OKC Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks, 2019-20 team preview
Coaching:
Entering his 12th season as the Dallas Mavericks Head Coach, Rick Carlisle trails only Gregg Popovich in years of service with the same team. That coaching constancy has paid dividends over the years with an 11-4 record of reaching postseason play.
Of his many attributes, Carlisle surrounds himself with excellent associate coaches many of which have gone on to be head coaches like Terry Stotts and Dwane Casey.
But where his talent truly shines is his ability to put players in positions to excel. In an oddity, Carlisle showcases prowess in developing young assets but is equally adept at bringing out the best in his veteran players. Few coaches have that ability and I’d put Carlisle, Popovich, Erik Spoelstra and Quin Snyder at the top of the association for that ability. Perhaps this is why so many former Mavericks often return to Dallas for second turns with Dallas.
Not one to suffer fools, Carlisle is also quick to cut players who don’t buy into the principles and strategies of the club (see Rajon Rondo and Dennis Smith Jr. as examples).
Having missed the last three postseasons the Mavericks will be keen to return to springtime play. To that end, in close games watch for Carlisle to pull out a creative play in order to get the ‘W’.
The Dynamic Duo:
If the preseason is a sign of things to come the Mavericks are set with a pair of stars who could dominate in the league. Many are comparing Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis to the Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki era. In truth, the European duo isn’t a true reflection of their elder examples other than Luka being a dime master and the unicorn being a lengthy big man with range. The big difference is Luka has more offensive versatility than Nash and Porzingis is a far better defender than Nowitzki.
If Doncic continues his ascent it’s conceivable he could post multiple triple-double performances and even be an MVP candidate in the near future. Likewise, if Porzingis commits to rim protection and rebounding he could become a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
Those accolades may not transpire until future seasons, but the reality is this young duo is talented enough to turn the tide sooner than later.
Depth:
In a bit of a double-edged sword situation, the Mavericks boast more depth this season but in some cases the team might have players starting that should be relegated to the bench. Likewise, some of the better reserve players are where they are because they play behind Doncic and Porzingis. Depending on the ability of those players to play in different positions it may open up their opportunities.
How Carlisle navigates those situations on a nightly basis may be the difference in how each game ends.