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With the amount of talent in the Western Conference this year, it will be quite a challenge for young teams to break into one of those eight postseason slots.
But as far as Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel is concerned, he believes the Luka Doncic-Kristaps Porzingis duo will be enough to get the Dallas Mavericks over the hump.
Speaking prior to the Lakers versus Mavericks showdown at the American Airlines Center on Friday, Vogel shared his admiration for Dallas’ young core, per Stefan Stevenson of Star-Telegram.
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“I like what they’ve done with their team. I think they’re poised to take a big step,” he said.
“When you have an elite play-maker like Luka Doncic and then you have shooters all around him, it just makes it harder to bring help, makes it harder to negotiate through coverages and to protect the basket.”
Vogel was particularly high on the Slovenian sensation who even got better from his stellar Rookie of The Year campaign last season. Doncic is currently averaging 25 points (45.8 shooting from the field), 8.8 rebounds, 6,8 assists, and 2.2 steals in four games and led Dallas to a 3-1 start.
“[Doncic] is a tough cover. It just surprises me that he’s so advanced for so young and early in his career,” Vogel said. “They’ve got some guys with some pizzazz. They’ve got a swag about them that is contagious.”
The Lakers and Mavericks have identical records and are currently tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs in the standings.
