Here are my 5 takeaways from the Dallas Mavericks’ 115-112 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday in Shenzhen, China:
1. IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T REALIZED IT YET, DONCIC CAN BALL: I know it’s only preseason, but Luka Doncic continues to impress. Not only is the rookie from Slovenia equipped with an array of no-look passes. But he also has an efficient perimeter game. In the win over the Sixers, Doncic converted three consecutive 3-pointers less than five minutes into the game. Now if he can just get his turnovers down to a manageable level.
2. LESS DRIBBLING HAS MEANT MORE POINTS: Coach Rick Carlisle’s goal of having his team dribble less – which in turn translates into more points on the scoreboard – has come to fruition. The Mavs scored 116 points in their preseason opener against Beijing on Sept. 29, 114 points in last Friday’s game against Philadelphia, and an additional 115 points in Monday’s contest against the Sixers.
3. POWELL AND FINNEY-SMITH PLAYED WELL: The absence of starters Harrison Barnes (strained right hamstring) and DeAndre Jordan (death in the family) for the two games in China enabled the Mavs to see how Dorian Finney-Smith and Dwight Powell would produce as starters while shedding their reserve roles. Consider the move a smashing success. Powell put on a dunking contest Monday, while Finney-Smith’s outside shooting improved.
4. MAVS INTERIOR DEFENSE NEEDS SOME WORK: Yes, the interior defense needs some work. The Sixers tallied 38 points in the paint – in the first half. In a league more focused on perimeter shooting, that’s way too many points to give up. Then again, the return of center DeAndre Jordan will put the kibosh on a lot of the opposing team’s attempts to make hay in the paint.
5. JALEN BRUNSON MAY TURN INTO THE STEAL OF THE DRAFT: I’m still not sure how or why point guard Jalen Brunson lasted into the second round of last June’s NBA Draft. After all, he was the national college Player of the Year on a Villanova squad that captured the national championship for the second time in three seasons. The dude can flat-out ball, and run an offense with precision-like efficiency.
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