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Why the Dallas Mavericks are True NBA Championship Contenders
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Why Luka Doncic & the Dallas Mavericks are true NBA Championship Contenders

Nick Holz Published on: Apr 21, 2024 4:59 PM ET

Post-NBA Trade Deadline, the Dallas Mavericks have been the NBA's finest team. With a perennial MVP candidate and one of the greatest offensive talents in NBA history in tow, in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks are the Association's most dangerous sleeping giant. Dallas is poised for a deep run in the NBA playoffs, and are true NBA Championship contenders.

Why Dallas Can Win it All

After flipping Grant Williams for PJ Washington, and acquiring Daniel Gafford from the Washington Wizards for a first round pick, the Mavs are finally prepared for a deep playoff run.

Since the NBA Trade Deadline, the Dallas Mavericks have been the NBA's hottest team. With a far more stout frontcourt, the Mavs are third in net rating, fourth in offensive rating and seventh in defensive rating since the break. Dallas owns the league's third-best record and sixth-best point differential in that span. They went 16-4 both SU and ATS in their final 20 contests, with an insane 108.5 defensive rating.

Jason Kidds' squad have walled off the paint down the stretch, forcing paint penetrators to kick or shoot contested shots, and denying easy layups and dunks.

In fact, post-trade deadline the Mavericks have allowed opponents to shoot just 59.8% at the rim, the best mark in the NBA. Adding the size of Gafford and Washington has finally given the Mavs the big men necessary to execute Kidds' defensive scheme.

Their current starting lineup of Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Derrick Jones Jr, Washington and Gafford is 15-1 since the break. Those five are devastating opponents in their minutes together, with a net rating of +15.9. On top of that, they're holding opponents to just 100.3 points per 100 possessions in their time on the court, which ranks in the 92nd percentile according to Cleaning The Glass.

Offensively, the Mavs own the league's greatest offense in clutch minutes, which is defined as minutes when the scoring margin in within five points with fewer than five minutes remaining in the game. With Kyrie and Luka in tow, Dallas is scoring a scorching 127 points per 100 possessions in the clutch.

All of this to say, the advanced stats point towards a multitude of postseason success for these Mavericks. General Manager Nico Harrison has finally built a squad capable of a run to the NBA Finals.

Kyrie's On the Controls

The mercurial guard is finally starting to come into his own in Dallas, forming an outstanding partnership with Doncic. Kyrie has moulded his game to become Luka's greatest comrade, only its less of a Robin to Batman relationship like with Lebron in Cleveland, and more of a Black Panther to Luka's Thor. If Luka finds himself in a dilemma, Kyrie is there to help solve it.

When Luka and Kyrie take the floor together this season, the Mavericks are an unreal 10.4 points per 100 possessions better than their opponents. However, when we remove the Grant Williams numbers from that equation, their net rating spikes into elite territory at plus 12.8.

In case you've forgotten, Irving remains one of the greatest shot makers in the league. He's also the most lethal and creative finisher at the rim in league history. With the handles to leave defenders perplexed and grasping for air en route to an otherworldly finish at the rim, Kyrie is one of the most dynamic talents to ever grace the hardwood. He's a basketball artist, painting his very own masterpiece nightly on the court.

Crucially, Kyrie can more than handle lead guard duties with Doncic off the floor. He's led the Mavs to a 119.1 offensive rating without Doncic beside him this year, and is more than capable of breaking down defenses in the half court as the playoffs progress.

Luka's Dominance

As one of the Association's most dominant offensive forces, Doncic gives the Mavericks a chance against any team in the world.

The 25-year-old is an historic offensive playmaker, with the chops to break down and destroy even the greatest defenses in the sport. Luka scored an outrageous 33.9 points, to go along with 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game. If not for another outstanding season from Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading one of the NBA's youngest rosters to the top seed in the West, Luka would be the runaway MVP.

He's shooting 76%(!) at the rim this year, and scored a league-leading 553 points against single coverage this season.

Luka's transcendent talent is enough for the Mavs to overcome just about any team in the Western Conference. From there, Dallas' cadre of sharpshooting, versatile role players finally give Doncic the help he needs to ascend to the NBA's precipice.

How to Bet on the Dallas Mavericks

Without Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers have little hope of defeating the juggernaut Mavericks in the NBA's first round. I love Dallas at -142 to win their first round matchup.

From there, sportsbooks have Dallas listed at +750 to win the West. Though easier said than done, the Mavs boast far more playoff experience and scoring ability in the halfcourt than the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. On top of that, with Gafford and rookie Dereck Lively, Dallas possesses the size and defensive chops necessary to go toe-to-toe with Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.

Once they're in the Finals, the Mavs have the offensive firepower and defensive tenacity to battle whichever Eastern Conference foe is put in front of them. I don't need to tell you about Kyrie Irving's ability on the NBA's grandest stage. He's been there before, and taken the hearts and souls of some of the league's greatest players.

The Mavs will need every ounce of Kyrie and Luka's basketball mastery to climb to the NBA Finals and lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy. With two era defining, game-changing talents, and a strong group of role players beside them, the Dallas Mavericks are the greatest value bet to win the NBA Championship at +2000 odds. 

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