NBA Power Rankings Week 17: A new number one and a lot of injuries

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79. . 30-25. Previous: 7th. Dallas Mavericks. 10. team

Last Week: Lost to San Antonio Spurs 119-117, Lost to Philadelphia 76ers 113-95, Beat Memphis Grizzlies 114-113, Lost to New York Knicks 117-109

This Week: 4/18 vs. Sacramento Kings, 4/21 vs. Detroit Pistons, 4/22 vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4/24 vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Thank goodness for the Dallas Mavericks that Luka Doncic hit one of the more spectacular game-winning shots most fans have ever seen. His heroics remain the one constant for the Mavericks, keeping the team afloat as they push towards the upper hand in a play-in scenario. Beyond that shot, he had another stellar statistical week.

Doncic averaged 28.0 points, 9.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds last week. He and Kristaps Porzingis were the only players for the Mavericks capable of committing to a real offensive flow this week. It is tough to watch such a great individual offensive season be wasted in such a way.

All that being said, the words from Doncic and Mark Cuban about the play-in game this week rang exceptionally hollow. This sounded like a star with sour thoughts about his season being wasted and an owner backing his star. Neither of them would be complaining about the play-in if they were comfortably a homecourt playoff team.

Rather than complaining about the machinations of the season that they knew about before the season even began, the Mavericks should be more worried about not losing three games in a single week. Winning games will solve all of the issues ailing the Dallas Mavericks.