Dallas Mavericks: Five Keys to Making the Playoffs
The Dallas Mavericks enjoyed a 12-year run of consecutive Western Conference playoff appearances beginning in the 2000-01 season. The 2012-13 Mavericks fought hard at the end of the season to finish with a record of 41-41, but they still found themselves watching the playoffs from home.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and General manager Donnie Nelson were aggressive during the offseason in doing everything they could to ensure the Mavericks absence from the post season does not extend to two consecutive years. The Mavericks signing of Monta Ellis, Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert and Devin Harris improves their chances in the Western Conference in 2013-14. The Western Conference is absurdly deep and for Dallas to make a return to the playoffs a number of things must go right. Let’s take a look at five keys for the Dallas Mavericks to make a return to the playoffs in 2013-14.
5) The rest of the West
Heading into the 2013-14 season, the Western Conference appears to be deep, very deep. There are at least ten teams with legitimate playoff aspirations this year. The Mavericks must win the majority of the games they play against the teams that will likely be fighting for the final two or three playoff spots. This group of teams is expected to include the Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans. Of course all of these teams will not make it into the post season, but how Dallas fares against their competition in an extremely tight Western Conference will go a long way in determining their playoff fate.
4) Protecting the rim
For the duration of the 2012-13 season the Mavericks centers struggled to rebound the ball and protect the rim. Chris Kaman, Bernard James and Elton Brand were never able to provide the Mavericks with a consistent defensive presence in the paint. The Mavericks are hopeful they have addressed this weakness with the signing of free-agent center Samuel Dalembert. Dalembert’s specialties are two areas Dallas desperately needed to improve on; rebounding and defense. With Jose Calderon and Monta Ellis defending the perimeter, the Mavericks will be counting on Dalembert to step up and challenge shots in the paint.
3) Monta Ellis’ impact on offense
The Mavericks signed free-agent shooting guard Monta Ellis to a three-year deal for $24 million during the offseason. Ellis was signed to provide the Mavericks with a consistent , secondary scoring option on offense. Ellis should also provide Dirk Nowitzki with the type of scorer that can make teams pay for overplaying him in the half court. Ellis’ ability to score has never come into question, but his shot selection and ability to play effectively in the half court has. Ellis role will be to take what opportunities the offense gives him without forcing the issue. The Mavericks could have a very potent offense with Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis and Jose Calderon sharing the court. Read more about the opportunity Monta Ellis has in Dallas here.
2) Bench production
The Mavericks enter the 2013-14 season as one of the oldest teams in the NBA. The Mavericks elder statesmen on the roster are Dirk Nowitzki (35), Shawn Marion (35) and Vince Carter (36). Dallas cannot lean too heavily on their veterans if they want to have them playing their best basketball down the stretch. To accomplish this the Mavericks must once again rely on their bench. The Mavericks bench led the NBA in points scored per game at 41.5 last season. Dallas will be counting on Vince Carter, Jae Crowder, DeJuan Blair, Brandan Wright and Devin Harris this season.
Dirk Nowitzki will begin the 2013-14 season healthy and will have much improved supporting cast around him.
(Photo Credit/Flickr.com)
1) Dirk Nowitzki’s health
It’s no secret that the Mavericks success begins and ends with Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavericks were able to tread water without Nowitzki last season but they were unable to contend with the top teams in the NBA without the big German. Nowitzki is starting the 2013-14 season in great shape and should begin the season playing at a high level. Nowitzki was not himself when he returned to the court last season, but as soon as he rounded into shape he began displaying all the attributes that have defined his Hall of Fame career. The Mavericks finished with a record of 41-41 last season and that was without Nowitzki for 27 games. A healthy Nowitzki in 2013-14 should ensure the Mavericks finish among the top eight teams in Western Conference.
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