Last season the Dallas Mavericks were an offensive juggernaut. Their 115.9 Offensive Rating, bolstered by dynamic spacing and shooting, is a regular season mark never before registered. Much credit can be given to the scheming of Rick Carlisle and the playmaking of Luka Doncic, one of the best young distributors the game has seen.
The focus at the start of the 2020-21 season, however, has been the other side of the ball. Remarks from the front office on draft night in November and the start of training camp this week have centered on the Mavericks’ need to be better defensively.