You may not have noticed, but Luka Doncic and the Mavericks are up to something.
It's admittedly easy to lose Dallas in the shuffle of NBA storylines but the team is surging in the Western Conference standings – and in our power rankings – thanks to Doncic's play and its approach on the defensive end.
For Doncic, it's been an incredible turnaround.
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In late January, I examined how a long offseason and conditioning concerns may have contributed to uncharacteristic inefficiency from the three-time All-Star. How did Doncic respond to a down start to the year? A historic month of February in which he averaged 34.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from 3-point range.
Doncic capped off the month with a 34-point, 11-rebound performance in a comeback victory over the Warriors, just hours before his 23rd birthday.
Luka Doncic had 34 points and 11 rebounds in last night's comeback win over the Warriors.
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) February 28, 2022
It was his 50th career 30-point double-double. Only three other players in NBA history have reached that mark before their 23rd birthday: Shaquille O'Neal, Walt Bellamy, and Rick Barry. pic.twitter.com/X5OBFH68X5
MORE: Mavericks guard Luka Doncic is back to his best
That gritty win is one of the latest examples of why this Mavericks team is deserving of serious attention.
While Doncic was busy getting back to his dominant offensive ways, the Mavs continued their season-long dominance on the defensive end, as their defensive rating of 107.4 now ranks fifth in the league.
Since the calendar flipped to 2022, Dallas has been especially dominant on the defensive end of the floor – its defensive rating of 105.7 since Jan. 1 is second behind only the Celtics (102.3), who have turned their season around thanks to a commitment to defense.
It might seem sudden, but the Mavericks have put together an impressive stretch of play over the last two months to claw within three games of a top-four seed in the Western Conference. The fact that Doncic wasn't the best version of himself for nearly half of that time is proof that this team is going in the right direction.
MORE: Doncic scores 51 vs. Clippers | Doncic displays masterclass vs. Pelicans
If you've watched Dallas in either of the last two postseasons, it was painfully clear that the team went as Doncic did, a point exacerbated by the fact that he battled injuries in each playoff run.
Don't get me wrong, this iteration of the Mavericks still goes as Doncic goes, but the team is now better equipped to support its superstar than it has been in years past, which goes a long way in the pursuit of a sustained playoff run.
There are a few reasons why.
The trade
"Surprised" might not be the word, but many were caught off guard when the Mavericks executed the deadline deal to send Kristaps Porzingis to the Wizards in exchange for Davis Bertans and Spencer Dinwiddie.
When you think about it, however, it makes plenty of sense.
MORE: Kristaps Porzingis trade details – Wizards land forward from Mavericks
After two first-round exits, it became clear that Porzingis was not going to be the No. 2 that Doncic needs by his side, and Porzingis' salary is far too hefty to be a No. 3, paving the way for the move.
It seems as though an injury in 2020 and a bad start with the Wizards in 2021 has caused many to forget what Dinwiddie is capable of, which is being a secondary creator to make life a bit easier for Doncic. Dinwiddie did just that in the win over the Warriors, scoring 24 points (on 10 of 14 shooting) off the bench to aid in the comeback efforts.
SPENCER DINWIDDIE IS GOING OFF 😱@dallasmavs | #MFFL | @SDinwiddie_25 pic.twitter.com/T9cCu8aksc
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) February 28, 2022
We know what the ceiling of a Doncic-Porzingis pairing is, but with two new players in tow, there's an element of the unknown that could allow this team to reach new heights.
Defense wins championships
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'm here to talk more about Dallas' defense.
I've already harped on how impressive the Mavs have been defensively this season, but for some historical context, this is, by far, the best defensive team that Doncic has played on.
Last season, Dallas' defense ranked 21st. In the 2019-20 season, it ranked 18th. All things considered, each of those teams still had legitimate chances to advance past the first round, thanks in large part to Doncic's outstanding play.
It's no secret that defense isn't Doncic's strongest attribute, but with a stronger defensive team around him, that becomes even less of an issue. This is also why the team can survive through spurts of uncharacteristic play from Doncic.
In the postseason, the Mavs' defense will be huge as the game slows down and opposing teams focus on neutralizing Doncic.
Luka Magic
History has shown us that it's nearly impossible for a team to win anything of significance without one of the league's top seven players.
Doncic is just that.
Not only is Doncic coming into his own at the right time, but part of his magic is the ability to elevate the play of those around him. Whether it's Dinwiddie, Reggie Bullock, Jalen Brunson, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dorian Finney-Smith or Maxi Kleber, everyone is better when they play alongside Doncic.
NOH: Jalen Brunson is the Mavs' Hidden Gem
The special part about this team is that they're also finding ways to make life easier for Doncic – on both ends of the floor.
With injury concerns putting clouds of doubt around the Suns, Warriors and Nuggets, and the Grizzlies still being largely inexperienced, the Jazz and Mavericks are two teams that are somewhat sliding under the radar as the postseason nears.
There's plenty to be excited about in the Western Conference, but only one team has Luka Doncic.
That alone makes a world of difference.
