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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 /
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Dallas Mavericks
Nov 20, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Zaza Pachulia (27) celebrates with forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) after scoring during the first half against the Utah Jazz at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Late-Game Execution

The Mavericks are hardly elite in any one category, but when you take a look at their statistics in crunch time, you can clearly see the influence of Rick Carlisle and his well seasoned roster.

In what NBA.com refers to as “clutch” situations (the last five minutes of a game where the point differential is five points or less), the Mavericks have been nothing short of elite in their execution. Here’s a look at a few key numbers in those clutch situations that show the deadly precision of this offense when possessions are at their most important:

  • Field goal percentage:  49 percent (fifth in the NBA)
  • Three-point percentage:  42.1 percent (fifth)
  • Points:  10.4 per game (third)
  • Point differential:  +2.6 (third)
  • Offensive rating:  130.7 points per 100 possessions (second)

Despite Wesley Matthews struggling to return to form after his Achilles injury and Chandler Parsons only playing more than 20 minutes in six of his 12 games, Dallas has managed to string wins together because everyone’s on the same page with the game on the line, even if we are working with small sample sizes here.

Next: NBA Power Rankings: Week 5

Call it late-game execution, call it experience or call it Rick Carlisle being a bonafide man-wizard. But whatever you call it, the Mavs’ ability to make the right play when it matters most has been exemplary, and it’s a big reason they’ve surpassed everyone’s expectations so far this season.

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