Dallas Mavs win Southwest Division and secure NBA playoff series against LA Clippers: “We’re just getting started”

Although the Mavs are happy to be back in the playoffs, everyone on the team knows that they are still nowhere near their overall goal of winning a championship. On Tuesday in Charlotte, Daniel Gafford took a cue from the late, great Kobe Bryant by saying, “The work isn't done,” and Irving echoed that sentiment Wednesday in Miami.

“We know the work is not finished and we are just getting started,” Irving said. “We did it in the regular season, that's all well and good, but now the adults are starting to use their skills.” IQ, start using their emotional intelligence and their physical intangibles, and may the best man win .”

The Mavs lost to the Clippers in six and seven games, respectively, in their 2020 and 2021 first-round playoff series, but a lot has changed since then. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden — as good as they all are — are no longer spring cows, and Leonard has missed LAC's last five games due to “knee inflammation.”

For Dallas, it's no longer just Doncic alone. No. 77 finally has a true co-star in Irving, and he also has a talented, athletic group of role players that has helped the Mavs have the league's No. 1 defense over the last 18 games – one Period that Dallas lost 16-2.

The Mavs have the star power, all the roster talent and all the momentum in the world to make a memorable playoff push, and that push will begin against an old rival, the Clippers. The only question left is whether the Mavs will be the No. 4 or No. 5 seed. If Dallas wins its final two games while LAC loses its final two games, the Mavs will open the postseason at American Airlines Center. However, every Mavs loss or Clippers win means Doncic, Irving and Co. will be heading to Crypto.com Arena next weekend.

“We’re looking forward to this challenge,” Irving said about facing the Clippers.