NBA analyst Nick Wright is endorsing the Dallas Mavericks to make it to the NBA Finals after their win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. He pointed out how an in-shape Luka Doncic is controlling the NBA like a yo-yo, with the Bucks failing to stop him even with two defensive standouts like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday.
He then went on to draw parallels between this year’s Luka Doncic with 2007 LeBron James, who surprised the NBA by taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals with players nobody that could compete at that level and projected that Doncic will do the same thing as a Maverick through the West.
“Back in 07, you didn’t see it coming. LeBron James, Damon Jones, and Boobie Gibson aren’t going to make the Finals, but they did. LeBron was 22 and had played in two career playoff series. Luka is 23 and has played in two career playoff series. In those two series, he has averaged 34-9-10 and he did it against the Clippers. There’s no answer for him. Dallas is done losing in the regular season. They’re going to finish 3-4 seed and they’re going to the Finals. They have the best player in every series they play, mark it down.”
"Right now, Luka Dončić is showing you he has the whole NBA on a string. The Bucks had no answers. … Dallas is done losing this regular season, and they're going to the Finals." — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/QmjMrQYP67
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) April 4, 2022
The comparison of this year’s Mavericks and LeBron’s 07 Cavaliers has been floating around for a while. However, it isn’t necessarily the best comparison to make, as the Mavericks do have a supporting cast to accentuate Doncic’s strengths. The players aren’t over-achievers in their role, but the team as a whole is far more competitive.
The only comparison is the fact that Doncic would make the Finals in his fourth season as LeBron did. The Mavericks won’t be favored to do so, but outside the Phoenix Suns, it isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
The Mavericks will focus on securing the best seed possible and then making it out of the first round for the first time since 2011 before they focus on dreams of being in the NBA Finals.
