Lowe’s League Pass Rankings — The top 10 must-watch teams in 2023-24

It’s time to reveal the top 10 in our 12th annual League Pass Rankings — the 10 most entertaining teams in the NBA, according to our proprietary algorithm.

Remember: These are not power rankings! We revealed Nos. 11-30 here, along with a reminder of how the scoring works.

I would have ranked a few teams from Part I ahead of Dallas, but the algorithm is seduced by star power — and the Mavericks have it in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Irving is a blur; he should get the slowpoke Mavs moving in transition — even if Doncic prefers to walk it up.

In the muck of the half court, Doncic is a LeBron James-level chessmaster. He is cruel hunting size mismatches, and can exploit them in either direction — toying with bigs outside (Ivica Zubac just felt a shiver down his spine), and dragging smaller guards into hell on the block. The Doncic-Irving pick-and-roll is a natural mismatch generator — and a means of getting the stars to cooperate, with Irving flaring for 3s or slipping into the paint. The Mavs barely used it last season. That will change.

Even with everyone else standing around, there is a thrill to Doncic burrowing into the paint — eyes darting, the defense reacting to every glance, pivot and dribble. Doncic is baiting them, waiting for the defense to expose itself. He can outthink any help rotation. Doncic is an all-time great setting up 3s, but he knows a sure 2 is still the best shot. He threads lobs, wraparounds and other interior passes that might lead to layups.

There is a mystery about how Jason Kidd might divvy up minutes at center and among a pile of wings. Two rookies, Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, could start. Jaden Hardy has a scorer’s bravado. Josh Green is liable to run dribble handoffs with ghosts.

What is the over/under on games until Doncic and Irving tire of Grant Williams’ chatter? Williams’ shooting and defensive versatility give Dallas lots of frontcourt options; the Williams-Maxi Kleber pairing is a…