Luka Doncic starts his fourth season in the NBA staring at the ring. The leader of the Dallas Mavericks is ambitious, and repeats that common place that all elite athletes resort to. They are where they are to win, whatever the cost. The American league ring is open to many candidates, but the Mavs start from far away despite the dispatch revolution this summer.
At the individual level, Doncic starts as the main favorite to the MVP of the 2021-2022 regular season. That is what the bookmakers say, a position that most analysts share with a little more suspicion. To be the MVP, your team must also be near the top.
With or without MVP, the Slovenian has prepared thoroughly, physically and mentally, to face a course in which everyone expects to see you climb a step of quality again in your game. Slovenian pending subjects include free throws (73% correct) and turnovers (4.3 per game).
“Over time I have learned to be a better leader, now I know that I should be more vocal in the dressing room “, he shared with reporters on Dallas Media Day. On how to improve the team’s chemistry, Doncic looked at the dynamics of his team: “I think we have to spend more time together, as we do with Slovenia, although the circumstances are different ”.
At the collective level, Mark Cuban sparked a revolution this summer to shake the dust off the franchise. After 13 years with Rick Carlisle on the bench and a few more than Donnie Nelson of ringleader, they arrive Jason Kidd and Nico Harrison, a former Nike executive and now the new General Manager of the Texans.
The changes in the offices and in the band, however, have not been accompanied on the track. Dallas Squad keeps its core hardoy, therefore, you must overcome the same challenges as before. Improving defense is the top priority at Texas, as their attack has been among the best in the competition for the past two years (first at 19-20, eighth at 20-21).
The new faces in Dallas
Market movements
Incorporations: Reggie Bullock, Sterling Brown, Moses Brown, Frank Ntikilina.
Low: Josh Richardson, Nicolò Melli, J.J. Redick.
A matter of chemistry
The tandem Doncic and Porzingis faces a key year. They must put aside their disagreements off the court and get to work together for the good of the team. The success of Kidd’s project will depend on their connection on the parquet, who entered with the desire to reconcile the couple.
According to Mark Cuban, the two European players “get along well, but they are very different people.” The owner acknowledged that there was some friction, although he compared the situation with the relationship between Dirk Nowitzki y Jason Terry, creators of the Dallas Alirón in 2011.
“I think Porzingis is the ideal partner for Doncic, he has a repertoire of skills that many do not have in this league.”
Moderate expectations
Dallas hasn’t made much market buzz. Essentially, he plays it with the tandem he already had and, in addition, manages to retain the all-important Tim Hardaway Jr. in the template. As impatient as Doncic is, the Mavs will have to take things calmly and philosophically.
They are a young team that will change registration with the new coach. There will be a period of adaptation, but if things go well they could claim their first victory in a playoff round in a long time. Anything to avoid a first-round fiasco like the previous two years against the Clippers will be an important step forward.
In the end, Luka is only 22 years old and a whole race ahead.
The Mavericks in numbers
2020-2021 season
42
Victorias
30
Defeats
21
Worst defense (112.3 points)
12
Doncic minutes with the ball (per game)
8
Best attack (114.6 points)
5
Western Conference Classifieds
2
Consecutive eliminations in 1st round of playoffs
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