It’s happening again. The Dallas Mavericks will be playing the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. This battle became a very notable playoff rivalry within the last decade. It was this rivalry itself that made Luka a star. Many NBA fans remember the stepback three that Luka hit over Reggie Jackson after an inbound pass to win a playoff game in the bubble year.
The Playoff History Between The Dallas Mavericks & Los Angeles Clippers
These two teams played against each other in 13 playoff games. The Clippers are 8-5 all-time against the Mavericks. The first time these two teams played against each other in the playoffs was in the 2020 season.
In the 2020 playoff series, the Clippers overcame Dallas 4-2. They would face each other again in the 2021 playoffs. That year, the Clippers defeated the Mavericks in game 7 to win the series 4-3.
However, that was when the Mavericks had a young Luka that was still forming his game. Three years later, Luka is one of the top faces of the NBA. He’s in the MVP conversations, averaging nearly a triple-double with 34 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists.
What To Expect In This Year’s Matchup
This year’s playoff series between the Mavs and Clippers is going to be substantially different. The Mavs got Kyrie Irving to help take the offensive load off of Luka when he needs it. Plus, Kyrie provides the Mavericks with the “championship DNA” and veteran leadership from which the young players can learn.
The Clippers are also loaded with depth and experience. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were the two leaders of LA and had a group of veterans around them. In the prior playoff series, they had players like Reggie Jackson, Norman Powell, and Marcus Morris. Now, the Clippers have two former MVP players on their squad, James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
It’ll be a fun seven-game playoff series. Expect the Clippers to repeat history once again. Why? The veteran experience between Harden, George, Kawhi, and Westbrook might be too much for the rest of the Mavericks team. Plus, the way Bones Hyland has been playing, he can be an extra energy boost for the seasoned LA team. The main concern for LA would be their star players’ health.
The Dallas Mavericks do have a chance in this playoff series. The Clippers are a smaller team, and Dallas can utilize its size in the power forward and center positions to its advantage. The coaching battle between Lue and Kidd will be fun to see, as it’s a toss-up on who has the better coaching.
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