In the family of hot teams in the middle of January I want… I want… the Dallas Mavericks please. Eleven wins in thirteen games current series, iron defense, everyone on deck and a Luka Doncic who is slowly starting to pee standing up, so much information to take as threats for the entire Western Conference, we prefer to warn you and yes, this is one more threat.
The house stats of this beautiful overview of the next fifteen years in the NBA are right here
First quarter, this game between two of the strongest and most stylish teams of the moment has started for barely four minutes, and Luka Doncic delivers a sort of pass from the future for Dorian Finney-Smith who pounded in the corner and urged the Grizzlies to take a time-out. Highlights, genius, trashtalking, welcome to the world of Luka Doncic who hits big slices à la Alizé Cornet and off we went for 38 minutes of a fabulous feast, once again.
?!?!?!?!pic.twitter.com/lq1pnmFBvo https://t.co/ZnEITdyh4N
– TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 24, 2022
Once again because after the 41/14/7 dropped four days earlier against the toothless and out of breath Raptors, the brilliant Mavs point guard did it again this night against the other zozo of the moment among the 15 -25, Ja Morant, to restore some semblance of hierarchy in the West. Memphis remains clinging to its third place it is true, but the wind is blowing well towards Texas in 2022, thanks to Luka ‘s nap, thanks also and above all to an iron defense – we were talking about it here – breaking all records of the genre.
The Mavs have held opponents to below 50% shooting in 23 straight games.
They have won 11 of 13. pic.twitter.com/UrFuKkUSlT
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 24, 2022
To put all this into perspective, remember that the Grizzlies played last night without Desmond Bane, Kyle Anderson, Brandon Clarke or Dillon Brooks, without Yves Pons either but not sure that… anyway, but a victory is a victory and against a Jaren Jackson Jr. too fat in defense but too keuss in attack and Ja Morant who once again multiplied like an All-Star holder (35/13/6) , it’s the usual ingredients that have won on the Mavericks side. 91 points conceded only (34 in the first half), a Kristaps Porzingis as a perfect temple goalkeeper (15 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks including five before halftime), pick and roll, pick and pop and pick and crunch signed Luka and his sauces, and Luka Doncic, still him, determined to glavioter on the defenses in 2022 and who will end his match on the verge of hitting the 40 mark for the second time in three games and who at the same time put a small option on the trophy for Player of the Week in the West.
A virile, solid, defensive victory imprinted with a pinch of Slovenian genius, and Mavs sure of their strengths who settle more than ever in the Top 5 in the West. Expecting better? Possible, because with such a jeweler at his head and as long as the defensive tasks will be executed so finely, we may have the perfect recipe this season in Dallas.
