LOS ANGELES — If there’s anything to be learned in the early days of the NBA playoffs it's that aggressiveness is rewarded, incidental contact is deemed just that, and it certainly helps to have late-game shot-makers who can create in scramble situations.
See Jamal Murray. See the blessed and highly favored New York Knicks, who seem to get every good bounce going their way.
And then there’s the Dallas Mavericks, who we don’t know just what to make of. But we know about Luka Donu010diu0107 and Kyrie Irving, offensive wizards who can excel in a free-flowing game and make due in one of those grinding affairs.