NBA Playoff Prep: Dallas Mavs Shift Focus to Los Angeles Clippers Matchup

Explore the Mavs' preparation strategy ahead of their playoff clash with the Clippers, even with two regular-season games remaining.

Dec 20, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) controls the ball as LA / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

MIAMI — After defeating the Miami Heat on Wednesday, the Dallas Mavericks clinched their 50th win, secured a top-five seed in the Western Conference, and captured their first Southwest Division title since 2021. The Mavs are set to face the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs for the third time in the Luka Doncic era, with the first two encounters ending in first-round exits for Dallas.

"We do have to celebrate the small wins, and tonight was a step in that direction of just acknowledging a small victory in reaching 50 wins," Mavs superstar Kyrie Irving said. "Some guys in that locker room have never experienced reaching this milestone. We're also looking forward to the challenge of facing a veteran ball club like the Clippers. However, we must remain humble and continue putting in the necessary work to set ourselves apart in the postseason."

Dec 20, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) controls the ball as LA / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

In three regular-season matchups against the Clippers, the Mavs went 1-2, losing their two most recent games. The teams first met shortly after the James Harden trade on Nov. 10, with Dallas winning 144-126 at the American Airlines Center. The Mavs scored 88 points in a 19-point loss at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 25. In their most recent meeting on Dec. 20, the Clippers prevailed with a final score of 120-111.

In his postseason career, Doncic has maintained averages of 33.5 points, 9.5 assists, and 8.8 rebounds across 13 matchups against the Clippers. Leonard has been electrifying against Dallas in the same setting since joining Los Angeles, averaging 32.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Both superstars need to set the tone, but Leonard's health status remains to monitor as he's currently sidelined with a knee injury.

Irving's nonappearance in the Mavs' recent game was notable in their series against the Clippers. He has maintained averages of 26.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists against Leonard's team this season. In prior playoff confrontations, Dallas grappled with Kristaps Porzingis' limitations and irregular availability, while Jalen Brunson had yet to establish himself as a standout player. Irving offers a credible superstar partner for Doncic, aiding in matchups during non-Luka minutes, a previously challenging task without an answer to Paul George.

Dereck Lively II only appeared in the series-opening game when Dallas lacked another capable traditional center and had Maxi Kleber sidelined. Additionally, P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford did not appear in the three matchups since they were traded to Dallas in February. Since their arrival, the Mavs have improved defensively, ranking sixth in the NBA, proving instrumental in their 21-7 record over this span.

By avoiding the play-in tournament, the Mavs could have five to six days to prepare before facing the Clippers. Despite having two regular season games left — the first on Friday against the Detroit Pistons in Dallas and the second on Sunday on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder — the Mavs can focus clearly on preparing for the Clippers.

Mavs coach Jason Kidd acknowledges the opportunity to provide his team with much-needed rest, which could be crucial for their preparation and recovery. Kyrie Irving has already been ruled out for Friday's game due to left hamstring soreness, while Luka Doncic is questionable to play with left ankle soreness. This break could be a strategic advantage, allowing Dallas to enter the first round refreshed while ensuring they maintain their competitive momentum.

“I think we’re able to get some rest here,” Kidd said. “We’ll look when we get home about Friday, and then Sunday, and then we’ll go from there. It’s good to get some rest, but sometimes you want to keep playing because of the rhythm of where we are as a team.”

Since making multiple starting lineup changes — involving swapping out Lively and Josh Green in favor of Gafford and Derrick Jones Jr. — before facing the Heat on Mar. 7, the Mavs have led the NBA in defensive rating (106.0). The results achieved when that starting five is on the court since the All-Star break leads all five-man lineup combinations in defensive rating (99.7) with at least 100 minutes logged. An ongoing focus defensively remains on their execution in handling five-out offenses.

Irving is keenly aware of the heightened stakes and intensity of the postseason. Focusing on preparation, he emphasized the team's need to elevate its game beyond regular-season achievements.

“We know the job isn’t finished, and we’re just getting started," Irving said. "We’ve done it in the regular season, that’s good and dandy, but now this is where the grown-ups start to use their IQ, start to use their emotional intelligence, their physical intangibles, and may the best man win.”

With their playoff position secured, the Mavs coaching staff can dedicate their focus entirely to understanding and analyzing their specific opponent rather than juggling multiple potential matchups. Kidd joked about how this would alleviate stress from the team's film room.

"I think the only advantage is probably the film room and the coaches. Knowing that they don't have to prepare video for the other three or four teams," Kidd said. "When you talk about one, two, and three, if you were going to be in the sixth spot. That's the advantage. The film room is happy that they can just focus on the Clippers, and also the coaches.

"Before we get to the Clippers, we just have to continue to keep working on our habits," Kidd explained. "Understand where our chemistry is at and our trust and continue to keep making that stronger."

Kidd is mindful of the team's recent history, particularly how they fared post-All-Star break, and using those lessons to inform their preparation. This blend of mental and physical preparation is pivotal as the Mavs aim to maintain their competitive edge and rhythm heading into the playoffs.

"Just understanding the All-Star break—we've gone through that, and we were playing well before the All-Star break," Kidd said. "We came out of the All-Star break and stumbled a little bit, so we'll talk about that.

"We gotta work and be prepared. There'll be some time off, but also, there's going to be a time where we can work on our mental side of the game to get better," Kidd explained. "So probably a lot of film, which guys sometimes don't like, but just being able to prepare for the Clippers mentally and then being able to stay on the court and keep a rhythm."

Although Irving is typically forthcoming with his insights on basketball strategies, he has decided to keep his cards close to his chest for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs. By not disclosing details, he aims to compel the opposition to dedicate more time to analyzing game footage rather than gaining insights directly from him. This strategic silence highlights the Mavs' emphasis on leveraging their internal strengths and preparing tactically as they approach the playoff challenges ahead.

“We have different adjustments we can make – we’ve shown it over the past few games,” Irving said. “I think now it’s just kind of about staying silent and getting ready for a team building whatever game plan they have for us and whatever we have in the first round. We are who we are, and we’re ready to take on some challenges.”

Irving highlights the team's strategic preparation during their time off. Emphasizing the importance of adapting and conditioning, Irving discusses how the Mavs will use their practices to challenge each other and refine their gameplay, emphasizing player-to-player adjustments and non-verbal communication.

"We create healthy challenges and practice for ourselves, show each other different looks, and just be realistic with what this series is going to take to win," Irving said. "The focus now is getting into as great a shape as you can in the next week and kind of week and push yourself. You know, you're going to be in high minutes played — that's me personally and some of the other guys in the locker room.

"We're going to need to play different roles, so we just got to continue to work on our adaptation out there and then our player-to-player adjustments and non-verbal communication,' Irving explained. "We'll be okay."

The start date for Game 1 of the Mavericks-Clippers series has not been announced, but the NBA playoffs are set to begin April 20. Historically, the opening game between these two teams in the four seed versus five side Western Conference series has occurred on the second day of the playoffs in recent years.