The Dallas Mavericks may be the hardest playing team in the NBA. They certainly play the hardest among teams not currently in the playoff picture. They’ve accumulated their fair share of dumb losses this season — and stolen several eye-catching wins — but one guarantee every time the ball is tipped is that Jason Kidd’s group is going to give effort. Maybe that says more about the state of the team, that they play hard and still lose a considerable amount, but it’s worth applauding while they ride a win streak amidst the deepest darkest parts of the NBA season.
It is that season best four-game win streak (winners of five of their last six) that highlights this week’s power rankings watch. These next two weeks may tell us a lot about the future direction of this team, with the trade deadline looming. For now, it’s a waiting game.
ESPN
Ranking: 24
Last week: 24
Will Anthony Davis return to the Mavs’ lineup?
The team announced that Davis would be sidelined six weeks because of ligament damage in his left hand. And while the Mavs’ interim co-general managers continue to engage in trade discussions involving Davis, sources said that ownership does not feel pressure to make a deal if Dallas doesn’t get offers that it deems as good value. If Davis remains on the roster past the Feb. 5 deadline, expect discussions about whether it’s in the franchise’s best interest for the star forward to return at all this season. — MacMahon
The Athletic
Ranking: 24 (Tier 4: Not the Tier to Fear)
Last week: 24
All-Star Weekend rep: Cooper Flagg, Rising Stars
Flagg is the No. 1 overall pick, so this one is easy. But some thought that Flagg may have had a shot at being a rare rookie All-Star. Not happening. The Mavericks had a decent week overall, aided by two home games against a Jazz team sitting Lauri Markkanen. But Dallas is squarely in the bottom five in the West, and that should keep them from having an All-Star for the first time since Luka Dončić’s rookie season.
NBA
Ranking: 24
Last week: 25
- The Mavs scored 124.4 points per 100 possessions during the homestand, their best four-game stretch of offense this season. They saw a jump in 3-point rate in the two games without Flagg, totaling 37 3-pointers over the two games. Additionally, their 12 corner 3-pointers on Thursday were the most for any team this season.
- Klay Thompson shot 20-for-40 from beyond the arc over the homestand and seems to like playing against Utah, as he’s had at least 23 points in each of the Mavs’ last three games against the Jazz. Thompson’s season-long 3-point percentage (37.6%) would still be the worst mark of his career, but he’s shot 42.0% from beyond the arc (sixth among 34 players with at least 150 attempts) since Thanksgiving after shooting 32.1% prior.
- The Mavs are now the only team without a lineup that’s played at least 75 minutes together. Thompson is actually one of three Mavs who have played in at least 40 games, with Naji Marshall the only one who has played in all 43.
Coming up: Thompson has shot 22-for-48 (46%) from 3-point range in his five games against the Warriors over the last two seasons. He’ll face his former team again on Thursday as the Mavs continue a stretch where they’re playing 10 of 13 at home.
Bleacher Report
Ranking: 23
Last week: 26
The Dallas Mavericks are on a four-game winning streak. And although two of those came against the sub-.500 Utah Jazz, and another was over a Golden State Warriors team reeling from the loss of Jimmy Butler to a torn ACL, Monday’s was over the New York Knicks. And wins are wins.
Now, there may be a contingent of fans who’d prefer those not add up right now. The idea of adding one of this upcoming draft class’s top prospects to Cooper Flagg is intriguing. But he might already be too good to tank.
For the season, Flagg is averaging 21.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per 75 possessions when Anthony Davis (who’s out for the foreseeable future and could be traded ahead of the deadline) is off the floor.
