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The 2021-22 NBA season is nearly upon us, being only a few days away, and not many teams have been able to get people quite as excited as the Dallas Mavericks this offseason. The Mavericks are entering the new season with hopes of running a good campaign, coming off the back of a less than ideal season.
Despite the presence of some talented players, they have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The Mavs had a transitional offseason that ended with revolutions on and off the court. With the long-serving coach, Rick Carlisle and president of basketball operations, Donnie Nelson – two key players from their championship-winning era, leaving the franchise.
The Mavericks have, however, gone on to counter those losses and build for the future. Appointing talented coach and ex-player Jason Kidd as a replacement for Carlisle, whilst also making smart additions to their squad, like the signings of Reggie Bullock, Sterling Brown and Frank Ntilikina amongst others.
Shining hope for the Mavericks going into the new season
After a tepid season that saw them rank in the bottom half of the table for rebounds, blocks, steals and other defense-related statistics. The Mavericks will be hoping for a better season, and all signs have been pointing in that direction, with the Mavs putting in convincing performances this preseason and winning all two of their games.
With only nine days to go before their NBA season kicks off, the team seems to be blending well as Kidd looks to begin his Mavs career in stunning fashion. Below are three of the key strengths of this Mavericks squad going into this season.
#1 Great offense
The Mavericks have a lot to do if they are to capture championship glory come season’s end. But if their offense can fire on all cylinders this season, the Mavs should be capable of anything. The Mavericks have some of the best offensive talents in the league, with the likes of NBA All-Star players Luka Doncic and Kristap Porzingis.
The hope is that this season Doncic will be ably supported by a resurgent Porzingis, who after now having enough time to recover to full physical and mental capacity, should hit the ground running, rediscovering his best form. If he can do that, and then create chemistry with the ever-impressive Doncic, the Mavericks would surely only get better.
It's a scary thing to think of, especially when you consider the presence of Tim Hardaway Jr. As it stands, it is hard to see anything capable of stopping their attack from simply giving teams a run for their money. Especially if everyone stays fit throughout the season.
#2 The employment of Jason Kidd
The addition of former player Jason Kidd should get the Mavericks going this season. Tipped by many as one of the favorites going into the new season, their odds seem better with Kidd, as the Hall of Famer seems like the perfect fit to get the Mavs back to their glory days.
Apart from being a maverick through and through, having spent eight seasons with them, Kidd is also known for bringing the best out of generational talents. His work on the career of 2019-20 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo while he was with the Milwaukee Bucks is a definite standout. The hope is that he can transfer that charisma to an outfit, coming off a troublesome period under former head coach Carlisle.
When signing for the Mavs, he claimed that having the opportunity to work with stars like Doncic was something one cannot pass up. And if he can manage the dressing room, solving the issues that marred Carlisle's final season in charge, whilst getting the best out of the squad, the sky should definitely be the limit for the Mavericks.
#3 A youthful roster
As the NBA returns to its 82 game season in its natural format. The chances of teams success will probably depend highly on the amount of energy one can expend. The modern NBA is as energetic and fast-paced as it gets, therefore teams with younger and faster players tend to succeed. This is one place where the Mavericks stand out this season, as their roster is filled with youth and the necessary bits of experience needed to take any team forward.
Of all the players on the team, Dwight Powell and Reggie Bullock are the oldest, with both players being 30 years old. The presence of two generational talents in Doncic and Porzingis should leave the Mavericks with enough energy and talent to compete at the highest levels in the NBA. Eugene Omoruyi, Jalen Brunson and Moses Brown are also getting good preseason games under their belts and should bring much-needed energy and talent to this side, either as starters or coming from the bench.
