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NBA Power Rankings Week 11: All-Star break edition

By Corey Rausch

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 09: Kyrie Irving #11 and James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 09, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 09: Kyrie Irving #11 and James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 09, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Dallas Mavericks. 9. team. 79. . 18-16. Previous: 9th

Last Week: Beat Orlando Magic 130-124, Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 87-78

This Week: 3/10 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 3/11 at Oklahoma City Thunder, 3/13 at Denver Nuggets

The Dallas Mavericks have seemingly figured things out and are back on track. Winning a game with 130 points and 87 points respectively in the same week shows that it does not always have to be pretty. The Mavericks are figuring out how to just get things done, an important next step.

Luka Doncic is always the biggest story in Dallas and it is easy to see why. So far this season he is averaging 28.6 points, 9.0 assists, 8.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. He has improved his efficiency this season. It is easy to make jokes about his preseason MVP projection with how the season started but that is ignoring the Mavs’ extenuating circumstances.

Dallas has been ravaged by injuries and COVID protocols. Maxi Kleber, Kristaps Porzingis and Josh Richardson have missed a combined 34 games, limiting the chances of the team ever getting on the same page. Porzingis’ continued injury concerns have caused a referendum on the trade that brought him to Dallas and has seen his name re-entered into trade rumors.

The Mavericks are undeterred by the trade rumors and negativity. They have won eight of their last 10 games and are climbing back into the playoff picture. If they can have relative health in the second half of the season, those who were ready to write them off may eat their words yet.