Last season was the ultimate “What could’ve been?” season for the Dallas Mavericks. Luka Doncic was doing Doncic things, casually dominating offensively in all facets while improving on defense. Role players were performing well for the most part too, but the Josh Richardson trade flopped and Kristaps Porzingis had a down year for his standards. Dallas had a hefty bag of cash to spend this offseason too but didn’t make the splash many were expecting. With Doncic on the team, however, anything is possible.
Dallas Mavericks 2021-22 Season Preview
The 2020-21 Season
Dallas battled with different injuries and COVID-19 to start the season, which lead to a rather disastrous beginning. They overcame that, however, and finished with a 42-30 record. This was good enough for fifth in the Western Conference and eighth in the entire league.
Doncic, of course, stood above as the best player on the team. He averaged 27.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game and earned All-NBA First Team honors. Tim Hardaway Jr played his role perfectly, and others like Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen Brunson, and Dwight Powell did well too.
As previously mentioned, Richardson was wildly disappointing. He also cost Dallas a stud offensive weapon in Seth Curry. Porzingis disappointed greatly, especially in the playoffs. Maxi Kleber never fully looked right after injuries and COVID-19.
With that being said, the Mavericks had a solid regular season but faced the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. This, of course, was a repeat first-round match-up from the previous season.
Dallas took the Clippers to seven games but ultimately could not get the job done. They had an opportunity to seal the deal at home in Game Six but failed. They kept Paul George relatively quiet but had no answer for Kawhi Leonard.
It was another first-round exit for the young but talented Mavericks squad.
Offseason Moves for the Dallas Mavericks
They stayed pretty quiet but completed the most important deal in the franchise’s history by inking Doncic to an extension. He looked amazing (as expected) in the Olympics as well this summer, so he’s primed for another great year.
Dallas also turned Richardson into Moses Brown from the Boston Celtics. Brown, playing for a struggling Oklahoma City Thunder squad last season, was a bright spot while averaging 8.6 and 8.9 rebounds per game. He enters a crowded center rotation, however, featuring Powell, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Boban Marjanovic. Porzingis also plays the five quite often. Brown has the talent to overcome others, however.
Other additions came in Reggie Bullock and Sterling Brown. Bullock should be what Richardson was supposed to be – a stellar “three-and-d” specialist. Bullock drains catch-and-shoot threes like no other and will benefit greatly playing alongside a passer like Doncic. His defensive toughness and tenacity will also be welcomed. Brown is also a talented shooter and defender. His defense may not be at the top level like Bullock’s, but Brown did shoot 42 percent from three last season. He’ll be a threat every time he’s on the floor.
Besides those moves, the Mavericks’ roster is nearly identical to last season’s.
The head coaching position changed, after turmoil this summer, and Jason Kidd now has the position. Improving the defense and Porzingis’s production will be key for Kidd.
2021-22 Expectations
The Mavericks will be amongst the top teams again and should stand above the pack as the best team in the Southwest division. The offense isn’t an issue for this team, and they may very well compete with the Brooklyn Nets for the best offense in the league.
Doncic will be a front-runner for MVP all season long, and could win the award should Dallas eclipse 50 wins and earn homecourt advantage for the playoffs. Other players like Hardaway Jr, Bullock, Finney-Smith, and Brunson will execute their roles well and provide a strong supporting cast.
Porzingis is the real x-factor.
If he plays as he did in the playoffs, then several questions will be raised in the Dallas front office. If Porzingis can return to his pre-injury form, however, then the Mavericks are instant contenders. This is one of the biggest question marks in the entire league, which makes the Mavericks hard to predict.
They’re a surefire playoff team, though, barring any injuries.
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