3 studs, 2 duds from Mavericks' disappointing preseason loss to Timberwolves

5. Stud - Luka Doncic

Luka Doncic's preparation this summer ahead of this Mavericks season came into full effect in the Mavs' first preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Doncic looked more explosive compared to the last couple of seasons and subsequently was able to get defenders on his hip so he could get to the rim and finish or make a kick-out pass.

Minnesota has an all-world defender on the perimeter in Jaden McDaniels, but even he wasn't able to stop the onslaught that Doncic put on in the first half to try and get the Mavericks back in the game.

Doncic did a good job of not forcing contested outside shots early and used his driving ability to open up some more leniency for himself to shoot it from beyond the arc when he got favorable switches.

Doncic was hyper-efficient, canning in three shots from downtown while also making six out of his seven free throws en route to a casual 25 points in the first half (He didn't play in the second half).

Doncic did a great job controlling the pace of the game within the first half, and whenever the Mavericks decide to open up the toolbox a little more with some of their more complex offensive actions involving Doncic, they are going to be hard to stop on offense throughout a lot of different periods this upcoming season.

It seems like Doncic's offseason training regiment that helped him lose weight along with his summer with the Slovenian national team, have really helped him on the court, but it's just one preseason game so we can't get too optimistic about an MVP campaign for the 24-year-old superstar just yet.