Why Luka Doncic may play his best game yet on Christmas Day
For the third Christmas in a row, the Dallas Mavericks will be playing basketball. And for the second time in three years, the team they play is the Los Angeles Lakers. Neither team is where they want to be. Dallas (17-16) stumbled out the gate, while Los Angeles flopped to an early 2-10 record (the […]
For the third Christmas in a row, the Dallas Mavericks will be playing basketball. And for the second time in three years, the team they play is the Los Angeles Lakers.
Neither team is where they want to be. Dallas (17-16) stumbled out the gate, while Los Angeles flopped to an early 2-10 record (the Lakers currently hold a 13-19 record). Since both teams' slow starts, they have tried to find decent footing within the crowded Western Conference.
Now, at 1:30 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center, both rather disappointing teams will face off. Los Angeles is missing Anthony Davis, while Dallas has collected a slew of injuries in Maxi Kleber, Dorian Finney-Smith, and others.
With the scene set, here is what to expect from Dallas' Christmas Day matchup:
1.) Luka Doncic is going to cook
Fresh off a 50-point performance against the Houston Rockets on Friday, Luka Doncic will be eager for more.
Doncic loves to play against LeBron James. The last time these two superstars met was in March when Doncic scored 25 points alongside five assists and eight rebounds. Then, Doncic was cooking. Now, Doncic is supernova.
In the last five games, Doncic is averaging 31 points and eight assists. And the bright lights of Christmas Day will only make things more interesting.
2.) Dallas' defense will need to prove itself
As an eighth-seeded team in the Western Conference, Dallas' defense hasn't been as impressive as it was last season, but it is improving.
Currently, the Mavericks hold a 112.7 defensive rating, which is good enough for 11th in the league. Dallas' 1.7 Net Rating ranks 12th in the NBA.
With Russell Westbrook and James on the other side, Dallas defending at a high rate is a must.
3.) Dallas needs to hit threes
It's no secret, Dallas goes as the jump shots do.
In wins, it's because the others have hit their 3-point shots. And in the losses, it's because those same shots didn't drop.
On Christmas Day, Dallas will need to make the open looks Doncic creates through his gravity on the floor.
If the Mavericks do so, a Christmas day victory should be in store.
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Feature image via Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
