Saturday, December 5, 2020

Will this be Luka's true breakout season?

The uniquely brief 2020 NBA offseason has seen significant changes throughout the league, but in my opinion, no team stands out, in terms of significant improvement, more than the Dallas Mavericks. In the 2019 - 2020 season, Dallas weaponized one of the most efficient offensive seasons of all time, but as great as they were on that end, they were equally terrible on defense. 

Now, they have taken significant steps to change that. 

They added several lengthy, athletic, versatile options on the wing, and at the 4 positions, which was an area of significant need for them, especially next to Luka Doncic, as well as their other more undersized scoring guards, and shooters. 

  • Josh Richardson is the most prominent addition, and should be expected to start, and guard multiple positions, as a do-it-all complementary piece to Luka. He provides elite defense on the wing, and at the guard spots, and as well as being a great catch and shoot option for Luka on the perimeter, he can also handle playmaking situations with, or without, Luka on the floor. 
  • They also added his former Miami Heat teammate, James Johnson, by moving another versatile, defensive guard, that was more redundant on their roster, Delon Wright. Johnson should provide toughness in the front court, alongside Richardson, and the still remaining Dorian Finney-Smith, which was severely lacking the last couple of seasons, and especially in the bubble. 
  • Another lowkey addition, Wesley Iwundu, should also provide them with length, athleticism, and disruptiveness at those wing positions. 
  • The return of Dwight Powell, who gave Luka Doncic an historical pick and roll efficiency partner, should also help them on both sides of the floor. Powell gives them much needed pick and roll defense out of the big position that they're lacking, especially with Kristaps Porzingis slated to miss the start of the regular season.
  • They also added multiple players in the draft that should give them help at those wing positions: Josh Green felt like the perfect fit, in my opinion, as someone that can score on the wing at multiple levels of the offense, and still provide value guarding well enough, and Tyler Bey, who surprisingly is only signed to a two way deal, should also provide them with exciting defensive playmaking, as well as above the rim athleticism, and that toughness that was previously mentioned. 


I personally feel that all of this should lead to Luka Doncic potentially being an MVP candidate as early as this season, and Dallas may find themselves in position to secure home court in the Western Conference Playoffs....

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