The Dallas Mavericks narrowly missed the NBA play-in tournament last season, but their revamped roster paints a bright picture of their outlook this season. Check out below for vital Mavericks stats that indicate their strengths, weaknesses, and reasons for optimism.
Mavericks Lineup Brilliance
With Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, and Dwight Powell on the court across 116 minutes last season, the Mavericks produced a historic 119 Offensive Rating and a prolific 8.2 Net Rating. Doncic and Irving thrive as on-ball creators and passing wizards, while Powell provides them a roll threat to keep hedging centers honest.
Meanwhile, Green is a dynamic cutter and efficient spot-up shooter who perfectly complements Dallas’ ball handlers. The Mavericks consistently achieved desirable shot quality because these four players accentuated each other’s strengths.
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The fifth starter was the issue last season, as Dallas didn’t roster a clean fit. Tim Hardaway Jr and Jaden Hardy didn’t provide the needed size or defense, while Reggie Bullock lost a step. However, the Mavericks acquired an ideal player this off-season, which may elevate this lineup into the upper echelons of the NBA.
Grant Williams Brings Key Skills
Across the last three seasons, Grant Williams has made 282 of 701 catch-and-shoot threes, or 40.2 percent. His ability to deter defenders from sagging and punish late rotations heightens Doncic and Irving’s drives. With Green and Williams lurking on the three-point line, the paint will be wide open for Dallas’ pick-and-roll.
On the other side, Williams provides desperately needed defense and versatility. Per Basketball Index, he ranked 61st in their metric perimeter isolation defense and 6th in defensive role versatility.
He’s an effective on-ball stopper who can switch without hesitation across numerous defensive assignments, such as guarding a pick-and-roll ball handler, a motion shooter, a cutter, etc. At 6’6” and 236 pounds, Williams possesses the strength to stonewall bigger forwards, too, which has been a problem for Dallas recently.
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Overall, the Mavericks should thrive with Grant Williams in a lineup featuring Doncic, Irving, Green, and Powell. Look for these five to close out tight games.
Mavericks Pick-And-Roll Effectiveness
The pick-and-roll remains the lifeblood of NBA offenses, although dribble handoffs quickly threaten this title. The Mavericks led the league at 1.03 points per possession for pick-and-roll ball handlers last year, but they also ranked 27th defensively by surrendering 0.94 points per possession.
An entire season of Kyrie Irving means Dallas rosters two hyper-elite pick-and-roll orchestrators, and Grant Williams’ spacing further increases efficiency. Rookie Dereck Lively II adds another screener and roll threat to the roster. As a result, the Mavericks should, at a minimum, finish in the top five of pick-and-roll points per possession again.
If Dallas wants to take the next step in this brutal Western Conference, though, they must correct their defense against this essential action. Fortunately, their off-season featured two indispensable weapons: Grant Williams and Dereck Lively II. Williams has the strength to fight through screens, and he lessens the impact of scoring forwards initiating the action – a common occurrence in the West.
NBA NEWS & STATS: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks Updates
On the other hand, Lively projects to be a valuable rim protector due to his 7’8” wingspan and anticipation. His mobility will also allow him to hedge and recover, which helps neutralize the roll threat.
Should the Mavericks fall short of the playoffs again, their pick-and-roll defense is likely the main cause.
Isolation Scoring Dominance
When defenses tighten up, and clutch buckets are crucial, scorers that can create something out of nothing are exceptionally valuable. Enter Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who ranked 6th and 1st in isolation points per possession last season (min. 100 possessions).
Basketball Index praised them, too, as Doncic (1st) and Irving (2nd) dominated their metric called one one-on-one talent. In other words, the Mavericks roster two isolation savants.
NBA NEWS & STATS: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks Updates
To make matters worse for defenders, Jaden Hardy flashed tremendous potential as an off-the-dribble scorer as a rookie. If he continues his trajectory, the Mavericks can always have an automatic bucket on the court.
