The Dallas Mavericks have had quite the rollercoaster of a season. After a 9-14 start that had many thinking the world was falling apart, Dallas responded with an incredible 19-7 stretch. Since then, however, the Mavericks are 2-5 and if Luka Doncic hadn’t hit a miracle, off-balance floater at the buzzer (along with Grayson Allen, who is a 90% FT shooter and was in the midst of a career game, missing two free throws), the Mavericks would be 1-6, on a five game losing streak, and 8th in the Western Conference. Truthfully, in a season like this, there really isn’t a notable difference between the 7th and 8th seed once the play-in tournament starts. However, there is a drastic difference between 6th and 7th.
Over their last seven, the 6th seeded Portland Trail Blazers have also gone 2-5. It’s been frustrating to see a Mavericks team be unable to capitalize, especially considering they lost to the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings in this recent stretch. Is concern warranted about Dallas’ recent play? Sure. They’re 2-5, have lost to two of the worst teams in the NBA, and have looked sluggish. Let’s break down some of the issues and talk about how legitimate this recent stretch of play is.
The Mavericks Have Gone Cold
The simple reason why Dallas has played relatively poorly as of late is because they’ve been in a brutal shooting slump. Ironically, this isn’t too different from what we saw early on in the season, when the Mavericks were shooting horribly from deep. Don’t we remember the days when Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, Josh Richardson, and Dorian Finney-Smith were all under 30% from deep? It’s not a coincidence that when Dallas went on that 19-7 stretch, it’s largely because players started regressing to the mean and shooting the ball better. Take a look at the table below to see key players’ 3-PT percentages by month
| January (7-9) | February (8-4) | March (9-5) | April (5-5) | |
| Luka Doncic | 33.0% | 43.5% | 43.3% | 29.7% |
| Kristaps Porzingis | 28.6% | 40.7% | 39.7% | 32.6% |
| Josh Richardson | 24.2% | 32.8% | 35.5% | 28.6% |
| Dorian Finney-Smith | 35.9% | 40.4% | 34.8% | 42.4% |
| Maxi Kleber | 44.4% | 44.7% | 41.1% | 32.3% |
| Jalen Brunson | 46.9% | 40.9% | 35.9% | 37.5% |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 38.3% | 39.8% | 39.6% | 34.9% |
| TEAM TOTALS | 33.2% | 39.4% | 38.0% | 33.4% |
It’s a make-or-miss league and right now, the Mavericks are doing a lot more missing than they are making. I wrote something similar to this in January about Dallas’ struggles and whether it was time to press the panic button. Even then, I cautioned that Dallas was bound to go on a massive tear from 3-PT range and they’d start winning games. Well, it happened. They went 17-9 over February and March, with the majority of those losses coming when either Luka Doncic and/or Kristaps Porzingis sat. In large part, like many teams, their success comes from how well they shoot the 3-PT ball.
The last seven games is the key stretch of time where Dallas’ struggles have been magnified and it’s easy to see why. Over their last seven games, 23.1% of their total shot attempts have been classified as “wide open” three pointers (nearest defender 6+ feet away) by NBA.com. By comparison, for the entire season, just 20.7% of Dallas’ total shot attempts have been wide open 3-PT field goals. So, in theory, you could argue Dallas’ shot selection has actually improved over their past seven games, which seems paradoxical considering the Mavericks are playing worse. Well, it’s because they’re not making the shots. Dallas is connecting on just 33.8% of their wide open threes over the past seven, 27th in the NBA. By comparison, for the year, the Mavericks have connected on 36.3% of their wide open threes, which is 29th in the NBA. I’ve outlined how the Mavericks need more shooting repeatedly, but these numbers further highlight it. If this team had the personnel to hit wide open threes at just an average clip, they’d be top-5 in the West. That’s how good this offensive scheme and Luka Doncic are at getting guys open.
Now, the bright spot here is that Dallas is now due for a hot streak shooting the ball. We saw some glimpses of that during the 4th quarter against Sacramento, where Luka in particular went bonkers. However, the numbers above don’t lie; none of Dallas’ key shooters have performed well in April, other than Dorian Finney-Smith, whose numbers are slightly tilted because of his 6/8 3-PT shooting game against the Kings (prior to that game he was 22/58 in March, good for 37.9%). The Mavericks were due for a cold stretch; after all, over February and March, multiple players shot well above their career averages and as a team, they outperformed their season average by a lot. Now, that pendulum is starting to tilt back towards an impending hot stretch. It’s tough to be patient when you’re fighting to avoid a play-in tournament, but I’m not sure Dallas’ “play” has fallen off over the past seven as much as people believe. Rather, I think their shot-making has, which has caused Dallas to look a lot worse than they actually are.
Other Teams Have Gotten Hot
When you go cold from deep as a team, it’s really tough to win games. However, it becomes nearly impossible when your opponents also happen to be red hot. Unfortunately for Dallas, that’s the storm they’ve encountered. Once again, it’s not so different than what happened in January.
Over their past seven games, here are their opponents 3-PT shooting percentages:
- Houston Rockets: 39% (season average: 33.8%)
- Milwaukee Bucks: 36% (season average: 39.3%)
- San Antonio Spurs: 38% (season average: 35.8%)
- Philadelphia 76ers: 39% (season average: 36.8%)
- Memphis Grizzlies: 38% (season average: 36.0%)
- New York Knicks: 50% (season average: 38.0%)
- Sacramento Kings: 46% (season average: 36.0%)
In that stretch alone, combined with Dallas’ own shooting woes, it’s really not hard to see why they’re losing basketball games. Now, some of you may logically conclude this is a representation of Dallas’ defense, which I’d argue is partially true (more on Dallas’ defensive issues later). However, let’s once again further analyze the shooting splits below:
| Season | Last Seven Games | |
| % of Wide Open Threes Allowed | 18.7% | 17.6% |
| Opponent Wide Open 3-PT% | 38.3% | 48.1% |
| % of Open Threes Allowed | 17.7% | 14.0% |
| Opponent Open 3-PT% | 37.2% | 36.0% |
| % of Shots <10 Ft. of Rim Allowed | 40.1% | 42.8% |
| Opponent <10 Ft. Shooting % | 56.6% | 53.2% |
As you can see, opponents are scorching hot on wide open threes over the past seven despite the fact Dallas is allowing fewer wide open threes than they have for the season. Dallas also has the best <10 ft. defense by percentage in the league over this span despite opponents’ attempts on the interior going up. I understand fan frustrations, but these numbers paint a different picture than simply “bad defense”. Rather, it’s been partially an unlucky stretch for the Mavericks. It should also be noted that Dallas is allowing the second most mid-range shot attempts per game over this span. Usually, that’s a sign of an effective defensive scheme, forcing opponents to take what many consider to be the most inefficient shot. The problem? Opponents are connecting on 43.8% of them, 11th highest in the NBA over that stretch.
Being hit with this double whammy of 1) not knocking down your own open shots and 2) your opponents hitting their open shots at an absurd clip, it’s really easy to see why the Mavericks are losing. As a reference point, the best wide open 3-PT shooting team this year has been the Los Angeles Clippers at 45.1%. However, the 15th best team (Philadelphia) is at just 39.2%. The fact that opponents are hitting wide open threes around 8-9% above league average when facing Dallas over the past seven is abhorrently bad luck for the Mavericks. It’ll cool off eventually, but right now, Dallas has to try and weather the storm.
Josh Richardson’s Struggles
When the Mavericks traded Seth Curry for Josh Richardson and Tyler Bey, the front office made it clear they did not believe last year’s roster was good enough defensively to win a championship. The concept of adding Josh Richardson was fascinating; he had a reputation as a strong on-ball defender, he had the size and length to defend wings and guards, and seemed to have not meshed well with Philadelphia’s poorly constructed roster. Many thought Richardson would be an impactful, two-way player who would quickly rediscover his potential that made him an enticing piece in the Jimmy Butler trade. Instead, it’s safe to say his first season in Dallas has been a disappointment.
The biggest disappointment for Richardson by far has to be his defense. In my January article, I mentioned how he was one of the worst P&R defenders in the league, but I expected him to improve with a larger sample size and as he got more comfortable within Dallas’ scheme. Now, we don’t know how Richardson’s bout with COVID-19 has affected him from February on, so it is fair to mention that. However, for the season, Richardson ranks in the 14th percentile in defending P&R against the ball-handler. While Dallas’ drop defense scheme doesn’t help Richardson a lot, his defense has been quite poor to begin with. Richardson has been slightly better in isolation settings (37th percentile), but still well below average. Richardson’s role was envisioned as being Dallas’ best perimeter defender, but that hasn’t come to fruition. The Mavericks really need him to guard opposing backcourts, but his ineffectiveness at defending in P&R settings is hampering the Mavericks.
Richardson’s defense has been the biggest disappointment with his game. However, it’s further compounded because he hasn’t given Dallas much of anything offensively. Richardson is shooting 4% worse from three this season compared to his career average, despite the fact that many players are having career seasons with limited fans in attendance. Richardson has been very effective from mid range and has shown some playmaking chops, but far too often, he slows the ball movement through his hesitancy. The Mavericks are 3.2 points worse per 100 possessions with Josh Richardson on the court (compared to him off the court). Frankly, it’s a bit inexplicable how Richardson is only connecting on 26.2% of his corner threes, considering he’s a career 39.0% shooter from the corner.
Now, Richardson is an X-factor for this team because when he’s on, he’s an impactful player who fills a lot of holes. However, he hasn’t looked great over the better part of 10 games and for the year, has struggled. I’d like to cut him some slack because of COVID-19, but from an on-court standpoint, he probably shouldn’t be seeing big minutes. As of late, we’ve seen Rick Carlisle run Jalen Brunson out there more with the starters and I wouldn’t be surprised if that became the norm going forwards.
I will say that I think mixing up the starting rotation would be a mistake and an overreaction. While it is a popular suggestion on Mavs Twitter, Dallas’ starting five has a +12.6 net rating this season. Over the seven games in question? It’s at +16.6. In fact, it’s Dallas’ only lineup over the past seven games that has seen 10+ minutes on the court and does not have a negative net rating. Richardson has not been particularly effective, but oddly enough, the starting five as a whole has been. Based on the data, switching that group around does not seem to be a recipe for success.
Dallas’ Inability to Stop Dribble Penetration
When you make shots as a team, it covers up a lot of flaws. Now that Dallas is struggling from deep, some of these issues are becoming more apparent, with the biggest being Dallas’ inability to consistently contain dribble penetration. This is an area where Josh Richardson has been incredibly disappointing, as he’s beat off the dribble fairly consistently. However, it’s also a team-wide problem. Simply put, the Mavericks do not have the necessary defensive pieces to contain elite scoring guards. Yes, some of the hot shooting they’ve faced has been bad luck, but that only relates to wide open threes.
Take a look at this montage of De’Aaron Fox’s performance against Dallas. How many times was he able to just waltz to the basket with little resistance?
These are the defensive miscues that just can’t happen. Dallas’ transition defense always seems like it’s a mess and this year, the numbers back it up. On a PPP basis, Dallas is the 7th worst transition defense in the NBA. They’re beat up the court a decent amount (sometimes, because they’re too busy complaining about a no call), but they also seem so confused on picking up their man in a transition setting. Now, COVID-19 has certainly played a role in Dallas’ poor communication defensively, but every team is battling these challenges. Yes, the Mavericks have lost the most games to player/safety protocols out of any team, but it can’t be used as an excuse for this type of stuff.
Dallas’ defensive struggles extend far beyond their transition play. On a PPP basis, they rank as the 2nd worst defense defending the P&R ball-handler as well. Looking at off-season targets, adding a defensive-minded guard should be one of the top priorities. The Mavericks also rank 7th worst in defending isolation plays. The only defensive area where Dallas has succeeded is defending dribble handoffs, but that only accounts for a sliver of opponents’ plays. Dallas’ defensive rating is 19th in the NBA and it’s a bit surprising it’s not lower considering their play this season. The off-season moves to bolster the defense have, without a doubt, been a failure.
While Dallas’ defense as a whole has been bad, we should be crediting some players for their improved play. Kristaps Porzingis was the subject of plenty of rough defensive sequences early in the year, but he’s really turned it around. His defended field goal percentage is at 47.6%, a mark that compares identically to Clint Capela (47.6%), and similarly to Jarrett Allen (46.1%), Richaun Holmes (46.5%), and Brook Lopez (46.2%). Maxi Kleber has also had a terrific defensive season; his defended field goal percentage is elite (45.8%), he ranks high in P&R defense, and holds his own in isolation settings. Kleber isn’t the rim protector he was early on in his Dallas’ tenure, in large part because Kristaps Porzingis occupies that role.
One final thing that is disappointing for Dallas’ defense is their lack of hustle stats. They only average 11.9 deflections per game, 2nd lowest in the NBA. That correlates to winning only 47.6% of loose balls on the defensive end of the court, 6th worst in the NBA. Early on, Josh Richardson seemed to be getting his hands on a lot of passes and dribbles, but now, it feels like Dallas can never force a turnover. The Mavericks rank dead last in steals per game and are 29th in points off turnovers. Just saying… T.J. McConnell is a free agent this summer.
What Changes Could be Made?
Once again, I’d really urge caution before hitting the panic button on the Mavericks. Truthfully, during this seven game skid, the only game of real concern for me was their loss to the Kings. In that game, Dallas looked really lethargic, tired, and slow for much of the first half. When the whole coaching staff and bench has to stand up for the better part of a half to inject some energy into the game, you know it’s bad. However, if Dallas had just shot around league average in these past seven games, I’d bet they would be 4-3 rather than 2-5. Still, there are plenty of things to potentially change.
Pick Up the Pace: When your team is struggling to shoot, getting easy baskets is of the upmost importance. Ironically enough, back in January, I said the same thing, that Dallas has to pick up the pace more. Take a look at their pace by month and see if you spot a trend:
| Month | Pace |
| January | 98.95 (20th) |
| February | 99.50 (15th) |
| March | 96.29 (27th) |
| April | 95.45 (30th) |
The trend is simple; their pace is slowing dramatically. The Mavericks are operating in the half-court setting more than ever this month; usually, I wouldn’t be annoyed with that, but when you can’t make the wide open threes you generate from those sets, then pushing the pace isn’t a bad idea. Part of this decline in pace may be due to fatigue and having to play catchup because of COVID, but I also don’t think it was a coincidence that on Sacramento’s first miss of the second half, the Mavericks coaching staff was up yelling at Luka to push. I’d bet on Dallas playing much faster in the coming games.
Give Josh Green Some Minutes: One of the more improbable seasons of Dallas Mavericks basketball I can remember was the 2015-16 season. It was the season following DeAndre Jordan’s change of heart and against all odds, the Mavericks had a shot at the playoffs. After a 2-9 stretch, the Mavs finished the year 7-2, snuck in as the 7th seed, and even won a game against Oklahoma City, the year the Thunder blew their 3-1 lead. Yes, the Mavericks made the postseason on the backs of Dirk Nowitzki, J.J. Barea, and Raymond Felton, but I remember how impactful Dwight Powell and Justin Anderson were. Now, I’m not outright comparing Anderson to Josh Green, but Anderson provided a late season spark with his energy, athleticism, and intensity. Is it crazy to think Green could do the same, even if he’s incredibly raw (and a bit lost) offensively?
When Josh Green has gotten run as of late, he’s been quite good. Green’s athleticism pops, but what stands out to me the most is his non-stop motor. For a team that looks a bit rundown at times, throwing Green in for a jolt of energy makes sense. It’s a relatively small sample size, but lineups that feature Luka and Green have a +8.1 net rating. Not only that, but of all the two man groupings Green has been a part of that have 80+ minutes this season, only one has a pace less than 100. Green also has active hands, hits the offensive glass hard, and has shown impressive passing chops. I think Green could provide a nice spark for 8-12 minutes per night and considering the play Dallas has gotten from their wings, which has included running them into the ground to claw their way back in the standings, it seems reasonable to want some Josh Green minutes.
Put Kristaps Porzingis in the Corner Offensively: I have been clamoring for this for months, but when Kristaps Porzingis is set up in the corner on offense, Dallas is virtually unstoppable. The Luka/KP pick-and-pop has been really good over the past two months (aside from their current shooting slump), but utilizing someone else to set the screen and playing Porzingis in an off-ball role has been lethal. The idea is simple; have a player like Maxi or Dorian set the high ball screen so Luka can get downhill. When the defense rotates from the corner (aka KP’s man), you have the option of kicking it to Porzingis for an open three or, better yet, catching KP cutting to the basket for a lob. Really, it’s not all that different than playing KP in the “dunker” spot, which is what Houston did with Clint Capela for years and was so difficult to stop. However, Porzingis’ 3-PT versatility allows him to stay in the corner if needed and space the floor even more. It’s a nightmare to defend.
I suggest this for a few reasons. First, Porzingis is a career 42.6% 3-PT shooter from the corner and this season, he’s at a scorching 57.1%. He’s only taken 14 corner threes this season, but at that rate, the Mavericks are averaging 1.71 PPP on Porzingis corner threes this year. Small sample size is true, but that is a lethal mark. However, when you account for Porzingis’ cutting ability, you see where Dallas can become unstoppable. Porzingis is in the 67th percentile on cuts this season, averaging 1.38 PPP. The Mavericks as a team do not cut well, especially considering Luka is perhaps the best passer in the NBA. Throwing Porzingis in the corner could unlock some more cuts and easy baskets. We’ve only gotten eight minutes of a Luka, KP, and J.J. Redick trio so far, but in that short sprint, the Mavs had a +21.3 net rating. Imagine KP in the corner with Redick on the wing on one side? Good luck.
Get Off to Hot Starts: Over this seven game skid for Dallas, they rank 26th in net rating in first quarters. Neither their offense nor defense has been good to start games. Considering the team is likely exhausted to begin with, having to battle back is really inconvenient and, more simply, a losing formula. I see the rationale from fans to change the lineup, but it hasn’t been the starting five getting off to slow starts. Rather, it’s been the bench unit struggling, particularly shooting ball. Once again, the Mavericks will regress positively soon enough, but quick starts have to be a point of emphasis for the Mavs over the next few games.
Wednesday’s game against Detroit is a perfect get right spot. The Pistons aren’t very good and over their last seven, haven’t gotten off to good starts either (although, they did on Monday night). For the year, Detroit ranks 22nd in first quarter net rating.
Looking Ahead to Free Agency…
Yes, the season is still going on, but with the free agency dates set, of course we have to look ahead. Although I have remained optimistic about the Mavericks this season and maintain they’re better than the fans realize (they have the 4th best record in the West, despite this recent skid, since February 1st), I will admit this roster is nowhere near good enough to win a championship. I still think they can steal a series or two this postseason, but right now, they need to be focused on making the postseason. After all, they’re only 2.5 games ahead of the 10th seeded Spurs.
This off-season, I think Dallas’ priorities are simple. First, they need a secondary shot creator, ideally someone who is also an above-average defender. That player was supposed to be Josh Richardson, but that move hasn’t worked out. I’ve seen a lot of rumblings among fans who believe Richardson will opt in, but I’m not sold on that. I think a lot of teams are still enamored with the idea of Josh Richardson and although only a few have notable cap space, I’d still be a tad surprised if he opted in. Secondly, Dallas needs more shooting. Ideally, they should be targeting 3-and-D guys; once they get another shot creator, they’ll have enough offensive weaponry with Luka, the 2nd creator, Jalen Brunson, Kristaps Porzingis, and hopefully a retained Tim Hardaway Jr. that they can begin to emphasize high-caliber role players. Third, I’d like to see the Mavericks beef up their frontcourt in a responsible way. They need a physical body down low who can compete with bigger players on the few nights they face them.
Per usual, I will drop a free agency big board rather soon, but here’s some names I’ll be interested in:
Secondary Shot Creator
DeMar DeRozan (UFA-San Antonio Spurs): I was opposed to adding DeMar DeRozan at the trade deadline, but in free agency, I’d be about it. I do worry a bit about DeRozan’s fit in Dallas, since him and Luka both are at their best with the ball in their hands, but what a relief it would be to have somebody else capable of consistently getting themselves a bucket. DeRozan has also drastically improved his passing ability and, although his postseason struggles are well-documented, he has some valuable experience. For the right price, he could be the guy who pushes Dallas into serious contender category.
Kyle Lowry (UFA-Toronto Raptors): Kyle Lowry isn’t a name I here a lot in Mavs circles, but I’m not sure why. Lowry might stay with Toronto or go to Miami, but I could see him having a huge impact on the Mavericks. Lowry is a NBA champion, tough two-way player, and terrific locker room guy. He’s a terrific 3-PT shooter (37.6% with Toronto) and is capable of thriving without dominating the ball. Lowry’s age (35) is a concern and he’s likely to be pricey, but he’d be another guy who’d elevate Dallas into contender status.
Will Barton (UFA-Denver Nuggets): A cheaper alternative to DeRozan/Lowry, Will Barton would be a really nice addition for the Mavericks. The Denver Nuggets are crunched for cap space and while they’re likely going to do what it takes to retain Barton, the Mavericks could pay up for him. Barton is capable of breaking down defenses and functioning as an optimal secondary playmaker for the offense. Personally, I think the Mavericks need a better secondary playmaker than Barton, but he’s a fine addition, especially if Dallas is sold on Jalen Brunson being a long-term guy alongside Luka. Barton is also a solid shooter and defender.
Lonzo Ball (RFA-New Orleans Pelicans): The hot name on Mavs Twitter right now is Lonzo Ball and it’s easy to see why. Lonzo is an elite defender, tremendous passer, and a much-improved 3-PT shooter. He fits the timeline, fills plenty of holes, and would be an exciting fit in Dallas, if nothing else. I’m personally all aboard the Lonzo train, but I’d likely prefer either Lowry or DeRozan, dependent on price. Ball is the better defender and would add an element Dallas has lacked for years (an aggressive defender with open court ability).
3-and-D Complements
Otto Porter Jr. (UFA-Orlando Magic): If you’re looking for a 3-and-D guy this summer and Otto Porter doesn’t top the list, then that is a problem. OPJ has to be a priority for the Mavericks and he’s super obtainable. Orlando likely doesn’t view him as a long-term piece and because of his skillset, will likely have plenty of suitors. Now, because the Mavericks will have cap space, they have the luxury of offering him slightly more than the MLE, which many cap-strapped teams are restricted to. This could make Dallas more enticing. Porter Jr. hasn’t shot below 36.7% from deep since 2014-15, he’s a low turnover guy, a smart ball mover, good defender, and career 40.9% 3-PT shooter from the corner. Lock him in and call it a night. This makes too much sense for it not to happen.
JaMychal Green (UFA-Denver Nuggets): If you have read my content and follow Dallas Mavs World on Twitter, you’d know this one was coming. It’s not a lock that Green will even become a free agent since he has a player option, but if he does, I will once again beg the Mavericks to sign him. When Maxi Kleber goes to the bench, Dallas doesn’t have someone who can easily slide into his role. The Mavericks need more larger wings who can shoot threes and provide some defensive versatility. Enter JaMychal Green. He’s shot 40%+ from deep over the past three seasons, is a physical player (which Dallas lacks), good defender, and terrific defensive rebounder. He’s a perfect fit.
Avery Bradley (UFA-Houston Rockets): Avery Bradley is another player who might not actually become a free agent due to a team option, but I’d be surprised if the Rockets exercised it. Bradley is a really strong fit for the Mavericks; he’s a tenacious perimeter defender who plays with an edge and is an above average 3-PT shooter. Bradley isn’t as dynamic from deep as Porter or Green, but he’s capable of making standstill shots, especially from the corner (37.5% for his career). Bradley also played collegiately at UT-Austin, making this a potential homecoming.
Big Man Help
Cody Zeller (UFA-Charlotte Hornets): My friend MavsDraft has hyped up Cody Zeller a lot and he’d easily be an upgrade. Zeller is a really underrated player; he can defend at a high level, particularly in P&R, he’s an underrated passer, a good rim-runner, and a strong offensive rebounder. Zeller’s skillset is something Dallas lacks a bit right now and adding him to the big man rotation would alleviate a lot of their woes.
Richaun Holmes (UFA-Sacramento Kings): Richaun Holmes is another guy who is high on Mavs Twitter’s wish list, but I don’t see this fit happening. Don’t get me wrong, I think Holmes is a terrific player, but the fit with KP would be clunky. Holmes is a physical player who wins down low, defends at a high level, is a terrific rebounder, and a great athlete. He’s a starting center and unfortunately, the Mavericks already have one. Offensively, I think Holmes and Porzingis would work. Defensively? That would be a tough sell.
Daniel Theis (UFA-Chicago Bulls): Daniel Theis is an underrated player I’d love for Dallas to target. He’s not the physical big I envision, but Theis does a lot of really nice things. He’s a terrific P&R defender, can shoot the 3-PT ball, and is a really underrated overall defender, particularly on switches. He’s a German big man and we know the Mavs have had some success with them in the past.
Ed Davis (UFA-Minnesota Timberwolves): Ed Davis has gone off-the-radar a bit since he plays on a bad team after a rough year with the Jazz, but his skillset could still play in Dallas in limited scenarios. Davis remains an elite offensive rebounder and he’s physical down low. He’d be a nice end-of-bench option, but other players should be prioritized.
Other Names I Like:
- G-T.J. McConnell (UFA-Indiana Pacers)
- F-Doug McDermott (UFA-Indiana Pacers)
- F-Paul Millsap (UFA-Denver Nuggets)
- G-Alec Burks (UFA-New York Knicks)
- C-Zach Collins (RFA-Portland Trail Blazers)
- G-Alex Caruso (UFA-Los Angeles Lakers)
Look Ahead
This has been a bit of a rough patch for the Mavericks but overall, I am optimistic. Despite getting slammed by COVID-19 early on, Dallas has somehow found their way into a playoff spot. Yes, the play-in aspect is annoying and is inducing a lot of unnecessary stress, but I still think Dallas is in decent shape to catch Portland. The Mavericks are only 2 GB and have the easiest remaining schedule, while Portland has the 4th toughest. We can’t take anything for granted, but just eyeballing the remaining games for Portland, Dallas, and Memphis, I’d take a guess that the Mavericks will catch Portland and hold off Memphis. Remember, Dallas is due for a hot shooting stretch now. Plus, Portland and Memphis get to beat up each other repeatedly this weekend.
In the heat of the moment, it’s tough to take a step back and realize that the Mavericks really haven’t been that horrible as of late. Yes, their roster isn’t good enough, but when you miss wide open threes and your opponents don’t miss theirs, what can you really do? Things like that happen in the NBA; unfortunately for Dallas, it has hit them in waves and at inopportune times. With a few extra days off before Detroit on Wednesday, I expect them to come out hot, especially after the postgame quotes we saw yesterday. They’re going to be playing desperate coming up and have plenty of opportunities. When this team shoots just average from deep, they win a lot of games. That’s all we need.
The Chirp 