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Big game Friday at 7pm MT. The Mavs are just 1.5 games behind the Jazz in the race for 4th place and home court advantage. Doncic averaged nearly a triple double over the last ten games, going off for 35.4 ppg, 10.3 rebs and 9.8 assists. Mavs have gone 7-3 over last ten.

I saw a few people who think the Mavs will win a playoff series against the Jazz. I'm as critical of the Jazz as it gets, but I don't think so. This game is a good opportunity to see where both teams stand as far as this matchup goes.

Inigo Montoya wrote:I saw a few people who think the Mavs will win a playoff series against the Jazz. I'm as critical of the Jazz as it gets, but I don't think so. This game is a good opportunity to see where both teams stand as far as this matchup goes.

I'd be surprised if the Mavs can keep up with the Jazz offensively. They're 5 pts behind in Offensive Rating, and they're a below-average shooting team.

We'll have to see where both teams are defensively after their recent changes. Both teams should be top 5 - 7 defensively.

In response to early season criticism over his conditioning, Luka has allegedly lost 15 lbs and is playing his best basketball of the season. We will be doing relatively well if we hold him under 30 points imho, though sometimes the All Star break throws off players who were in a great shooting rhythm.

2/22/22 Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic 'humbled' by criticism over conditioning, owner Mark Cuban says
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33347255/dallas-mavericks-luka-doncic-humbled-criticism-conditioning-owner-mark-cuban-says

Snips: "In his first 21 games of the season, Doncic averaged 25.6 points, 8 rebounds and 8.5 assists with a minus-5.5 net rating, proof of his lackluster defensive performance. He then rested three weeks to recover from a sprained right ankle that he had aggravated multiple times and worked on his conditioning.

In the 23 games since the layoff, Doncic has averaged 29.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.4 assists with a plus-13 net rating, evidence of his drastic defensive improvement."

Jazz are just 2 games back of Memphis in the Loss column. Jazz have the tougher remaining schedule, but Memphis is catchable with 24 games remaining.

Expected lineups as of 8am. Butler is out with a sprained ankle; Gay is likely still out with his sore knee.
https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/nba-lineups.php

Dallas will probably play Maxi Kleber or even Davis Bertans as a stretch-5. Dwight Powell hasn't had much success against Gobert. Jazz have aggressively trapped Luka in the past. I'd be curious to see if they do that tonight.

Jazz are well rested and should be pretty well prepared. Normally that would mean they'll hit a good number of their shots. We'll see.

Of course Bertans would go off......

Nice 3rd for the Jazz.......

That was a nice win. Some big offensive plays in crunch time, and Gobert on defense was really disruptive.

Yep. Good win! I think the Mavs are probably an improving team the rest of the way with the recent trade of KP for Dindwiddie and Bertans, especially given that KP was frequently out with injury. Those new Mav players hurt us, but the Jazz did a good job of holding Doncic below his averages.

Bertans is a career 40% three point shooter, but he was only hitting them at 31.9% in Washington this season. Looks like he may be getting his three point mojo back with the trade to the Mavs where Doncic draws so much attention and passes the ball so well.

Jazz had 54/42/82 shooting splits, a +14 rebound advantage, and a +10 made FT advantage....and they still only won the game by 2 possessions by making big plays in the final 2 minutes.

Jazz were still loose defensively in the 1st half, but tightened up and won the 2nd half 54-42. Dinwiddie and Bertans had a big impact off the bench. Their shooting kept the Jazz from getting separation.

Catchall wrote:Jazz had 54/42/82 shooting splits, a +14 rebound advantage, and a +10 made FT advantage....and they still only won the game by 2 possessions by making big plays in the final 2 minutes.

Jazz were still loose defensively in the 1st half, but tightened up and won the 2nd half 54-42. Dinwiddie and Bertans had a big impact off the bench. Their shooting kept the Jazz from getting separation.

18 turnovers in the last 3 quarters hurt as well