« Reply #4206 on: April 24, 2022, 04:03:54 PM »
Despite Luka's numbers and the Mavs record they really aren't much better with Luka on the floor because he is so ball dominant. On the year his on/off per 100 possessions was just 0.2. That is pretty low for a great player with great stats. That is why despite his injury I picked them to win the West and I still think that holds. They have a pretty deep team and in the key moments against most teams will have the best player on the floor. That stuff matters.
you think they are winning the west? That’s pretty wild. If you really believe this and aren’t just being contrarian you can bet 200 dollars on them to win 7000. There’s not a lot of people seeing what you are seeing.
it is in the prediction thread I started a couple of weeks ago. Mavs were the 2nd best team in 2022 behind only the Suns (they had 1 more win than the C's). They were absolutely on fire and Luka has been a monster in basically every playoff game he has played in. He shows up
They would be underdogs against memphis, golden state and Phoenix (especially without homecourt). As good as Brunson and doncic are, they have a thoroughly mediocre frontcourt. Is powell, bertans and kleber the worst frontcourt in playoffs? Seems worse than a lot of lottery teams even.
The Mavs went 3-1 against GS this year (all in 2022). 3-1 against Memphis (2-0 in 2022). 0-3 against Phoenix (0-1 in 2022).
I picked them before the playoffs, so I obviously thought they'd beat Phoenix in the 2nd round, but I really like their chances now that is appears Booker isn't going to play for at least the first couple of games if not more.
After their game on December 29th, the Mavs were 16-18. They closed the year at 36-12. They were just on fire and I see no reason they won't continue to be on fire now that Luka is back.
I do expect them to lose to the Eastern representative in the Finals. I predicted it would be Milwaukee before the playoffs started, though if Middleton is out, I do like Boston's chances assuming they win 1 of the next 4 against the Nets. In all honestly I expect that 2nd round series to decide the championship.
That is a bold take. Take a look once more at DAL's front court - I think I would honestly take Daniel Theis over all of their Centers and Forwards. Luka is an incredible player and Brunson/Dinwiddie are reliable, but I have no idea how they even come close to beating a healthy GSW team...or a semi-healthy PHX team for that matter.
As a Cs fan who [of course] has us going all the way to the Finals, I would be jumping through the roof if DAL was the West representative.
They've had this frontcourt all season (well at least since the trade deadline). It hasn't mattered. And here's the thing, in every single playoff series they will have either clearly or arguably the best player on the floor (except against Giannis - yes I think it is arguable between him and Curry and no one else he'll play is close to him). That matters. Luka is a monster. He has done things in the playoffs that no one in history has done (and that isn't hyperbole). For example, the most points in a playoff debut ever. Prior to last night in 13 playoff games he averaged 34-9-10 on 50/40 splits and was being guarded the vast majority of the time by either Paul George or Kawhi Leonard. He is a beast. I absolutely and firmly believe this is his coming out moment in much the same way 2007 was Lebron's. I just think the path is wide open for Luka and the Mavs. Once they made the trade of KP, they firmly set up the team to surround Luka with players that fit perfectly with him and there isn't a team that is set up well to defend him that can also stop Brunson and Dinwiddie. The path couldn't have set up better for them. The do have to beat Utah though, who I actually think is a bad matchup for them.
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2025 Historical Draft - Cleveland Cavaliers - 1st pick
Starters - Luka, JB, Lebron, Wemby, Shaq
Rotation - D. Daniels, Mitchell, G. Wallace, Melo, Noah
Deep Bench - Korver, Turner
