The Dallas Mavericks bench will be key to a successful restart

If and when the 2019-20 NBA season restarts, the Dallas Mavericks are going to have to lean on their bench more than usual if they hope to have success.

We don’t know when the NBA season is going to resume. Heck, we don’t even definitively know if the season will resume. Depending on when an actual plan goes into place, teams like the Dallas Mavericks probably won’t have much time to get in game condition. And that’s where the bench becomes so critical.

The indefinite suspension of the 2019-20 season has already impacted the timeline for the offseason and subsequent 2020-21 season. The longer this drags on, the more adjustments must be made to next season – and adjustments are costly.

That’s why when the teams get the orders to resume the 2019-20 season, it’s going to be done on a next-day-shipping timeline.

at-home in-shape is not the same as game shape. Game shape is only achieved playing the game.

In order to get back on track, the NBA needs to put a bow on the previous season. There’s not going to be a ton of time for teams to get back into game shape. Sure, players have their home gyms and access to other workout facilities during this time of quarantine, but at-home in-shape is not the same as game shape. Game shape is only achieved playing the game.

Teams that are top-heavy in talent (and particularly aged), are going to feel the pain of the restart. Star players won’t be able to max out their minutes like before. Teams will need to lean on their benches and that’s where the Dallas Mavericks have an advantage.

Dallas has a fairly well-rounded roster. Not only do they boast top-end talent with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, but they have a handful of rotational players capable of serving a variety of roles at a moments notice.

More from Dallas Mavericks

• The Dallas Mavericks accomplished a lot on Draft Day
• Mavericks pairing Luka Doncic and Draymond Green a technical (foul) disaster
• Can the Mavericks steal Deandre Ayton from cap-strapped Suns?
• Dallas Mavericks: Top-5 options for the Mavs to explore in the NBA Draft
• Dallas Mavericks can’t keep pick No. 10 in the NBA Draft

The culture of a Rick Carlisle team demands players be ready – whenever. He’s not afraid to sit a player on the bench for a game or two and then suddenly throw him in the starting lineup. Everyone on the roster is mentally prepared to adapt because coach Carlisle has made them resilient.

Luka and KP are young so that’s certainly working to their advantage, but game shape takes time and they’re going to have to lean on the bench more than they have in the past. The Dallas Mavericks have seven players who already average over nine points per game so they are more than capable of spreading out the opportunities to stay alive.

While most teams are dead in the water when their top-2 stars are out of the game, the Dallas Mavericks have the depth to pick up the slack while everyone gets back in game shape. And that could make all the difference on a sudden restart and condensed playoff series’.

• Published on 05/08/2020 at 13:00 PM
• Last updated at 05/08/2020 at 07:02 AM