Dallas Mavericks: Anderson's Game Is Unfolding Before Us

Since he earned a spot in the starting lineup, Justin Anderson has been showcasing his skills, much to the delight of the Dallas Mavericks.

You’ve heard this story before. The Dallas Mavericks draft a rookie that had a decent college career. He goes on to play a handful of good games and just when you think he’s finally starting to scratch the surface of his potential, he’s either moved or rarely played again.

It’s happened quite a bit in the past few seasons with players like Shane Larkin, Ricky Ledo and Jared Cunningham, who have all either been traded or cut.

This season, the Mavs drafted promising rookie Justin Anderson out of Virginia in what looked like another setup similar to previous seasons.

Anderson received stretches of playing time randomly throughout the season. He would start to look comfortable before head coach Rick Carlisle would yank him out of the rotation and toss him back on the bench, a place where many Mavs rookies never returned from.

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Anderson had not been playing particularly bad during the opportunities he was granted, but there were simply too many other players on the roster that took his minutes.

It wasn’t until Chandler Parsons and Deron Williams went down that Carlisle finally gave Anderson the first real chance of his rookie season. Whether it was scoring or playmaking, the Mavs simply needed someone else to give them the boost that they needed, as losses had become a regular occurrence.

It’s fair to say that Anderson has delivered in a way that not too many people could’ve predicted. Since he got to double digits on Mar. 25 against the Golden State Warriors, Anderson has been averaging 26.8 minutes per game and he’s been starting in place of Parsons since Mar. 28.

He’s made the most of his time with the opportunity to play clutch minutes in close games along the way, such as the Mavs’ wins against the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets.

So let’s a go a little bit further and break down why he’s having success.

First off, here’s Anderson’s stats since his outing against the Warriors:

9.5 points per game
6.1 rebounds per game
1.5 assists per game
1.4 blocks per game
54 percent from the field

Offense: Though he may not be the most gifted shooter in the world, Anderson’s stroke will eventually develop into one of his best assets. He’s already shown us his range as he is capable of hitting threes when he needs to. His best offensive skill may be the way that he attacks the glass. He has the body size to bang around with bigs in the lane in order to make his presence known, whether he dunks the ball or simply lays it in.

Defense: Anderson’s defense is his most intriguing feature. For a Mavs team that is not exactly known for locking down the opponent, Anderson has shown why he could have the capability of transforming into a more versatile Wesley Matthews-like defender.

By saying that, I mean that he has enough hops to impact the high-flyers the Matthews is not the best at defending. As you saw above, he has been averaging a block a game. These aren’t just average everyday blocks either. A few have been pretty flashy as he has shown a tendency to finish off chase-down rejections.

Also, Anderson is great at stripping the ball and creating turnovers. If the Mavs continue to develop his defensive skills, he could turn into a very valuable defender alongside Matthews.

Not On The Stat Sheet: While contributing on both ends of the floor is something that is definitely in Anderson’s skill set, it’s the kind of hustle that he shows that separates him from your ordinary rookie. He shows passion and energy whenever he makes a big play and his determination to be involved in every play has given him a feisty edge.

Rick Carlisle mentioned a little bit about Anderson’s drive (via SportsDay):

"“The thing I really like about Anderson is he plays with force. When he goes up and gets those things, you know you got a physical player out there that’s going hard. He’s helped us in the stretch, and he’s had a very good year, continued to grow.”"

Anderson has continued to set himself apart as he has almost become an integral part of the Mavs’ starting five. I fully expect him to start in the playoffs, no matter who the opponent may be, should he continue to show his intriguing style of play. The Mavs are in need of a young talent for the future and he seems to be just what they were looking for.

More hoops habit: NBA: Ranking The League's Top 26-Year-Olds

Justin Anderson continues to be a bright spot in an exciting Mavs run. If he keeps on developing, he will have a bright future in Dallas alongside the post-Dirk Nowitzki core — whether that consists of Chandler Parsons and Wesley Matthews, a superstar that decides to make the switch to DFW, or a little bit of both.

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Dallas Mavericks: Justin Anderson’s Game Is Unfolding Before Us

By Cole Mentzel | Apr 9, 2016

Since he earned a spot in the starting lineup, Justin Anderson has been showcasing his skills, much to the delight of the Dallas Mavericks.