Perhaps the most glaring flaw in the Mavericks' offense since the Luka Doncic era is their lack of ability to diversify their offense. Dallas currently averages 40.3 3-point attempts per game, the second-highest number in the NBA, but only shoots 37.3 percent from 3-point range, the 10th-highest percentage of any team.
Is Dallas' trend of being one of the best 3-point scoring teams in recent seasons a product of the sun-centric offense surrounding Luka Doncic? Dallas is often forced into 4-on-3 play, so it's understandable that opposing defenses increase the amount of traps and double teams against Doncic almost every season. Make three-point shots and plays.
Dallas has been making more off-ball movement in these scenarios recently, and the addition of Kyrie Irving last year certainly made the Mavs less reliant on Doncic as their sole source of offensive creation. . The Mavericks need role players like P.J. Washington, Josh Green and Dante Exum to generate offense off the catch and also serve as aggressive screeners/cutters.
A case study of Dallas excelling in this department was against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Washington, Gafford's first game with Dallas. The Mavericks finished with an impressive 3-point field goal margin of 15-39, but more importantly, the Mavericks scored 66 points in the paint.
The more guard screen action and off-ball movement the Mavericks create, the less the offense will rely on three-pointers like they did against Oklahoma City. Based on the guys' judgment, Dallas should shoot a fair amount from beyond the arc, but it will be much easier to beat them if Jason Kidd instills more variety in offensive action for the Mavericks throughout the season. It won't be. Playoff time is coming.
