NBA regular season is in full swing, and the league's landscape is taking shape, with some teams rejoicing and others facing challenges. Taking the Western Conference as an example, young teams like the Thunder, Rockets, and Grizzlies are forging ahead and firmly occupying the top 3 spots in the West, with a promising situation; while many powerhouse teams such as the Lakers, Clippers, Suns, and Warriors are plagued by injuries, trapped in the play-in tournament area, and their situations are not optimistic! The Dallas Mavericks have upgraded their lineup around the East European combination, but their championship prospects are more dangerous than imagined.
Luka, endowed with extraordinary talent and achieving fame at a young age, has made many people doubt whether he can adapt to the intensity of the NBA due to his plump physique and injury risks. This was also the reason why the Atlanta Hawks completed the blockbuster trade of swapping Luka for Trae Young during the 2018 draft. Fortunately, the Dallas team successfully picked up a bargain, and since Luka joined the NBA in 2018, he has completed the torch relay with the old driver Dirk, leading the Mavericks step by step to rebuild their glory - first returning to the playoffs, then reaching the Western Conference Finals floor, and last season proudly advancing to the Finals, losing to the Celtics but winning the future. In this process, Luka has been selected to the All-NBA First Team for five consecutive years, won the scoring title in the regular season, and is a frequent contender for the MVP!
Luka is another "peak upon debut, sky is the limit" star after LeBron James, achieving many feats that other stars may not accomplish in their entire careers! However, for such a prodigy like Luka, every time he takes a new step forward, there will be new expectations from the outside world! During this offseason, the Mavericks brought in Klay Thompson, a four-time champion with the Warriors, to protect Luka. With three years and $138 million left on his contract, it is reasonable for him to make further progress and launch an assault on the MVP and championship.
In the new season, the Mavericks have made a comeback, achieving a record of 19 wins and 11 losses, ranking fourth in the West, 5.5 games behind the first-place Thunder (24-5), 2 games behind the second-place Rockets (21-9), 1.5 games behind the third-place Grizzlies (21-10), and 2 games ahead of the fifth-place Nuggets (16-12). The Mavericks are fighting hard in the wild West, aiming to maintain their fourth position while striving for third or even second. Despite a slow start, Luka still maintains the dominance of a ball-dominant core! For example, on November 5 against the Pacers, Luka contributed 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 15 assists, setting a new personal season-high in assists; on December 8 against the Raptors, Luka contributed 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, setting a new personal season-high in rebounds; on December 16 against the Warriors, Luka exploded for 45 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks, setting a new personal season-high in points.
So far this season, Luka has played 22 games, averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 2 steals, and 3.4 three-pointers per game. The familiar Luka is returning, but injuries have disrupted all plans! During the Christmas Day game between the Mavericks and the Timberwolves, Luka suffered a calf injury and had to leave the game early! According to official news from the Mavericks, Luka suffered a left calf strain and will be re-evaluated in a month! Prior to this, Luka had missed 8 games due to various minor injuries, and the Mavericks have 16 games to play in the next month. According to NBA labor agreement rules, missing 18 games means being ineligible for MVP, All-NBA, and other honors, which means that unless Luka returns early, he will lose his eligibility for these awards!
With Luka's unexpected injury, the Mavericks' journey must continue! According to the official schedule of the NBA league, the Mavericks' schedule for the next month is quite challenging, with dense games and strong opponents - 16 games, 4 back-to-backs, including opponents such as the Suns, Rockets, Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Lakers, Nuggets (twice), Thunder (twice), and Celtics from both conferences! The Mavericks have a heavy task ahead, and Irving has no way out; he must step up and lead the team forward, at least to maintain the top 4 in the West! In the new season, Irving has played 27 games, averaging 24 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.1 three-pointers, with shooting percentages of 49.1%, 44.4%, and 89.4%. When talking about Luka's injury, Irving said: We can only pray for his quick return to the team, and before that, the team needs to make adjustments to overcome difficulties together. This is an opportunity to test Irving's leadership ability and also an opportunity for him to make an All-Star push. Let's hope he doesn't disappoint us!