Hoops Habit
Fansided

Dallas Mavericks: 5 Reasons Behind Surprising Start

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (left) in the huddle with teammates prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns in the season opener at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (left) in the huddle with teammates prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns in the season opener at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Dallas Mavericks
Nov 10, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) shoots past New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the second quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Powell’s Emergence

If you didn’t know who Dwight Powell was before this season, it’d be hard to blame you. As the 45th overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets in 2014, he was traded twice before he ever played an NBA game and logged a grand total of nine minutes with the Boston Celtics.

He was traded to the Mavs as part of the Rajon Rondo deal in December of his rookie season, averaging 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game over 24 appearances with the team. Now in his first full season in Dallas, Powell has emerged as a legitimate bench factor for a Mavs team that’s been full of surprises.

Through the first 17 games of the season, Powell is averaging 9.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 20.9 minutes per game off the bench while shooting 53.4 percent from the field — all career highs.

He’s not the biggest reason behind Dallas’ success, but on a team with so many players buying into what Carlisle is selling, Powell’s emergence might be the perfect illustration of why this team is off to such a surprising start.

Next: No. 4

Home/Dallas Mavericks