DALLAS — Through the first week of the season, the Dallas Mavericks have delivered on expectations for their offseason changes. The standings will fluctuate, but Dallas sits at 3-1 after four games – all against Western Conference opponents – that showed the potential for an elite offense and an improved and deeper rotation.
After taking it easy in the preseason, Luka Doncic’s health will be the main concern for Dallas in the season’s first weeks as he settles in. While he was showing no signs of worry through the first week, he did leave for a spell in the victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night due to an in-game hit.
Running mate guard Kyrie Irving was right there to pick up his teammate, shooting 57% from the field in the last two Dallas wins, including the 35-point effort in the Western Conference Finals rematch at Minneapolis
Doncic had 40 in the loss to the Phoenix Suns earlier in the week in Dallas’ lone loss thus far this season but has gone just 2 of 17 from deep in the last two contests. The star guard’s stats will even out as the season progresses, but having a player of Irving’s caliber to call upon as Doncic works his way back into NBA shape really hammers home how fortunate the Mavericks were to win their gamble of acquiring Kyrie.
On the perimeter, the newest Mav Klay Thompson answered some of the maligned questions of his roster fit with Dallas in his first games since donning Mavs blue. Through four games, the four-time champ has had three scoring nights of at least 18 points and is shooting 43% from deep on ten attempts per night. Essentially taking over Tim Hardaway Jr’s shot selection, Thompson will continue to be fed in a Mavericks’ offense that has two dominant scorers to take attention away from the former Splash Brother.
The swagger that the Mavericks developed during their deep playoff run last season has carried over to the new campaign. Minnesota had been sitting with the embarrassment of their 21-point elimination for five months, and they gave Dallas their best shot in Tuesday’s return engagement.
Surviving a game where budding superstar Anthony Edwards goes for 37 points on 60% shooting and 53% from deep is a boon. The Mavericks' deep rotation is already paying off. On a night where some offense was required from the two-headed center tandem of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II, the duo also provided four steals, 13 rebounds, and a couple of blocks.
The spoils of the Hardaway trade, guard Quentin Grimes, provided nine points off the bench after a minimal showing the game before. P.J. Washington also contributed with three 3-point makes on his way to 17 points.
Building momentum now will pay dividends when the Mavericks hit the gauntlets in the schedule that will enhance the need for staggering minutes for their superstar guards. The victories already etched in the win column now will help when, in November, Dallas will face eight consecutive Western Conference foes in the span of 15 days, including six who were playoff participants last season.
Improving the depth and options for Doncic and Irving was the goal of the offseason and how much they succeeded in achieving those goals will be decided during rough stretches in the schedule when the Mavericks.
For now, Dallas focuses on closing out the first month of the season with their first look at the Southwest division rival Houston Rockets on Halloween night. Ime Udoka’s team is 2-2, but they continue to show huge upside from a team that finished at .500 to end last season.
Led by 22-year-old building blocks Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, and fortified by Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks, the Rockets will look to measure up against the Mavericks on their quest back to relevancy. Dallas went 3-1 against Houston last season on their way to winning the division.
The interstate matchup will be followed by Dallas’ first respite of the young season, as they won’t play again until Sunday night when they host Orlando to begin a trio of contests against the Eastern Conference to open November.
Do you think the Mavericks will continue their hot start against Houston? Share your predictions with Irvin on X (formerly Twitter) @Twittirv.
