It's been about three weeks since the last record was released, and Dallas went 7-5 in that time. They are 7th in the Western Conference with 40 wins and 29 losses. Josh Green will be out for an extended period with an ankle sprain.
Class A
Dallas already has more wins than last season. Despite injuries, lineup instability, and low expectations a year ago, the Mavericks are already having a successful year considering they made the playoffs. The bar has been raised even higher and there should be hope that this team can win at least one of their playoff series.
There was cause for concern in late February and early March, when they lost twice to Indiana and Philadelphia without Joel Embiid. This highlights the team's inability to bounce back game by game, which has reared its ugly head quite a bit in recent years. The effort (or lack of effort) is frustrating at times, but the team seems to be OK against quality opponents, and that's all that matters in the postseason.
Since March 7, Dallas is tied for first in wins and in the top 10 in offense, defense and net rating, but has turned the ball over just 12 times per game. They looked elite and found a decent rotation with Daniel Gafford and Derrick Jones Jr. starting and Dante Exum and Derek Lively playing off the bench. With an easier schedule on the horizon, the Mavericks should take advantage of it to avoid a play-in appearance.
Straight A: Win even if you shoot poorly
In the Mavericks' last six wins, they have never shot better than 39 percent from three. Three-point shooting has been their calling card for as long as Luka Doncic has been a Maverick, and he's taken about 40 shots per game this year, shooting 37 percent from the field. Before the All-Star break, they were shooting 40 percent from three in wins and just 32 percent in losses. Since the hiatus, he has won 34 percent from distance and lost 37 percent.
This will be very important going forward as they are finding ways to win without taking shots. While the win against the Nuggets was very impressive, the fact that they shot just 26 percent from three plays further speaks to the fact that this team has a solid foundation. They play defense (when they try), they drive inside, they hit the glass hard. Their identity has changed and their current identity is more sustainable in the playoffs.
Currently failing: Maxi Kleber
Maxi Kleber's dilemma is one that every older athlete has faced at least once. Even though he is no longer the player that earned his reputation, his reputation justifies his playing time. Kleber earned his money as a defender. He was switchable, could guard down and affected his shot at the rim. Offensively, he could make threes and occasionally make big dunks. However, his offense slowed in March. The Mavericks still view him as one of their best defenders, but his current defense isn't good enough to justify dropping him on the other team. His playing time needs to be reduced as he is very detrimental to the flow of the offense. There's no reason he should be in late games against P.J. Washington or Derrick Jones Jr.
Additional rating: Resilience
If this team does nothing else, they will respond to adversity. They are 6-1 since losing five of six games, including a win over Denver in late February. The season has been in flux since it started, but it was just the latest in hot and cold. To be fair, the Mavericks have inflicted a lot of damage on themselves, and he deserves credit for being able to repair them.
