Nick Angstadt here, the host of the daily Locked On Mavericks podcast, with your daily Locked On Mavericks newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Mavericks and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
2025 Predictions for the Dallas Mavericks
Dec 15, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita/Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The Dallas Mavericks find themselves at a critical juncture in the 2023-24 NBA season. With superstar Luka Doncic sidelined due to injury, the team’s position in the Western Conference standings hangs precariously in the balance.
Currently sitting at 20-15 and holding the sixth seed, the Mavericks face a challenging stretch without their cornerstone player. The team’s ability to maintain their playoff positioning will be put to the test, as they aim to stay above the ninth spot in the West before Doncic’s return.
The timeline for Doncic’s comeback remains uncertain, with initial reports suggesting a reevaluation after four weeks. This prolonged absence puts additional pressure on the rest of the roster to step up and keep the Mavericks competitive.
Kyrie Irving’s Health Concerns
Adding to the team’s challenges, Kyrie Irving is now dealing with a lumbar injury, further complicating the Mavericks’ rotation. Irving’s availability and performance will be crucial in Doncic’s absence, as the team relies heavily on his scoring and playmaking abilities.
Playoff Predictions
Despite the current adversity, there’s optimism that the Mavericks could still make a deep playoff run. Some predictions suggest that even if Dallas ends up in the play-in tournament, they could potentially reach the Western Conference Finals. This scenario draws comparisons to recent playoff runs by teams like the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers, who overcame play-in challenges to make significant postseason impacts.
Looking Ahead
As the Mavericks navigate this challenging period, all eyes will be on Doncic’s return and the team’s ability to maintain their competitive edge in the tough Western Conference. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the trajectory of the Mavericks’ season and their postseason aspirations.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Mavericks’ playoff chances and Luka Doncic’s injury status, tune into the Locked On Mavericks podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Mavericks Podcast:
• Predictions for the Mavericks’ offensive and defensive rankings by season’s end
• Speculation on potential offseason moves and contract extensions for key players
• Analysis of role players’ performances and their impact on the team’s success
Jan 4, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) greets Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) before a game at Frost Bank Center. | Scott Wachter/Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Casting a cursory eye up and down the standings this weekend, I noticed some appearances that made me take a second look. This went for teams for climbing and sliding. So, I’m introducing a potentially recurring feature called “Monday movers”, highlighting teams jostling and jockeying in the standings, likely bound to get more contentious as the season goes on.
San Antonio Spurs
What a thrill it must be for long-suffering Spurs fans to take a glance at the West’s top 10 and see their team there, after so many seasons spent hanging around the bottom of the conference. What a thrill it was for me, too!
It’s not all because of Victor Wembanyama, but the phenom did hit two milestones this weekend: he played his 100th NBA game and he turned 21. His in-game numbers are similarly worth celebrating.
He’s the first player since Shaquille O’Neal to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds before turning 21, and the 7th player in the last 45 years to score over 2,200 points (he’s scored 2,278) through his first 100 games. Other than Bill Walton and Brad Daugherty, Wembanyama’s the only other 7-foot center with 385+ assists before turning 21, though their first 100 games. He’s also put up more threes than Steph Curry did, with 225 to Curry’s 200 through their first 100 games.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Trades The Jimmy Butler vs. Heat saga escalated quickly: Here’s what we know. (ESPN)
Biz Amazon adds Blake Griffin and Dirk Nowitzki to its inaugural studio coverage for the 2025-2026 season. (The Athletic)
Preview As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to face off against the Memphis Grizzlies, there are three key considerations for their game at the FedEx Forum. Game strategies and player matchups will be pivotal. (Mavs Moneyball)
Preview The Mavericks will play against the Grizzlies at the FedExForum at 8:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
A Closer Look at Brice Sensabaugh’s Scoring Surge
Jan 5, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Utah Jazz guard Brice Sensabaugh (28) is interviewed by Seg Media reporter, Lauren Green following a game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images | Russell Lansford/Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
One of the most intriguing developments on Sunday came from the Utah Jazz, where rookie Brice Sensabaugh has suddenly burst onto the scene with a scoring explosion.
Sensabaugh dropped 27 points against the Orlando Magic, following up a 34-point performance in his previous outing. That’s a staggering 61 points over two games for a player who had been largely off the fantasy radar. His usage rate has skyrocketed to over 30% in these contests, and he’s been scorching hot from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 17 three-point attempts.
However, before we rush to add Sensabaugh in all leagues, it’s crucial to examine the context of his breakout. The Jazz were missing several key players, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson. This opened up a significant opportunity for Sensabaugh to showcase his scoring prowess.
The sustainability of Sensabaugh’s production is questionable. His three-point shooting percentage is bound to regress, and when the Jazz get healthier, his minutes and usage are likely to decrease. That said, he’s shown enough to warrant consideration as a streaming option in deeper leagues, particularly when Utah is shorthanded.
Click the button below for more insights, including another Thunder player to keep an eye on for your fantasy roster.
Nick Angstadt & Slightly Biased break down the Mavericks’ defensive struggles, Quentin Grimes’ impressive performance, and key contributions from Klay Thompson and P.J. Washington. He analyzes what went wrong for Dallas and highlights bright spots like Grimes’ 26-point outburst against an elite Cavs team featuring Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley.
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