3 reasons the Dallas Mavericks can win a title this season

Dallas Mavericks have been absolutely killing it in 2022 so far. They have the fourth-best record in the NBA since the start of the new year at 26-10.</p> <p>In years past, the Mavs have survived on the back of Luka Doncic and an elite offense. But so far this season, their success has been a completely different story.</p> <h2>3 reasons the Dallas Mavericks can win a title this season</h2> <p>Instead, their defense has been on another level, as they have the second-best defense in the league since the start of 2022. On the season, their defense ranks sixth.</p> <p>And with how hot they’ve been, they have a serious shot to make a deep playoff run this year. With how wide-open the league is this year, there’s no reason they can’t make it as far as the NBA Finals.</p> <p>The Phoenix Suns are by far the best team in the league record-wise, but it just doesn’t seem as though there’s a clear favorite to win it all. If you had to place a bet, the Suns would be the top option, but nothing is set in stone.</p> <p>A few years ago, everyone just sort of knew that the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers would be in the Finals. But now, those days are over.</p> <p>Any two teams could realistically end up in the Finals this year. That’s how wide-open the league is. So why can’t that team be the Mavericks?</p> <p>Right now, the Mavs are sitting at fifth in the Western Conference. Here are three reasons why they should be considered a serious threat to win an NBA title this season.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/reasons-dallas-mavericks-win-title/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason #1 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_443314" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-443314" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/reasons-dallas-mavericks-win-title/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1369429472-1.jpeg" alt="Dallas Mavericks" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1369429472-1.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1369429472-1-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">DALLAS, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 06: Reggie Bullock #25, Dorian Finney-Smith #10, and Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks defend against Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center on February 06, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3 reasons the Dallas Mavericks can win a title this season: Defense</h2> <p>As mentioned, the Dallas Mavericks have one of the best defenses in the NBA this season. Historically speaking, the team that wins the title usually has one of the best defenses.</p> <p>The Milwaukee Bucks won last year, the Los Angeles Lakers did it the year before, and before that, it was teams like the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.</p> <p>Dallas plays great team defense. The way they sprint around the floor chasing defenders is super fun to watch, and their energy makes up for a lack of individual defensive talent.</p> <p>They don’t have any DPOY-caliber players. The Bucks had Draymond Green, the Warriors had Draymond Green, the Lakers had Anthony Davis, the Raptors had Kawhi Leonard, and the Spurs had Tim Duncan.</p> <p>And while the Mavs don’t have anyone on that level, they have plenty of guys who play their defensive roles well – Dorian Finney-Smith, Reggie Bullock, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell, Josh Green, and more.</p> <p>Finney-Smith and Bullock act as their point-of-attack defenders, Kleber and Powell protect the paint with great aggression, and Green is a young, potential-filled defender who can do a little bit of everything.</p> <p>They’ve established a great team-centered defensive scheme this year, and it’s worked wonders. Maybe a lack of defense was what was holding them back in previous years.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/reasons-dallas-mavericks-win-title/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason #2 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_443315" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-443315" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/reasons-dallas-mavericks-win-title/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2362,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1380913086.jpeg" alt="Dallas Mavericks" width="3200" height="2362" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1380913086.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1380913086-768x567.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">DALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 05: Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks hugs Spencer Dinwiddie #26 of the Dallas Mavericks after the win over the Sacramento Kings at American Airlines Center on March 05, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3 reasons the Dallas Mavericks can win a title this season: Extra creation</h2> <p>For the past couple of seasons, the Dallas Mavericks have been depending on the star duo of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. And while that’s a great duo, they severely lacked shot creation.</p> <p>Doncic was (and still is) the primary shot creator on the Mavs, but in terms of secondary shot creators, Porzingis wasn’t the best option. He’s notoriously struggled in the playoffs and, evidently, needs others to create for him./</p> <p>This was something that really hurt the Mavs, as the burden put on Doncic was ridiculous. And while he’ll undoubtedly carry the load on that front this year, he has significantly more help.</p> <p>First and foremost, the progression of Jalen Brunson has been a massive help for the Mavs this year. He’s become a legitimate second option behind Doncic, which is sure to be a huge help.</p> <p>But most importantly, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/reasons-dallas-mavericks-win-title/"https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33261228/sources-dallas-mavericks-trading-kristaps-porzingis-washington-wizards-spencer-dinwiddie-davis-bertans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the addition of Spencer Dinwiddie</a> at the trade deadline is going to be absolutely crucial to the Mavericks’ success in the postseason this year.</p> <p>He’s been on fire ever since Dallas acquired him at the deadline, acting as yet another ball-handler and shot creator behind Doncic. Both he and Brunson will be a massive help during the playoffs this year.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/reasons-dallas-mavericks-win-title/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason #3 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_443316" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-443316" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/reasons-dallas-mavericks-win-title/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1386579266.jpeg" alt="Dallas Mavericks" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1386579266.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1386579266-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 19: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks gestures to the referee in the first quarter during their game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on March 19, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3 reasons the Dallas Mavericks can win a title this season: Luka Doncic</h2> <p>While all of the previous reasons are valid, important reasons for why the Dallas Mavericks, none of them even come close to the most crucial part of the team’s success – Luka Doncic.</p> <p>For as long as Doncic is on the team, the Mavs should be considered a favorite to win an NBA championship. Not just a contender, but a favorite to win it all.</p> <p>In his first two playoff appearances, Doncic dropped over 30 points a night, and last year against the LA Clippers, added 10.7 assists per game alongside it.</p> <p>Doncic is the type of player that every championship-caliber team needs on their roster – a superstar. Every championship team since the 2004 Detroit Pistons has had a superstar, and that squad had multiple All-Star-caliber players.</p> <p>The Slovenian superstar is a guy who can take over a series at any time, and the fact that he’s yet to win a playoff series yet is crazy (even though he’s still only 23 years old).</p> <p>Having that caliber of player on their team instantly gives the Mavs a shot at doing something special this year and every year. It’s impossible to ever count out Doncic.</p> <p>So combine Doncic’s insane talent with the Mavericks’ defense and extra shot creators, and there’s a real chance they could be the team on top by the end of the playoffs.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="NBA MVP Ladder Week 22" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/16/nba-mvp-ladder-week-22/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/reasons-dallas-mavericks-win-title/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/16/nba-mvp-ladder-week-22/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA MVP Ladder Week 22 </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">