Lor got After two raids (bubble DisneyWorld in Orlando through) in the post-season, Luka Doncic and his Dallas Mavericks have advanced to the second round of the NBA Playoffs. In six games (4-2), against a team in ‘breakdown’, the Utah Jazz. Doncic, only available in three, made a difference and is aiming to fight against the fearsome Phoenix Suns of Chris Paul, the touched Devin Booker or the undervalued Mikal Bridges.
Thus, Luka finally enters the history of the Playoffs for the Mavs. A franchise whose best and greatest successes are given by the presence of another European basketball legend, Dirk Nowitzky. Champion and MVP of the NBA in 2011, and with a parallel with the Slovenian beyond being players from the ‘Old Continent’.
Doncic as Jordan
The victory in the fifth clash of the Mavericks with 24 points of Doncic supposes that he is the second in a registry dominated by Michael Jordan. The fastest player, 16 games, to reach 500 points in the PlayOffs after the 14 it took for the Bulls’ mythical ’23’.
From 2001 to 2022. 21 years have passed, and it just so happens that both Doncic and Nowitzki advanced to their first round in the Playoffs against the same rival and in the same city. The Utah Jazz and away from home in Salt Lake City. . In that 2000-01, Dirk’s Mavs were ‘out of action’ in the next series, against the Spurs (4-1).
Nowitzki would take ten years to win his only ring and five in his first final, but the mental and sporting barrier of the first round has fallen. He differentiates consistent teams and candidates from the second echelon in competitiveness, the one in which the Nets have stayed this year, as the most outstanding. And it is a reality that of the three projects of Mavs post-season with Luka as ‘flagship of the project’, that of 2022 is the most solid. Both in the regular season, and offensively and defensively.
From Utah and leaving behind a broken project, the Mavericks see glory not too far away. It may be soon, but Doncic assures that he will continue to be decisive against any rival. The Suns, with figures in their own basket like Bridges, will propose a physical tie and in which the Slovenian will have to sweat. But they are not the Suns of the ‘Regular Season’, because they live dependent on Chris Paul and the hard-working Pelicans took them to the sixth game.