The Los Angeles Lakers made headlines by allowing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to leave in free agency last summer, choosing not to match the three-year, $66 million deal he received from the Orlando Magic. Despite initial struggles, the Lakers have become the league's No. 1 defense since January 15, a significant improvement from their earlier ranking of 21st. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder's defensive woes continue, as they currently rank 21st since the break.
Since January 15, the Lakers have excelled defensively, boasting the fourth-best field goal percentage allowed, even without Anthony Davis and consistent rim protection. This success has sparked discussions among scouts about whether their recent performance is sustainable.
"As great a job as JJ is doing, I don't think it's sustainable," – One scout
The Denver Nuggets lead in overall field goal shooting, largely due to Nikola Jokic's efficiency and playmaking. However, their lack of quality shooters limits their 3-point attempts. A scout commented on this aspect:
"You'd like the 3-point volume to be up, but he can make them and does a lot of other stuff." – A scout
In contrast, the Dallas Mavericks have faced challenges since trading for Luka Doncic, going 6-8 and dealing with Anthony Davis playing only one half. Their playoff hopes are uncertain, and recent inconsistent performances raise doubts about their ability to contend for the Western Conference title.
"There's just no scoring ability without Kyrie. There's just not enough talent with all these injuries." – One scout
The Mavericks have some flexibility with players on varying contracts for potential trades and received draft compensation from the Lakers. They might shift their summer plans to focus on their own draft pick due to Kyrie Irving's season-ending knee injury.
A league executive weighed in on the situation:
"When you have a setback like they've suffered, you have to identify what you can control and focus on improvement there," – A league executive
Despite these setbacks, some teams still view the Mavericks as legitimate contenders for the Western Conference championship. However, their recent inconsistent performance and increased season ticket prices for next season reflect a turbulent period for Dallas.
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