Dallas Mavericks: 3 Moves the Mavs Must Make to Win Now

The Dallas Mavericks have to do these three moves ASAP

The NBA season is still early and many teams are figuring out what works out and what doesn’t. One of those teams still trying to their identity is the Dallas Mavericks.

As it stands, the Dallas Mavericks currently sit outside of the playoffs and are one of the many teams still trying figure things out. One thing the team does know, is Luka is still Luka. The All-Star guard is still averaging a triple-double and is just one of the small highlights for this early NBA season.

The Dallas Mavericks have the potential to be a top three team in the Western Conference if they play their cards right. Excluding the presence of Kristaps Porzingis, the Mavs can still work things out.

Here are three things the team must do now in order to get back on track:

1. Start Willie, Start Willie

Currently, the Dallas Mavericks rank in the bottom 10 in terms of rebounds per game. One reason this problem exist, is the absence of KP. While the return of the forward is still unknown, there is one way the team can fix their rebounding woes: start Center Willie Cauley-Stein.

Against the Houston Rockets alone, the Mavs center averaged seven rebounds and 15 points in just 24 minutes. Compare that to the current starting center Dwight Powell, against the Rockets Powell played 15 minutes and tallied two rebounds and two points.

For the season, both players are averaging 3.9 rebounds a game. The difference is Powell is doing this is 20 minutes per game, in contrast to Willie who is doing the same in 13.4 minutes. Along with that, when Cauley-Stein is on the floor the team has shown to be more aggressive.

The open space he has added, has also been a plus. His contribution has not gone unnoticed and it is time the starts Willie if they want to content with perimeter centers in the league.

2. Transition Hardaway into the 6th man role

Another way the team focus on the win now mode, is have Hardaway run the second unit off the bench. Now I get it, Hardaway Jr. is too valuable as a starter to bench, but let us look into it.

Against the Rockets, Hardaway Jr. came off the bench and had one of his best performances. He shot 78.6 from the field and went 8 for 10 from behind the arc. To top if off, he had seven rebounds.

While this may be a one time notice, this may actually work for the Dallas Mavericks. If the team allows Hardaway Jr. to run the second unit, he will be the primary scorer and it will allow him to take charge while players like Luka take a rest.

It will increase bench points for the team and increasing the team’s points per game. This would also allow others players like Maxi Kleber and Jalen Brunson to transition in the starting role and gain more valuable time and progress.

3. Increase Jalen Brunson’s Minutes

Guard Jalen Brunson is currently averaging 11.7 points per game and has shown to be a valuable asset when given the time. When given more than 20 minutes per game, Brunson has averaged around 23.7 points.