Despite their best efforts, the Dallas Mavericks put together one of the best “League Pass” rosters in the NBA. Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis aren’t LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but they may be more fun to watch.
As the most NBA-obsessed member of the PressBox DFW editorial staff (sorry, Art), I will be able to put this Chinese scandal aside and focus on basketball. I will shut up and scribble.
My favorite teams to watch are — in order — Utah, Denver, Dallas and Portland. My 12-year-old daughter is a huge fan of James Harden and the Rockets. She’s already been heckled for this by her seventh-grade pals, but she remains true to The Beard. I’m so pleased she wants to do anything with me, at her age, that I haven’t attempted to talk her out of her Rockets love – or her aversion to Steph Curry.
I believe the Mavs may have accidentally done us a favor by not landing anyone of huge significance in free agency. The NBA has truly become a two-superstar league, and you don’t need a ball-hog like Kemba Walker to muddy the waters. Doncic and Porzingis have the potential to be brilliant at times. Doncic is the point guard Mavs fans have dreamed of since Jason Kidd left town, while Porzingis has demonstrated that he’s basically unstoppable when healthy. His “load management” will be a big part of Rick Carlisle’s decision-making process. It appears Porzingis is 100 percent for the first time in two years, but he must be protected at every turn. The Mavs have rescued him from a career of futility with the Knicks. He can rise again, without the bright lights of New York.
Doncic and Porzingis are so intriguing that they’ve caused great basketball minds such as Reggie Miller to predict a trip to the playoffs this season. That seems pretty optimistic for such a young team, but anything seems possible if Doncic and Porzingis quickly hit their stride. A recent NBA.com survey of GMs across the league had Doncic in a second-place tie with Davis of the Lakers for the player they would choose if starting a new franchise. Giannis Antetokounmpo was first by a large percentage, but Doncic’s ranking was remarkable for such a young player. I would’ve thought Zion Williamson might show up before Doncic based on his incredible hype, but European players continue to garner huge respect. The guy who started that trend just retired from the Mavs after an illustrious career.
By the way, those same GMs voted Rick Carlisle as the best coach at making in-game adjustments. I believe Doncic and Porzingis have given Carlisle a second wind. Only the ageless J.J. Barea remains from the 2011 title team, so that is a distant, if happy, memory. The Mavs haven’t won a playoff series since that championship. The organization has been a laughingstock in free agency, but acquiring Doncic and Porzingis have made the team relevant again. The supporting cast won’t blow anyone away, but there are some interesting pieces. Jalen Brunson was a pleasant surprise as a rookie. He seems to have a great chemistry with Doncic. And Seth Curry became a key contributor for the Portland Trailblazers in last season’s playoffs. He’ll never be confused with his brother, but he’s become one of the best three-point shooters in the league.
The Mavs were barely interesting when Harrison Barnes was their best player. Dennis Smith Jr. brought hope, but his relationship with Carlisle fizzled. Carlisle has clashed with point guards in the past, but he seems to have a genuine respect and admiration for Doncic. And the player is so confident that he’s not bothered by Carlisle’s somewhat caustic personality.
Doncic and Porzingis aren’t the headliners of the NBA, and that’s not all bad. Maybe the Mavs’ clueless approach to free agency has finally paid dividends.
