Last season, the Dallas Mavericks finished with a 50-32 record, as they advanced to the NBA Finals for the third time in franchise history. The team turned things around in the second half of the season, as they went 18-9 during the final two and a half months.
Some reasons for their success included the acquisitions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington. Both players greatly boosted the Mavs, drastically improving the team’s defense. They helped improve the team’s interior defense, giving them size and depth. The Mavs also saw their defensive rating improving towards the tail end of the season and they rose to be the best defense in the league over the final stretch of the season.
Dereck Lively II also played an integral part in helping the team advance deep in the playoffs. The former rookie was a defensive anchor and key lob threat in the playoffs. His improved leadership will help determine Dallas’ success this coming season, as he is poised to become the starting five.
However, even after last season’s success, some insiders believe Dallas may only find marginal improvement. Bleacher Report released their recent record prediction for all 30 teams and did not do Dallas any favors. They project the Mavs to improve by one game, as they have Dallas going 51-31.
Some reasoning for their predictions includes the toughness of the Western Conference. They believe the conference will be a gauntlet, making it difficult for Dallas to take that next step. Another reason for their forecast is the Mavs’ small improvements this offseason. They saw the new additions as “marginal improvements.”
It’s possible though Bleacher Report may have overlooked the team’s newest additions. For example, Klay Thompson is a four-time NBA Champion who is one of the top 3-point scorers ever. He replaces Tim Hardaway Jr., a player who struggled mightily toward the tail end of the season. Hardaway Jr. shot 25 percent from the 3-point line in April, compared to Thompson who converted 43.7 percent of his long-range attempts that month.
They also overlooked the defensive improvements with Quentin Grimes and Naji Marshall. Grimes for one is a savvy defender who is great with his hands. He isn’t afraid to pickpocket his matchups and does a great job making things difficult for shooters. Grimes’ defensive game is a step up from Josh Green, as he can guard multiple positions and navigates screens much better.
His shooting is also something to watch for. He has a 37.1 percent 3-point percentage for his career. Grimes has been putting in work this offseason; as he continues to improve his offensive game.
Marshall too will complement the Mavs. He is a top perimeter defender who isn’t afraid to guard some of the top guards and wings in the league. Marshall brings energy and size, as his style resembles Derrick Jones Jr. The difference is Marshall adds more physicality.
The Mavs have taken a major leap this offseason. Their new additions will help Dallas improve their win total from last season. Now, only one game is a little bit of a far stretch from Bleacher Report. The team should eclipse their record from last season, and make major leaps this year in an effort to return to the NBA Finals once again.
