The Mavericks seem ready for a successful season finale, in contrast to last year’s post-All-Star slump.
INDIANAPOLIS — While last season’s NBA All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City generated significant buzz around the Dallas Mavericks, this season’s All-Star weekend in Indianapolis saw little attention directed towards the team.
The Mavericks, with a record of 31-29 last season and a three-game losing streak heading into the break, were in the early stages of the Luka Doncic-Kyrie Irving Era, boasting two All-Star starters. In contrast, this season’s Mavericks hold a record of 32-23, sharing the NBA’s longest current winning streak at six games with Boston. The team has shown improvement since acquiring Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, coupled with the return from injuries of Irving, Dereck Lively II, and Maxi Kleber. Dante Exum’s return is also on the horizon after missing 19 of the last 21 games.
The optimism surrounding Dallas’ post-All-Star prospects is significantly higher than the previous season. Irving attributes the recent success to the team’s maturity and ability to focus on their roles, resulting in highly successful basketball.
However, despite the positive developments, the Mavericks find themselves in the seventh position in the Western Conference, just one game behind fifth-place Phoenix. The upcoming game against the Suns is seen as a crucial test for Dallas as both teams start the post-break play with 27 games remaining.
Although last season’s All-Star break had the Mavericks in sixth place in the Western Conference, they faced challenges in the subsequent games, losing 6 of the next 9 and 10 of the next 15. This downturn led to a 6-15 record after the break, causing them to miss the playoffs after reaching the Western Conference finals the previous year.
For the Mavericks to secure a successful campaign this season, maintaining relative health during the final 27 games is essential. Achieving a near-50-win season seems plausible, contrasting with the previous year’s post-break struggles. The lack of attention in Indianapolis, much like the All-Star Game itself, may prove inconsequential if the team can stay healthy and perform well in the remaining games.
