The Dallas Mavericks are off to a hot 9-4 start to the 2015-16 NBA season and no one anticipated this level of play. Dallas is currently riding a six game wining streak and it is amazing to see the job the Mavericks are doing with their current roster.
When every NBA analyst was making their NBA season predictions, not a single one predicted the Mavericks would be third in the Western Conference standings. Not a single one believed Dallas had the talent to compete with the rest of the talented Western Conference teams.
Rick Carlisle is putting on his best coaching performance to date and he is rallying his players together to play inspired basketball.
Ironically, it is the play of those last minute acquisitions of Deron Williams, Zaza Pachulia, and Wes Matthews that is lifting the Mavericks to wins in the young NBA season. Deron Williams was signed on July 14, 2015 just five days after the Mavericks gave a max contract to Wes Matthews.
Williams and Matthews are now the starting backcourt for the Mavericks and average over 10 points per game. Wes Matthews is off to a rough start to the season by his standards with averaged of 10.5 points per game on only 33% shooting from the field.
Coming off a ruptured achilles last season, he will only get healthier as the season progresses and more confident in his play. He is still producing for Dallas, but no one guessed that Deron Williams will be the second highest scorer on the team behind their front man, Dirk Nowitzki.
Williams is averaging 13.6 points and 5.6 assists per game while leading the team in steals with 1.6 per game. His play has been formidable for the starting point guard position.
The final offseason move that is contributing to the Mavericks’ impressive start is Zaza Pachulia. Missing out on DeAndre Jordan did sting for Dallas because the Mavericks thought they found their complimentary big man to Dirk Nowtizki. However, Pachulia has stepped in to bring a certain toughness the Mavericks have needed.
Pachulia is averaging a double-double with 10.6 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists in only 28.2 minutes of action per game. Dirk Nowitzki has to be more than happy to have Pachulia by his side.
Perhaps the one person in the Dallas Mavericks’ organization that is making the biggest impact is head coach, Rick Carlisle. Carlisle has been one of the best coaches in the NBA for a long time and this season is one of his best coaching performance of his career. Since Carlisle and Dirk Nowitzki first season together, the Dallas Mavericks have never had a losing season.
Carlisle recently signed a 5-year, $35 million contract to remain with the Dallas Mavericks. He has certainly earned his money by generating the best out of every player each season.
From the unexpected play of their late singings to the expected performances by Dirk Nowitzki and Rick Carlisle, the Dallas Mavericks are a team to watch out for. As the season moves forward the Mavericks can easily continue this level of play by rolling with this underdog mentality. Talent is not everything and Dallas is proving that with their team basketball as they look to continue to shatter expectations.