Dallas Mavericks leap in NBA Power Rankings: Will they keep climbing?

The Dallas Mavericks lost on Sunday night against the Portland Trail Blazers which snapped a four-game winning streak. Superstar Luka Doncic has been white-hot. He dropped over 40 points in two straight and set new a franchise record by scoring 25 or more in 14 consecutive games. The Mavs offense looks to be returning to its elite level from last season.

Dallas got off to a slow start. Their recent hot play has the Mavericks sitting at 13-15 and tenth in the Western Conference. They have dealt with injuries, COVID issues, and slumps, but the Mavs appear to be finding their level.

Luka and company moved up in the NBA Power Rankings this week. Let us look at three sets before deciding if they will keep climbing up the list.

Dallas Mavericks move up in weekly Power Rankings

Dallas leaped from 21st to 14th in ESPN’s Power Rankings this week. They went from 21st to 13th in The Athletic’s (subscription required) and jumped eight spots in Bleacher Report’s ranks to 17th.

Are the Mavs a middle of the pack team? Should they be higher? There are still plenty of questions. The Mavericks offense looks elite, but the defense has been poor. They have allowed 116 or more points in seven straight games. If you drop that number to 110 points or more, Dallas has allowed it in 17 of their last 18 contests. The defense needs to improve if the Mavericks plan on making the playoffs this season.

Fans should be optimistic because Luka is creating a ton of open looks, and the Mavs are starting to convert. No team is looking forward to facing them.

Expect the Dallas Mavericks to keep climbing up the Power Rankings. Luka Doncic is producing MVP numbers. The team will find their footing on the defensive end. The Mavs goal is to work their way into the top six in the Western Conference to avoid the play-in. Stay tuned because the best is yet to come from Dallas this season.