After emerging from the NBA All-Star break, where even basketball pros might’ve indulged a bit too much in couch-potato activities, the Dallas Mavericks (33-23) seemed to have forgotten what rust even looks like. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving teamed up for a mind-boggling 60 points, leaving the Phoenix Suns (33-23) scratching their heads in a 123-113 defeat. It’s like they came back from vacation with a “rust-resistant” coating, or maybe they just watched a lot of motivational sloth videos during the break.
With the newly minted Mavs, now featuring P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford courtesy of the trade deadline, winning their seventh straight, they’ve catapulted over the Suns into sixth place in the wild West. They’re now eyeing the New Orleans Pelicans’ spot like a kid sizing up the last cookie. Dallas started the season with promise, like a DIY project, and now, they’re finally looking like the impressive IKEA furniture they were meant to be – no missing screws in sight.
But hold on to your basketball shorts, because the funniest part of this whole saga might be Kyrie Irving’s newfound zen. The man who once had more drama than a daytime soap opera is now as quiet as a mouse. When asked about the Mavs’ sudden success, Irving, with all the enthusiasm of someone discussing their last grocery run, simply stated, “Feels good. Just wanna keep it up.” If this is the new Kyrie, the league better watch out—no more circus, just pure, unadulterated basketball. The Mavericks are out here like a well-oiled machine, and they’re not clowning around about their playoff dreams. So, buckle up, folks, because they’re about to take this show on the road, starting with the Indiana Pacers. Who knows, maybe they’ll bring back some corny jokes to go with their wins.