Luka’s workload

Luka has continued to get better as this season has progressed. Especially since it became apparent that he was the team’s best player and that things should run through him.

There is also another angle to that though. Whenever you are “the guy,” or at the top of the scouting report, defenses are going to scheme for you and be prepared for what you do well. It hasn’t really slowed Luka down, as we suggested earlier his numbers are getting better month to month, but it’s something that can catch up to you fatigue-wise.

Luka admitted as such after the team’s loss to Houston.

“Yeah, it’s getting tougher.” He told DMN’s Brad Townsend of the NBA’s proverbial grind.

The All-Star break will certainly help, but this is something to monitor moving forward.

Old Rivals meeting for the last time…

Dwyane Wade makes his final trip to the American Airlines Center on Wednesday night.

We all understand how these two are connected. Two epic meetings in the Finals, both getting to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. We all remember Wade and his good buddy LeBron mocking Dirk’s illness after game four of the 2011 NBA Finals. The exchange of words after the debacle of 2006 that really got this feud started. But Wednesday marks the beginning of the end of this rivalry.

While neither of these guys would likely call the other the closest of friends, there is undoubtedly a mutual respect between the two.

According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, Dirk is even open to the idea of a good ol’ jersey swap.

“Of course.” He said.

Mavs and Heat fans might not like that, but if these two all-timers can put their differences behind them, then why can’t we?

Continued offensive struggles 

In the four games since the new guys debuted, points have been tough to come by for the Mavericks.

Everyone understood why the deals were made and most agree that they were necessary, even vital for the team’s future. But the deals were made for just that: the future.

The Dennis/Wes/Harrison/DJ quintette didn’t work particularly well, but those guys were experienced and developed offensive options that the Mavericks currently don’t have. They might play a healthier, greater team game with these new guys, but trading away at least semi-proven offensive options like that downgraded their overall talent pool, and that has showed these last couple outings.

What’s the fix? In the short term, I’m not sure there is one. But that’s okay, because those trades as we said, are all about next year and beyond.