This is going to be a good team

Yeah, they took an L tonight. And yeah, the game was ugly. But as we’ve alluded to in the past, the Mavericks schedule out of the gate was going to be difficult. This game is a reason why.

Phoenix has a very good team, with a well-balanced mix of players. So as the game was unfolding, I thought to look for things that could become trends, rather than a results-based judging. For example, the defense. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve grown tired of Devin Booker going bananas on this team. Tonight? A quiet 22 points and a loud eight turnovers. Josh Richardson hounded him all night and the team as a whole responded.

We know this team’s offense will come. They were the greatest offense in league history for goodness sake. But if they can limit the other teams star player and play good team defense like this, they will be just fine.

 

Luka continues to look sluggish 

A popular topic of conversation during the preseason was Luka’s conditioning. Generally this type of stuff is overblown, but I definitely noticed that he looked heavier myself. Luka basically acknowledge as much himself.

“People on the Internet say things…but it’s true. I’m not in my best shape,” he said.

He still finished with a 32-8-5 line, because that’s what greatness, even out-of-shape greatness gives you, but the Mavericks need the best version of himself.

How long will that take? Will he even get there at all this year? Who knows. But what we can say for sure: Luka cannot make this a habit.

Considering how conditioned he was coming into last year and before heading to Orlando, it shouldn’t be a long term concern. We’ll just chalk it up to the rushed start to the year.

Jalen Brunson being back is a huge deal 

Rick Carlisle has become known as a whisper or point guards. Jalen Brunson is one of his latest works and if tonight was any indication, he’s doing great work.

For much of the night, Brunson looked rusty. Really rusty. There was a sequence early in the third quarter where he committed a bad turnover and followed it up by fouling a three-point shooter that would sink anybody. But testament to him, he bounced back, single-handedly willing his team back into the game with hustle plays and rim attacks.

It was a great reminder of what the Mavericks missed in Orlando last year.