The Dallas Mavericks have officially avoided the NBA Play-In Tournament. They are locked in as the No. 4 or No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, setting up a first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers are a team that the Mavericks know well from the postseason. They matched up in a first-round series in 2020 and 2021, with the Clippers coming away victorious both times, winning in six games and then in seven.
While the Clippers have some of the same core players on their roster this season as they did back in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Mavericks team is drastically different. On the sidelines, Jason Kidd is now leading the way, not Rick Carlise.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kyrie Irving, 2024 NBA Playoffs, Dallas Mavericks Updates
On the court, there have been some changes made as well. Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Maxi Kleber are the only rotation players from 2021 who remain on the roster for this year’s rematch.
However, the changes that have been made to the lineup could be what gives the Mavericks the upper hand this time around. Doncic will no longer have the carry the load as a one-man show in the postseason, as he has Kyrie Irving playing next to him.
In the opinion of sports analyst and radio host Craig Carton, having Irving in the fold makes Dallas as dangerous as anyone. He thinks very highly of Irving, recently calling him one of the top guards in NBA history. So, it should come as no surprise that he believes Irving is the X-Factor who can help the Mavericks beat anyone in the league in a playoff series.
“The Mavericks can beat anybody because Kyrie Irving is that good,” Carton said. (H/T The Cold Wire)
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kyrie Irving, 2024 NBA Playoffs, Dallas Mavericks Updates
While the offense can look clunky at times with Doncic and Irving taking turns going one-on-one, that is a skill that teams need to find success in the playoffs. When the games slow down, you need guys who can go out there and get a bucket in crunch time; the Mavericks have two.
The moves Dallas made ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, acquiring P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, have paid major dividends. This is a team built to win in the postseason and a deep run is certainly attainable if they are clicking on all cylinders.
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