Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: Biggest Overachievers of 2015-16

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 2, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after scoring a three point basket in the first quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after scoring a three point basket in the first quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) and guard Raymond Felton (2) and center Salah Mejri (50) celebrate during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) and guard Raymond Felton (2) and center Salah Mejri (50) celebrate during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Dallas Mavericks

In the eyes of the masses, the DeAndre Jordan debacle was something of a death sentence for the Dallas Mavericks. Wesley Matthews was a nice consolation signing, but he’s been expectedly inconsistent coming off of a torn achilles tendon.

Working with what could be described as a makeshift roster, head coach Rick Carlisle has turned out yet another season of .500 basketball.

With its 41st victory, Dallas ensured that it would finish the 2015-16 season at .500 or better. That’s a remarkable feat when one considers that the last time the Mavericks finished a season below .500 was 1999-2000, when it went 40-42.

More impressively, Dallas made it back to the playoffs—again.

Despite that incredible track record, not many expected the Mavericks to be relevant in the postseason discussion.

Jordan agreed to a massive contract with the Mavericks, which is a telling sign that he was a major part of the team’s long-term plans. His spurning Dallas to return to the Los Angeles Clippers resulted in the Mavericks signing Zaza Pachulia, who’s averaging a career-best 9.4 rebounds per game at 32 years old.

The improbably successful roster continues with a 37-year-old Dirk Nowitzki, an overlooked Chandler Parsons, Brooklyn Nets castaway Deron Williams, and a forgotten Raymond Felton.

Simply put, Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the NBA.

Next: Detroit Pistons