Dallas Mavericks Shop Talk: Schedule Release, Luka Doncic and More
The Dallas Mavericks schedule is finally here. The team is scheduled to appear in 30 nationally televised. Some key matchups include opening up the season against the Phoenix Suns, a Christmas day brawl with the Los Angeles Lakers, and the return of Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks on Dec. 27th.
Dallas will not play on Election Day, as the NBA is hoping to encourage fans to go out and vote.
Luka Doncic’s Dominance for Slovenia is of interest for the Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic has been on a roll. The 6-7 guard is finally in shape, and it seems to be paying off. Over the past two games for Slovenia, he has scored 23 and 34 points in two overtime thrillers. For the international season, he is averaging a near double-double scoring 28.4 points and 9.1 rebounds.
Will an in-shape Luka do wonders for the Mavs or will the weight of the season take its toll?
Can Doncic win MVP?
This summer, the betters put their money on the line, as FanDuelSportsbook has Doncic with the best odds of winning MVP. Behind Luka includes 76ers Joel Embiid, and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Last week, former player Jalen Rose added to the fire, as he predicted Doncic as a shoo-in for the award. He went on record saying, “Luka being in the best shape of his life is going to be a game changer for not only the Mavericks but for the NBA.”
“Luka winning MVP this year.”
Could this be the season he finally comes out on top?
The Rise and Fall of Tim Hardaway Jr.
Even with the loss of Jalen Brunson, the Dallas Mavericks’ status of Hardaway remains unknown.
Last season, the Mavs went into the postseason without their 2019-2020 third-leading scorer Tim Hardaway Jr. The Mavs shooting guard went down in January with a fractured metatarsal. Since then, he has yet to see time on the court.
So, what gives? Could it be his unknown future or massive contract?
Dallas stills owe Hardaway 3 years of $53,693,184 left on the 4-year contract extension he signed last year.
The biggest question mark will be: Can he have a bounce-back season?