Dallas Mavericks: 3 Positive Takeaways From 2015-16

The Dallas Mavericks ended their season with a series loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Take a look at a few key takeaways from 2015-16.

It was a devastating ending to an injury-riddled five-game series with the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the Dallas Mavericks are now officially turning their focus to the offseason.

The year was full of twists and turns for the Mavs as they began their 2015-16 journey by losing out on DeAndre Jordan in free agency. As devastating as the event turned out to be, the team rebounded by signing swingman Wesley Matthews to a max deal, even though he was still in the process of recovering from a torn Achilles.

They also made a few other notable moves by adding veterans Deron Williams and Zaza Pachulia to their team.

The Mavs had plenty of critics before the season began as numerous amounts of insiders picked them to miss the playoffs and potentially fall as far as last place in the Western Conference; however, with a team of gritty competitors and a head coach like Rick Carlisle, the Mavs completed a 42-40 season, good enough for seventh place in the West.

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That earned them a first-round playoff matchup with the Thunder, who they would eventually lose to, despite playing well while being severely shorthanded.

Now, as the franchise shifts towards possibly the most important free agency of Dirk Nowitzki‘s career, we can take a look back on a few notable stories that arose from the events of the season.

1. Wesley Matthews is the kind of player that every team wants.

It was a risky move to begin with. Sure Wesley Matthews was known as one of the toughest players in the league, but how would he respond after a torn Achilles? Would he even be ready for the beginning of the season? What would his impact be on a team that desperately needed his talent?

Matthews lived up to his max contract this season but it wasn’t obvious as first. He didn’t look 100 percent coming out of the gate, but that didn’t matter due to the exceptional no-quit attitude that he had. He was determined to start the season and make an impact on a team that needed him.

As Matthews began to heat up, he faced a tough stretch in late February and early March, struggling to find any kind of rhythm and averaging only 7.4 points per game in an eight game stretch. After he got that out of his system, he turned into a major contributor for the Mavs, stepping up when Chandler Parsons was ruled out for the rest of the season.

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It wasn’t just his relentless grind on and off the court that made him such a valuable player. It was his attitude and the way he operated. He was the first player to explain how the Mavs could rebound from a loss while talking about what they did wrong. He expressed his passion during games and showed just how dedicated he was.

Perhaps the most important part of his game proved to be his defensive skills. Matthews was often matched up with the best player on the opposing team and though he wouldn’t always slow them down, he was known for making key plays down the stretch to help his team pick up wins.

Then there were those games. The ones were he would dish out stifling performances, like forcing Kevin Durant into a 7-for-33 shooting night in Game 2 of the playoffs.

Matthews became a regular in the Mavs’ lineup, and though his season averages (12.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.9 APG) were slightly down, he proved to be a valuable addition and an important piece for the Mavs to use for years to come.

2. The Mavs are capable of drafting an impact player.

One of the many concerns for the Mavs coming into the season dealt with their ability to draft. It had been easily one of their biggest weaknesses in the previous seasons. From the failed experiment with Jared Cunningham to the forgettable year of Shane Larkin and Ricky Ledo, the Mavs needed a real confidence boost in the drafting department.

They got one. As Justin Anderson was selected 21st, thoughts started to swirl again as to how long he would be on the team before the Mavs decided to trade him, but he got his chance to shine and earned the right to stay with the team.

Anderson really started showing how valuable he truly was late in the season, as he started nine games down the stretch and into the playoffs.

His ability to play was defined by his athleticism, something the Mavs lacked from the rest of their rotation. His high-flying rebounds along with his ability to get up and connect on an alley oop gave him a unique skill set. His passing and blocking skills were also useful for the Mavs as he provided solid plays in the fundamental areas of the game.

With the amount of injuries on the team, Anderson was lucky enough to receive some playoff time and he took advantage of the opportunity. Often generating a special energy in a building already full of rowdy playoff fans, Anderson contributed on offense and defense, getting looks at Kevin Durant throughout the series.

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He had by far the best rookie season for any Mav in the past decade and he looks to be on a path full of success in Dallas.

One thing is for sure: Justin Anderson is here to stay.

3. The atmosphere in the locker room is truly like no other.

Say what you want about a 42-40 team that only won one game before being eliminated from the playoffs, but without the environment that has been created in Dallas, none of that would’ve been possible.

Since Mark Cuban purchased the franchise back in 2000, there has been a winning standard set within the locker room and the arena. The team hasn’t finished below .500 since 1999-00, just another testament to the culture that has been built in a sports city like Dallas.

The Mavs were already huge underdogs entering their series with the Thunder, but that didn’t stop them from putting everything they had out on the floor. No Chandler Parsons and no Deron Williams, David Lee, Salah Mejri or J.J. Barea at times, but they still captured one win and made it interesting in Games 4 and 5.

That’s something that definitely did not happen for the Memphis Grizzlies, who faced a similar injury problem in their series against the San Antonio Spurs.

Then there’s a selfless, aging superstar in Dirk Nowitzki laying it all on the line and averaging 20.4 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game in a series going nowhere fast.

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The winning standard instilled in Dallas over the years has brought about a sense of determination that few other organizations have. No matter how difficult it gets, we’ve seen it in past seasons, we saw it this season and we’ll continue to see it as long as key franchise components, like Mark Cuban, are influencing the development in Dallas.