In the midst of the NBA regular season, the Mavericks have attracted widespread attention with their tenacity and outstanding performance. That's right, after their 111-92 victory over the Heat, they managed to lock up the championship in the Southwest Division. And in that time, they have also won four in a row, reaching an impressive 50-30 record. This series of victories not only demonstrated the strength of the Mavericks, but also brought a generous reward to the team's core Irving - $1 million in prize money.
That's right, according to the incentive terms signed by Irving and the team, as long as the team wins 50 games in the regular season, Irving will receive a bonus incentive of 100 playing dollars. There is no doubt that Irving has become an indispensable member of the Mavericks this season. His outstanding performance not only brought victory to the team, but also brought endless surprises to the fans. The Mavericks have a 39-19 record in Irving's games, which is a testament to how important Irving is to the team. His addition has made a qualitative leap in the overall strength of the Mavericks, and it has also made fans look forward to the future of this team.
With the Mavericks and Clippers locked up the fourth and fifth places in the West, respectively, the first matchup of the NBA playoffs has also been officially released. It is worth mentioning that this will be the third time in the last five years that the two sides have met in the first round of the playoffs, the first two of which were successful for the Clippers. However, time has passed, and the Mavericks are clearly no longer the weak team they once were. They welcomed a talented star player like Irving, and at the same time, they also completed targeted reinforcements in the offseason, which greatly improved the overall strength of the team.
In the last 18 games, the Mavericks have galloped on the basketball court like a wild horse, achieving an impressive 16-2 record. Such a brilliant result is reminiscent of the 2010-11 season, when they won the championship. Now, the Mavericks have once again shown their championship credentials, and their defensive performance is even better, ranking first in the league for the same period.
Clearly, the Mavericks have what it takes to challenge any strong team. The Eastern European duo of Doncic and Irving became the team's two sharpest blades. Their tacit cooperation and excellent performance have given fans confidence in the Mavericks' prospects in the playoffs. While the Clippers are seen as one of the most likely to win a championship this season, the Mavericks have no way back? Once again against their old rivals, the Clippers, they will have to stick together and play their best to break the curse of a first-round playoff exit.
With the playoffs just around the corner, the Mavericks are well prepared. They will meet the challenge of every opponent with the fullest enthusiasm and the strongest strength. Neither the Clippers nor any other strong team could stop them from pursuing victory. According to statistics, the leader of the Mavericks, the peerless star, has experienced 28 fierce battles in his playoff career. Of those, 13 were iron-clad matchups with the Clippers, accounting for almost half of his playoff career. Now, with the addition of Irving, Doncic, who is like a tiger, will surely lead the team to a new glorious chapter. Their cooperation, like a sharp sword, is aimed at the championship throne, which makes people look forward to it.