[G-Man]

They say information is power, and I think the Mavs have more information than they are sharing, because not sharing it forces Utah to prepare as though Luka will be ready for game one. My guess is he won't be ready, but when Utah finds out for sure, there will be an inevitable letdown, which opens the door wider for the short-handed Mavs to steal a game or two.

This gives the Mavs a definite advantage in the mind game department. Spencer and Brunson are free to practice all week to play without Luka, while Utah has to prepare to face the Mavs both with and without him. Without Luka, the Mavs style is very different. Both guards will drive into the paint, but they won't dwell there to draw the double and triple teams like Luka does. They will move the ball more quickly, and with 4 days to practice it, they'll be ready. Meanwhile, Utah has never played the Mavs with Spencer and without Luka...another advantage for Dallas.