The NBA Cup: Luka Doncic's big chance

It couldn't come at a more appropriate time. Luka Doncic, who was recently named Western Conference Player of the Week after averaging 29.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists without defeat (3-0), is on the verge of adding a great success to his NBA career. There are already achievements such as the last Western Conference title, but he would raise the level if he achieves the Emirates NBA Cup. An NBA Cup, that competition that has few devotees until its final phase is played, which faces its final phase in a week full of matches that will culminate in the final in Las Vegas.

The NBA Cup comes at a sweet time for the Dallas Mavericks as they are on a tremendous run, having won seven games in a row. The former Real Madrid player has improved significantly since he injured his wrist and returned to the court. He is averaging 31 points, 9.5 assists and 10.5 rebounds, as well as maintaining great accuracy (50 percent shooting from the field and 43 percent from three-point range) and betting on defense, stealing more than three balls per game.

Western Conference

That said, the challenge for Doncic and his team is total. Because on the other side in the quarterfinals they face the Oklahoma City Thunder (Wednesday 11, 3:30 am). The best team in the West, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 29.8 points per game and that memory of the last Playoffs where Dallas won. Things, a few months later, have changed. Oklahoma is on a roll and its defense is a key point. In fact, with 8.6 points of efficiency (the difference between their defensive rating and that of the league) they are the third best in history after the Celtics in 1963-64 and 1964-65 (10.8 and 9.4 points).

In the semi-final, they will face Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets (Thursday 12, 03:30 hours). With a 14-9 record and a galactic Steph Curry (23 points per game and 30 in the last one), the Bay Area team is unpredictable and can break games at will from long distance. Houston (2nd in the West, 16-8) is a pleasant surprise, with youth, the strength of Sengun in the interior positions and the boost of responsibility of VanVleet or Green, the exteriors with more points in their hands.

Eastern Conference

If talent is abundant in the West, the East has a big name in the NBA Cup playoffs with the absence of the Cavs, the best team at the start of the season, and the Celtics, the NBA champion and perhaps the best team. It is Giannis Antetokounmpo, responsible for the improvement of the Milwaukee Bucks after playing 21 games this season but all with at least 20 points and 50% shooting. He is close to Shaquille O'Neal's record of 25 games (2000) maintaining those numbers. They will open against the surprising, and competent, Orlando Magic (Wednesday 11, 01:00 hours) in the quarterfinals.

The game will be completed by the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks (Thursday 12, 01:00 hours). The Big Apple team arrives on a high, having won five of their last six games and with an improvement from Karl-Anthony Towns. He will arrive just after being key against the Toronto Raptors in Canada, where a three-pointer marked the end. Atlanta is a revelation, as they went from being the first to choose in the Draft to g a good record of 13-12. Trae Young, averaging 20.9 points and 12.2 assists, is their great star.