via Imago
Jan 1, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) gives a fist bump to owner Mark Cuban and CubanÕs son Jake after the game against the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
via Imago
Jan 1, 2021; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) gives a fist bump to owner Mark Cuban and CubanÕs son Jake after the game against the Miami Heat at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Luka Doncic showed last season that he is one of the best players in the NBA. Since joining the league in 2018, Doncic has grown leaps and bounds and become a top-five NBA player according to many. In just two short seasons, Doncic has won the rookie of the year, become an All-Star, and made the All-NBA first team. That’s very impressive for someone who is just 21 years of age.
Luka Doncic wasn’t worried about Mavericks’ start
However, the Dallas Mavericks didn’t start this season very well. Doncic and the Mavericks were everyone’s dark horse picks this year, and Luka was considered an MVP favorite. However, they lost quite a few of their opening games, and fans started to press the panic button. But the Mavericks’ recent win-streak showed that the overreactions were just that – overreactions.
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Luka on the Mavs 3-game win streak after a 2-4 start – "We didn't have a lot of time to get to know each other. Everybody overreacted to the way we were playing but I knew we were going to be fine. I think we're way better now, especially with the chemistry."
— Mark Followill (@MFollowill) January 10, 2021
Luka Doncic spoke to the press after the Mavericks’ win over the Orlando Magic. This would become their third consecutive win, previously defeating the Rockets and the Nuggets. He dispelled rumors of chemistry issues within the locker room and attributed the Mavericks’ poor start to the season to a lack of preparation time.
He said, “We didn’t have a lot of time to get to know each other. Everybody overreacted to the way we were playing but I knew we were going to be fine. I think we’re way better now, especially with the chemistry.”
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Luka and Porzingis set to reunite this season
After a 2-4 start to the season, Luka and the Mavericks look to have found their groove again. And they are taking baby steps as the season goes on. If they can continue this upward trajectory, they will surely become contenders in the Western Conference.
What makes the Mavericks’ streak so encouraging is that they are yet to have Kristaps Porzingis back from injury. Porzingis has been out since getting surgery done in the off-season. The Mavericks said before the season started that they would be careful with Porzingis’ return, given his prior injury history. But the Mavericks will be better once Porzingis returns.
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USA Today via Reuters
Dec 27, 2020; Los Angeles, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers guard Luke Kennard (5) in the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Luka, on the other hand, is now an early contender for MVP. He, along with LeBron James and Paul George, have been playing at a spectacular level, regardless of winning or losing. Can Luka help lead the Mavs to the playoffs and win the MVP this season? Only time will tell. But Doncic has a solid chance of doing so.
