multiple ways to contribute on offense. Players like Josh Green, Grant Williams, Olivier-Maxence Prosper & Dereck Lively II all currently, or are projected to fit that bill. It still remains to be seen whether or not a team can win a title while both star players are below-average defenders. The most recent example of the Denver Nuggets winning the 2023 NBA Championship doesn’t even fully align with how Dallas is building their team. No one would classify Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray as defensive stalwarts, but the main reason Jokic catapulted into yearly MVP contention and now a champion, is partly because of no longer being a liability on the defensive end. Sometimes, being average is all that it takes.

The two reasons Dallas is not yet considered a contender, are not having a clear-cut number three player for a contending roster, and relying too heavily on two rookies to be a core of the teams’ defensive identity. Dallas can fix the former, either through trade or through internal development via Josh Green, but the latter can only be fixed with time. Dallas has the blueprint to be a contender, but the pieces to create the immaculate puzzle that is a championship-worthy roster are still pending. They are closer today than they were in April, but this upcoming regular season will tell us all we need to know about the potential candidacy for Dallas to vault into the upper echelon of NBA contendership.

The Future

All the reasons that Dallas may not be ready for contention now, are the reasons that Dallas could be certified contenders in the future. The reliance on rookies Lively II and Prosper will be volatile. In year 1, Dallas cannot expect championship-level contributions on a consistent basis from these two, especially in a playoff series. However, they are both set-up for a development plan starting this Summer that could see them as starters and the 3rd & 4th best players on this team, respectively, within the next 2-3 years. The future aspirations for NBA Championships will significantly be impacted by the development of the rooks. Imagine it’s the beginning of the 2025-2026 season. Luka & Kyrie are still your star duo, with Luka fully entered into his prime and Kyrie having just exited his. Lively II and Prosper fill out the 4 & 5 spots in the starting lineup. Either Grant Williams or Josh Green have stayed aboard the ship and have the 5th starter role/7th man role locked down. Jaden Hardy is your scoring 6th man. Dwight Powell is still getting backup center minutes… (JOKING… maybe). Going into the 2025-2026 playoffs, all of Dallas’ young core will be 22-28 years old and with 3 seasons or more each of experience. Throw in that Irving should still be with the team at that point, and you have yourself a contender, and in my opinion, the best team in the association.

As goes life, everything stated above will likely not 100% transpire by the time 2025 arrives. However, Dallas isn’t fully reliant upon the aforementioned scenario playing out as their only pathway to contention. They have the young core that can organically grow into a contender, but they also have veteran pieces and assets to be additives to the process. Dallas currently possesses multiple 2nd round picks and their 2027 1st round draft pick for trading purposes. After exiting the 2024 draft next June, they would possess two 1st round picks to trade. And if they waited to trade 1sts until draft night 2025, they would be able to trade up to three 1st round picks. Dallas isn’t in the greatest position in terms of draft capital in the league, but they have improved their present and future outlooks while actually adding draft capital to their pool in Summer 2023. Don’t expect Dallas to be in the final four in June 2024, but they are on the cusp as long as they stay the current path.

Is Dallas’ Star Duo Going to Work?

Dallas possesses two star players on opposite sides of their primes. Kyrie Irving will enter this season at 31 years old, and Luka Doncic enters at 24. Here are a few other notable star duos that met the same criteria:

• Tim Duncan & David Robinson

• Tracy McGrady & Grant Hill

• Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O’Neal

• Amar’e Stoudemire & Steve Nash

• Dwyane Wade & Shaquille O’Neal

• Carmelo Anthony & Allen Iverson

• Kyrie Irving & LeBron James

• Bam Adebayo & Jimmy Butler

• Devin Booker & Chris Paul

Looking at this list of 9 star duos, there is a variety of combinations. The Spurs with Duncan & Robinson featured 2 dominant big men. You see Kyrie Irving as the young star with LeBron, and now the older star with Luka in Dallas. Shaquille O’Neal is featured with two of the top 5 shooting guards in NBA history, Kobe Bryant & Dwyane Wade. You have two defensive powerhouses in Adebayo and Butler in Miami. Also, you see the prototypical Point Guard-Big Man combo of Steve Nash & Amar’e Stoudemire. The duo that aligns most with Doncic & Irving is the Carmelo Anthony-Allen Iverson combo in Denver. Although Luka Doncic and Carmelo Anthony’s games have very few similarities, they were both elite offensively and subpar defensively as a whole. Whereas Irving & Iverson’s games as score-first undersized 2 guards are very alike. Irving began his tenure with Dallas at age 30, and Iverson began his tenure in Denver at age 31. The pairing of Anthony & Iverson was short-lived in Denver, spanning less than 2 full seasons and ending with two 1st round playoff exits. As mentioned, this was the duo that most closely compared to the other star duos who met the age criteria of the Mavericks’ duo, but there are still stark differences in this comparison. Luka Doncic’s facilitating ability is arguably top-2 in the NBA, a differentiator between him and Anthony. The Iverson-Anthony duo, in part didn’t produce title contention due to neither being a true floor general. Iverson was eventually traded to the Detroit Pistons with Chauncey Billups ending up in Denver, and the Nuggets made a Western Conference Finals run after that transaction, with Billups being the point guard that Denver truly needed to pair with Carmelo. Kyrie Irving, arguably, is in a better win-now position career-wise than Iverson was when he began his tenure in Mile High City, although the two do have much in common on the court. Dallas’ floor with the Luka-Kyrie duo is going to be the output from Denver in 2006-2008. The question is whether or not they will depict the success of a Duncan-Robinson combination, or either of Shaquille O’Neal’s duos. Dallas realistically has a 2, maybe 3 year window for the Luka-Kyrie era to show what it can produce. The ceiling is a contender for the entirety, the floor is multiple early-round playoff exits. How Dallas works around the edges with transactions and play development will determine whether this 2-3 year window turns into Dallas driving straight into another window once Irving’s time with the franchise comes to a close a few years from now.

Building a title contender is hard. One big mistake, or multiple minor mistakes can set a franchise back 2+ years in development. For Mavs fans, this has shown itself throughout the Dirk era and Luka’s era as well. No franchise builds a contender without a little luck as well. Dallas experienced some luck this off-season with somehow keeping their 2023 1st round pick and getting the 10th overall selection in the draft lottery. Then, they were fortunate for Sacramento to offload Richaun Holmes to Dallas with the 24th overall pick as the tax, and Dallas was able to select Olivier-Maxence Propser. For a franchise that has a history of bad draft lottery luck, the 2023 draft experience alone possibly opened a future window of title contention once this current window closes. Now, all Dallas has to do is avoid the setback mistakes, and continue to be patient in the process. Thus far, Dallas seems to have understood the assignment beginning this off-season.

Podcast: Dallas Mavericks Schedule Predictions

Josh and Mike make some predictions on the Dallas Mavericks season now that the 2023-24 schedule has been released.