NBA PREVIEW : DALLAS MAVERICKS, A LAST CHANCE SALON WITH DONČIĆ?
The Dallas Mavericks roster for the 2023-24 season could go either way. Despite not being able to make the playoffs last season, Mark Cuban decided to re-sign Superstar Kyrie Irving on a 3-year $126 million contract. Kyrie joined forces with Luka Doncic in February and did not get enough time to build chemistry with the Slovenian Sensation. Now that he has signed with the team for a longer period, fans have high hopes for the superstar duo. The Dallas Mavericks have also made several off-season moves to improve their roster.
No doubts , the Dallas Mavericks light up scoreboards with ease behind one of the NBA’s most lethal backcourts in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Finishing sixth in offensive rating (116.1) in 2022-23, the Mavericks re-signed Irving in free agency, before addressing the team’s most significant flaws on defense through the Draft and free agency.
Dallas used a lottery pick to bring aboard Dereck Lively II, an athletic big man that may be able to contribute as a rookie. Additionally, the Mavs grabbed a potential perimeter stopper in Olivier-Maxence Prosper before capping an active offseason with the sign-and-trade acquisition of Grant Williams, as well as the additions of Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr.
Dallas’ biggest off-season move was the acquisition of 24-year-old Forward Grant Williams. Williams was a key piece in the success of the Boston Celtics and helped them reach the NBA Finals in 2022. The Forward will add more versatility and physicality to the Dallas Mavericks squad.
“The Dallas Mavericks were one of 2022-23’s biggest disappointments, and their late-season tank job was so obvious and flagrant that it cost them a $750,000 fine,” “This summer, though, they re-signed Kyrie Irving, added one of the best shooters of all time in Seth Curry
, signed one of Europe’s most dynamic guards in Dante Exum and essentially replaced Reggie Bullock with Grant Williams. Add all that to Luka Dončić, and it’s easy to imagine the Mavericks being among the league leaders in the difference of wins between 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Dallas fell back significantly in 2022-23, failing to miss the postseason after a Western Conference Finals run in 2022. Prolific offense and solid defense made that possible, which is why the Mavericks leaned heavily toward improving the team’s 25th-rated (116.1) defense. Dallas can claim 2023-24 a success if it can advance to the West semis, especially if Lively and Prosper are playing meaningful minutes by season’s end.
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“Last season, Dallas was plus-4.6 points per 100 possessions (with a 94th-percentile offense) when Dončić and Irving were both on the floor, and they now have a deeper and more versatile supporting cast around them. That may not be enough to vault them from out of the playoffs to title contention, but Dončić is just over a year removed from a conference finals appearance. And Irving has plenty of postseason heroics of his own. The Mavs have a chance to be extremely dangerous.”
A four-time All-Star, Doncic averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists last season while shooting 49.6% from the field, 34.2% from 3 and 74.2% from the free-throw line. The 24-year-old superstar recorded 36 double-doubles and 10 triple-doubles in 66 starts.
STAR WATCH
LUKA DONČIĆ AND KYRIE IRVING
The Mavs were just 5-11 in games that they had both Doncic and Irving last season. But they weren’t nearly that bad.
In fact, the Mavs outscored their opponents by nine total points over those 16 games. But 14 of the 16 games were within five points in the last five minutes, and they lost 11 of those 14 close ones. Overall, 11 of their losses with both Doncic and Irving in uniform were within five in the last five.
While the Mavs had late-game execution issues, a .214 winning percentage (3-11) would be the worst clutch mark of the last 11 years. Even without any improvement (and with just better luck), they should be much better in close games this season. Their two stars should also have better chemistry in their second season and with a full training camp together. If Doncic and Irving have good chemistry, then the Mavs’ offense should rank in the top 10 for the fourth time in five seasons.
Where the Mavs really fell off last season was on defense as only the Spurs saw a bigger jump in points allowed per 100 possessions from 2021-22. With a backcourt of Doncic and Irving, defense could continue to be an issue. Unless rookie big man Dereck Lively II (2.4 blocks per game at Duke last season) has a big role, this team is also missing real rim protection.
But the additions of Grant Williams and Derrick Jones Jr., along with better health from Maxi Kleber (who missed 45 games last season), will help the defense. If the Mavs can be league average on defense instead of 25th, they should be in decent shape overall.
Dallas Mavericks’ Biggest Weakness
With Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic in their team, there is no doubt that the Mavericks are going to dominate the league on offense. But their biggest weakness that could hinder their success is their defense.
Luka Doncic has proven to be a Superstar in the league with 4 All NBA First Team Selections in his 5-year career. He singlehandedly has the ability to win 50 games in a season if he is surrounded by the right players. With the addition of Uncle Drew, the duo could make the Dallas Mavericks title contenders if the supporting cast does their job. Dallas will have to take care of their defense while their superstars run the show on offense.
It will be interesting to see how the season pans out for the Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving-led Mavericks team.
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