Could the Dallas Mavericks make the NBA Finals?

Yes….?

There are nights where the team looks completely invincible on offense. The team, which has the second-highest three-point attempt rate in the league, will convert three-point shots at 50 percent from the floor creating the widest of leads. However, other nights the team will struggle to convert 30 percent from the three-point line and barely score 100 points.

This fluctuation in performance is something we’ve come to expect with a high volume of three-point attempts. When the team makes a lot, the cruise to comfortable wins; when they don’t convert, fans are stuck wishing for better shot selection.

However, with the way Dallas is currently constructed, there is plenty of reason to believe the team could make the playoff run MFFLs have been eagerly waiting for since 2011.

With Tim Hardaway Jr and Dorian Finney-Smith currently etched in as starters, the team can expect them to score on over 37 percent of their eleven attempts from three-point line. Based on the form of Kristaps Porzingis heading into the suspension, it doesn’t seem like a reach to expect him to convert 36 percent of his seven three-point attempts.

With point guard Jalen Brunson and power forward/center Dwight Powell expected to not take part in Orlando, this should yield more minutes to players like guard Seth Curry and power forward Maxi Kleber who average 45 percent and 37 percent from the three-point line respectively.

Some of those extra minutes could be divvied up with small forward Courtney Lee, fan-favorite point guard JJ Barea, and point guard Delon Wright. All players average over 38 percent from three on limited volume. An increase in volume doesn’t always translate to better efficiency, but the team won’t know until they try.

However, based on what fans have seen the Mavericks do this season, the concern isn’t with the shooting, it has to do with the defense and rebounding. There isn’t much to be mad about with a historical offense.

In March, Kristaps Porzingis was averaging well over ten rebounds per game and two offensive rebounds per game. Dorian Finney-Smith only averaged 5.5 rebounds per game, but he was averaging 1.5 offensive rebounds per game. Unfortunately, this is where the loss of Dwight Powell looms large.

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Dwight Powell was averaging two offensive rebounds per game when in the starting lineup. Other role players like Delon Wright and Maxi Kleber average one offensive rebound per game and that haven’t necessarily increased as the season progressed without Powell.

Center Boban Marjanovic averages 1.5 offensive rebounds per game for the season albeit on limited playing time. However, he was averaging 2.5 offensive rebounds per game in the month of March. In 31 minutes against the Nuggets, he grabbed nine offensive rebounds.

The Mavs could fix this issue by playing Marjanovic more but that move would negatively impact the team’s rim protection and it also has yet to be answered on whether Marjanovic can shoulder a much bigger load. For his career, he hasn’t averaged more than 14 minutes per game and he’s only broken 20 minutes in five games this season.

Dallas clearly has an intriguing lineup with players that are good at doing various things. However, as the depth depletes so does the overall skill level. What is apparent is that the team can have a nice playoff run if they have the perfect circumstances.

Surely that isn’t too hard to ask for!