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2019-20 NBA season: Record predictions for every team

By Christopher Kline

PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Los Angeles Clippers Forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Los Angeles Clippers Forward Paul George (13) pose for a photo during media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 29, 2019 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Los Angeles Clippers Forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Los Angeles Clippers Forward Paul George (13) pose for a photo during media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 29, 2019 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Dallas Mavericks

The Western Conference is a bloodbath, even more now than in recent seasons. The Dallas Mavericks should compete. Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis alone are enough to ensure competitive basketball, especially if Porzingis returns to pre-injury (or a more evolved) form.

Even so, with the firepower Dallas must overcome, it’s difficult to peg such a poorly constructed roster as a playoff team in the West. There’s not enough beyond the core to hold up over 82 games, which makes Porzingis’ sketchy injury history all the more concerning.

Dwight Powell and Maxi Kleber are talented — even underrated — but the overlap could limit the benefits of such a potent frontcourt. The perimeter depth beyond Luka is a question mark at best, a shame at worst. Delon Wright’s arrival is a positive development, but not enough to ignore the glaring flaws.

The Mavs will need Tim Hardaway Jr. to carry the mantle of No. 3 scorer, a tough ask given Hardaway’s recent decline. Wright will add to the defense but doesn’t add much to the offense. Jalen Brunson, J.J. Barea and Seth Curry are useful, but that’s the extent of it.

Not much on Dallas’ roster stands out. Doncic will improve as a sophomore, with a renewed focus on conditioning to spark optimism about his defense. But Doncic’s silky step-backs, elite basketball I.Q., and penchant for well-timed assists aren’t enough to elevate a mediocre roster in the West. Not yet, at least.

The wildcard is Porzingis, but it’s unreasonable to expect a perfect season from the 7-foot-3 Latvian. Dallas will hang around the eighth seed, but in the end, their 2019-20 season will end in moderate disappointment.

Final prediction: 41-41, Miss NBA Playoffs