Earlier in the season, you might have looked at the Dallas Mavericks and considered them the laughing stock of the NBA. Fast forward to now and they’re only a few games away from the eighth seed
It took the Dallas Mavericks until December 29 to accrue their 10th win in the regular season. They looked nothing like their usual selves for most of the year, but this all changed once Dirk Nowitzki made his return.
He’s only averaging 13.9 points per game in 37 appearances, but what else can you expect from the 38-year-old big? Nowitzki is not like his younger self anymore, and the Mavericks know this, but he’s still provided a strong, veteran scoring presence. In recent news, Nowitzki scored his 30,000th career point against the L. A. Lakers, and that moment got his whole team jumping.
Younger players got to see history made by their teammate, something they probably never dreamed of seeing. That being said, Nowitzki is not likely to stop playing so soon, so the youth of the Mavericks get to pick his brain for the foreseeable future.
This is integral for the future of the Dallas Mavericks organization, as Nowitzki is one of the few remaining veterans on this team. Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut have been shipped out. Meanwhile, J. J. Barea and Devin Harris remain by Nowitzki and Rick Carlisle’s sides. Were it not for injuries to Williams, Barea and Harris alike, though, the Mavericks would not likely be in the position they’re in, and they deserve a big thank you.
Obviously it is never satisfying to learn of a player’s injuries, but it can be significant time for players who don’t quite get playing time.
Enter Seth Curry.
Curry came off the bench for most of the season, averaging 10 points per game in 25 minutes. In 30 games as a starting guard, he’s averaged 15.8 points per game in 32.9 minutes. Statistics are never enough to gauge how well a player is doing, but it is still substantial to realize that Curry’s scoring has kept him in the rotation for the Mavericks, which looked like it lacked any scoring from its guards for a majority of the season.
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Meanwhile, Yogi Ferrell was signed to a 10-day contract on January 18 as a last ditch effort to recover from the lack of guards. Ferrell was quick to impress himself, as he had a 32-point outing with the Mavericks just days after joining Dallas. Having signed to a two-year contract with the Mavericks, he’s poised to do big things in Dallas for some time.
His numbers alone speak for themselves, and although he’s averaging only 9.8 points and 3.8 assists per game on the season, he’s far exceeded those statistics in Dallas.
When the Mavericks acquire Nerlens Noel on February 23, right as the deadline approached, the future of the Mavericks’ organization was pretty much decided. He’s only played six games with the Mavericks, but his numbers have been appealing to say the least.
In the month of March, Noel is averaging 11.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game to go along with 63.3 percent shooting. He’s bound to be the center of the future for the Mavericks, and at 22, he has prime years ahead of him.
Wesley Matthews has had his moment to shine in Dallas as well, but the scope of this piece ties to Harrison Barnes.
For the first time in his career, Barnes is averaging at least 20 points per game. Granted, he’s hoisting up 17 shots per game, but this is good for the foundations of a young roster moving forward. Carlisle has established who he wants running the offense from a scoring perspective, and Barnes has, largely, been the solution.
He’s playing a career-high 35.8 minutes per game paired with a career-high percentage at the charity stripe (.846).
There will likely be some need for the older players down the stretch, considering the Mavericks are fighting for a playoff push. Barea is yet to return to the lineup for Dallas, but when he does, he’ll provide a decent amount of scoring coming off the bench, as he’s averaged 12.2 points per game this season – in a small sample size of course.
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We should be seeing some quality basketball from the Dallas Mavericks for the time being, even if they don’t make the playoffs. Their prospects are high in the coming years nonetheless, and with Nowitzki considering staying under contract for a couple of years, there will be a strong locker room presence.