Mavs Sunday Donuts: Dallas Viewed As 'Dangerous' 1st-Round Threat

The Dallas Mavericks are headquartered in Orlando, planning their scrimmages, and maybe ready to bust the NBA Bubble ...

DONUT 1: DANGEROUS DALLAS? Sports Illustrated is labeling Dallas as "dangerous'' as a first-round foe in the upcoming playoffs. Is immediate success a cinch? No, the idea there is more "eventual.'' ....

Doncic and the Mavericks are among the top contenders to win a championship in the 2020s. How long can they last in Orlando? That’s a different conversation. Let’s assess the Dallas' standing in the Western Conference as we approach the NBA restart.

And in that assessment?

Each potential opponent provides a unique set of circumstances, but the first 60-plus games of 2019-20 proved a key point: The Mavericks are a serious threat to take down any non-Los Angeles team in Orlando. Doncic will have to wait a couple of years before truly chasing the Larry O’Brien trophy. But a first round upset? That’s certainly in play. With a true phenom leading the way, the Mavericks are among the most dangerous first round opponents ahead of the NBA restart.

All in all, a good, flattering start to the ride the Mavs might be about to take us on.

Dorian Finney-Smith, for one, thinks the ride is going up, up, up.

“I feel like we can beat anybody, especially if we’re healthy and we come out with an us-against-the-world mentality,” he said.

DONUT 2: PLAYOFF LUKA The biggest reason the West's No. 7-seed Mavs might make some noise? "Playoff Luka.''

DONUT 3: QUOTABLE “For me it’s like the European championships,” he said. “Every team is in the same hotel ... But the European championships, you see a lot of players. I’m used to that, and we’re going to be together a lot, so it’s not bad.” - An upbeat Luka on life in the Bubble.

DONUT 4: CUBAN'S ADVICE While Doncic has a "been-there/done-that'' confidence (even though he hasn't, the Mavs have experience in another area - a sordid area. Which is why Mavs owner Mark Cuban, watching from afar as the NFL's Washington franchise deal with sexual harassment issues in the building, has some thoughtful advice for Washington owner Dan Snyder.

“If you know (Washington owner) Dan Snyder, if you’re involved with the Redskins, if you connect to them, tell Dan and tell his senior management you’ve got to just recognize what you did right and what you did wrong,” Cuban said. “You have to accept the mistakes you made. That’s painful. I made a lot of mistakes. And that’s the only way this is going to get resolved.”

DONUT 5: TWO-WAY The Mavs had great hopes that their trade for Kristaps Porzingis would bring two things: Eventual positive health and, right after that, unique offensive play.

But there's been a third "hope'' realized that I think is rather unexpected.

“He’s been terrific and great at both ends,'' Carlisle said. “Defensively, he’s one of the best rim protectors in the game. We are seeing that in the practices as well,” Carlisle said of Porzingis, who ranks fifth in the NBA in blocks.

Dallas has a chance to be an offensive juggernaut here. But if the 7-3 KP can be a stopper of sorts at the other end? Yes, "dangerous.''

DONUT 6: TOO EARLY? It's never too early to consider who's who when it comes to the NBA's free agency list. So we've got it here.

But ...

It's also wise to consider: One thing we've learned over the years in watching the Dallas Mavs attempt to make free-agent shopping work for them: "Connections'' are a better tool than "cap space.''

DONUT 7: WHICH BRINGS US TO ... Giannis.

If you are a media outlet trying to make some future "Giannis Antetokounmpo connection to the Mavs,'' but on your list of reasons you don’t know to mention Donnie Nelson and Tony Ronzone?

You are pulling your story ideas out of your butt.

I'll explore in more detail a bit later this week.

DONUT 8: GENIUS The Mavs Are The Happiest Team in the World, no doubt. Fishing. Golf. Piano keyboards. Bonding. Basketball.

Oh, and Maxi Kleber brought with him to the Orlando Bubble the autobiography of Albert Einstein.

The good work and good bonding continued on Saturday with Carlisle and the fellas talking about their families and "outer space.'' The team will also work this morning; DBcom will have a full practice update on Sunday afternoon.

DONUT 9: WAITING ON BRUNSON? A bit of confusion popped up when the Mavs announced that Jalen Brunson, rehabbing his shoulder, ended up not going to Orlando. None of the decision - which is all about him being "better suited" to finish the rehab in Dallas - has anything to do with him playing this season. That was never going to happen.

"There's really no reason to push it,'' Carlisle said of a rushed return. "He's too important to us."

Same with Dwight Powell and his Achilles, though DP obviously is with the team in Orlando, and flexing the leadership muscle - on both a team and NBAPA level - while he's at it.

DONUT 10: MARK, MONEY, MOUTH Mavericks owner Cuban continues to put his money where his mouth is. Tony Cubes is investing $100,000 in an advertising campaign with The Dallas Weekly, a Black-owned newspaper in publication since 1954.

DONUT 11: KEEP IT, WES Old pal Wes Matthews, now a key piece for the contending Bucks, didn't let his beard grow out during the COVID-19-forced hiatus. He went the other direction, growing hair upward.

New look for @WessyWes23!?! pic.twitter.com/GaWbDj7KL6
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 17, 2020

Keep it, Wes.

DONUT 12: THE FINAL WORD “It’s like a quick restart. We just refresh our minds and get back to business and do what we love.” - Porzingis.