DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks are heading into the Western Conference Finals as underdogs, at least according to many analysts. The Minnesota Timberwolves were the No. 3 seed heading into the NBA playoffs, while Dallas was No. 5. However, Mavs breakout playoff star PJ Washington is not buying the underdog narrative.
“I mean, I don't feel like we're the underdog at all,” Washington said on Tuesday. “We're both in the Western Conference Finals for a reason. I don't know what people are thinking but for us we're confident in our abilities… We can't wait to go to Minnesota.”
Confidence is of the utmost importance. It plays a pivotal role in all sports. Confidence helps to outweigh the expectations others place on you.
The Mavericks have complete faith in their ability to win together as a group. This team is deep. They feature stars, but also a number of unsung heroes.
Dallas will be in for a challenge, though. Minnesota's bigs in Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns often play on the floor at the same time, while the Mavs bigs do not. Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II are never on the court together. From a size standpoint, Minnesota holds the advantage.
Maxi Kleber's injury absence, although there is a possibility he could return at some point in the series, will also hurt matters for the Mavs.
But the Mavericks have enough size to still rebound the basketball. The Timberwolves' size advantage will not be as impactful as many believe.
So why will the Mavericks win the series, though? What will be the turning point?
It is easy to find underrated players and overlooked narratives. Today, however, we are keeping things simple. Luka Doncic is a superstar, and he's ready to lead Dallas to the NBA Finals.
Legends win championships, and Doncic is on that trajectory
It was tempting to discuss an overlooked narrative of some sort here. The Mavs' sneaky good defense, Dallas' tenacity and will to win, and many others. However, this series has plenty of star-power and the Mavericks are going to need their best player to be more consistent than he was against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Doncic has battled injury concerns in the NBA playoffs. He is listed as probable for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Luka has been listed as probable or questionable for most games so far this postseason, but he has yet to miss a contest.
The legends find ways to win despite the circumstances. There have been no shortage of great players throughout the history of the NBA. But the players we remember as the greatest of all-time won. After all, Michael Jordan's primary argument in the GOAT conversation is his championship total.
Now Doncic is only 25 years old. He has time to win. Dirk Nowitzki did not win his championship with the Mavs until he was 32.
But Luka Doncic features the talent and ceiling of not just a great player. Doncic has an opportunity to establish himself as arguably the best player in the NBA. And his ceiling suggests that he could become an all-time great someday.
Of course, that is a lofty expectation. Doncic tends to thrive under pressure, however, so the expectations will not deter his performance.
Luka Doncic vs. Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards also has a chance to become one of the best players in today's NBA. Many people around the league believe that Edwards is going to be the next face of the NBA.
And that may be true. Edwards is an exceptional player. Defeating a player like Edwards to clinch a spot in the NBA Finals would put the league on notice.
It is a team sport. The “Luka Doncic vs. Anthony Edwards” headline holds some weight, though. This is a battle of two young superstars looking to lead their teams to a championship while making a bid for the next face of the league.
It's going to be a great series. But now is Luka Doncic's time to begin transitioning from a great player in today's NBA to a future legend of the game. And that transition will begin by reaching the 2024 NBA Finals.
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