Dallas Mavericks: Could the underdog Mavs sneak into the playoffs?

The Dallas Mavericks have been one of the worst teams in the NBA over the last two years, but based on their encouraging offseason, it’s realistic to think that they could potentially sneak into the Western Conference playoffs

The Western Conference is stacked. And the insertion of LeBron James to the conference only makes it deeper. But despite other teams’ success in years past out West, nothing is a given. And a team to monitor when it comes to sneaking into the playoffs out West is the Dallas Mavericks.

Last season, the Mavericks were one of the worst teams in the NBA. Going 24-58, they finished 13th in the West with the third worst record in the association. At the same time, the Mavs experienced one of the worst seasons in franchise history with a young core.

Granted it had its up and downs last season, the Mavs have some promising young players who should help lead their team on a much different run in the 2018-19 season than last year.

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The forefront of the Mavs’ future is soon-to-be second-year point guard Dennis Smith Jr. While an underwhelming defender, Smith is an intriguing player offensively. He has good handles, is quick, explosive, and can serve as a go-to scoring option. Averaging 15.2 points and 5.2 assists per game in 29.7 minutes a night in his rookie season, Smith showcased the ability to be an impactful player on that end of the floor.

Forward Harrison Barnes is another focal point of the Mavs’ future. He’s one of the best defensive forwards in the game and has quietly panned out to be a reliable scorer. Averaging 18.9 and 19.2 points per game over the last two seasons, he’s been a rock in head coach Rick Carlisle‘s rotation. The Mavs also drafted three-year Villanova point guard Jalen Brunson who is a gritty two-way player.

But while Smith and Barnes have established themselves as players who could be vital pieces to the Mavs’ future, the intrigue with this team for the upcoming season surrounds their two big offseason additions – that being Slovenian forward Luka Doncic and veteran center DeAndre Jordan.

After a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, the Mavs selected Doncic with the No. 3 overall pick, and the 19-year-old is a very intriguing product. Whether it be his ability to shoot off the dribble, get to the hoop, find the open man, or play competent isolation defense, Doncic is a two-way player. And while you could make the argument that stats from overseas players don’t tell the whole story, Doncic averaged an impressive 14.5 points per game in 25.0 minutes a night last season.

To put that in perspective, Kristaps Porzingis averaged just 11.0 points per game before coming to the NBA, Mario Hezonja averaged 5.8, and Dragan Bender averaged 4.4 points. All three players were taken in the top five.

Now, the Mavs and Jordan certainly have their history with one another. Three years ago, the center supposedly agreed to a four-year deal with them, but last second opted to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers – which was one of the more dramatic and bizarre free agencies in recent memory. But emotions caste aside, Jordan is one of the best centers in the NBA.

He hits the boards at will (Jordan averaged a career-high 15.2 rebounds per game last season), is an elite defender, money from inside the paint, and one of the more athletic big men in the game.

Jordan is the best rim protector the Mavs have had since Tyson Chandler, and he will be an impactful addition to Carlisle’s rotation. A five-man group of Smith, Wesley Matthews, Doncic, Barnes, and Jordan could be deadly explosive. Plus, the presence of Dirk Nowitzki provides depth and a veteran presence for the Mavs young core.

The Golden State Warriors core is still intact, as is the majority of the Houston Rockets‘; the Portland Trail Blazers have one of the best backcourts in the game in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum; the Oklahoma City Thunder have the star-studded duo of Russell Westbrook and Paul George.

The Utah Jazz are a dangerous young team on the rise; the New Orleans Pelicans won 48 games last season; the San Antonio Spurs are still going to be competitive; the Minnesota Timberwolves turned a corner last season; the Denver Nuggets won 46 games with Paul Millsap missing the majority of the year, and the Los Angeles Lakers signed LeBron James.

At the same time, nothing is a certainty for playoff teams of last year, or those expected to make a return to such play this season. In fact, the conference could easily feature two-to-three new playoff teams. The Pelicans could struggle to adjust to permanently being without DeMarcus Cousins; the T’Wolves future is in question; the Lakers could be a reality TV show. Heck, maybe the Jazz take a step back.

The Mavs will have to work their way through the pack and make improvements from last year if they’re going to make the playoffs and that starts with establishing a better offensive attack. Last season, the Mavs were 28th in points per game (102.3) and 26th in field goal percentage (44.4 percent), but with their young core growing, that figure should and has to head North for this team to take a big step in the right direction.

Setting the bar at getting back to the playoffs is feasible for the Mavs. If you want to be successful in today’s NBA, you need an explosive point guard who can score; they have that in Smith. You need two-way wings who can put the ball in the cup; they have that in Matthews, Barnes, and potentially Doncic. You need a defensive-minded center who doesn’t require the ball in his hands to flourish; they have that in Jordan.

Injuries can derail a team’s season, no matter the star power they possess. But if the Mavs can stay relatively healthy, they have one of the most underrated starting fives out West.

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The Dallas Mavericks have an intriguing young core, a top-tier modern-day big man, and a proven head coach in Carlisle. That trio of talent and personnel ultimately blossoms into a playoff team, and to think it’ll do so this season is not out of the question.

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