The NBA isn’t a perfect professional basketball league. Still, their new power rankings surrounding the Western Conference teams have raised eyebrows, especially from those who follow the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks recently fell by one point and into third place behind the second-place Denver Nuggets and the first-place Oklahoma City Thunder. The Mavericks’ third-place ranking is arguably disrespectful due to the team’s 2024 Western Conference title and high-profile 2024 NBA offseason signings.
The NBA’s Western Conference could be described as tough, but the Mavericks have been building a strong lineup while addressing both offensive and defensive concerns. Here are three things to consider after the NBA raises eyebrows in its new power rankings.
Dallas Mavericks Ranking Is Questionable
Some individuals would describe the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks ranking as questionable. And they might be right, as the league’s ranking could be justified with the right arguments. One of those arguments would be the Mavericks’ regular season and offseason additions.
The Mavericks are coming off a successful 2023-24 NBA season with a noteworthy 50-32 record and a deep playoff run to justify the definition of success. The Mavericks’ overall net rating is plus-2.1, which ranks 15th in the league, but there’s more to the team than meets the eye. They acquired Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington, which helped them to a top-six efficiency on both ends of the floor.
The Mavericks acquired Klay Thompson, who can provide the team with another offensive weapon while acquiring Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes, both of whom can improve the team’s perimeter defense.
The NBA’s Dallas Mavericks Ranking Is Fair
Some individuals would describe the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks ranking as fair. NBA.com wrote, “[Luka] Doncic and Kyrie Irving were a part of that improvement, but it will be fascinating to see how well this team defends with Doncic, Irving, and Thompson all on the floor together. [Derrick] Jones will be missed on that end of the floor.”
This statement could be used to justify the third-place ranking of the Mavericks. The Mavericks’ defense can be wishy-washy, but there have been recent times when the team played NBA championship-level defense. Take, for example, the Mavericks and Boston Celtics’ Game 4 of the NBA Finals. They held Boston to 84 points in the game.
The NBA Can Ignore the Dallas Mavericks
There’s a possibility the NBA can — and will — ignore the Dallas Mavericks. There has been an apparent pattern of the NBA’s dismissal of the Mavericks, regardless of the team’s success. Take, for example, the snub of Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who finished third in the 2024 NBA MVP race.
The Mavericks might have deserved third place in NBA.com’s latest Western Conference rankings. The Mavericks have still assembled a versatile unit, despite the defensive departure of Derrick Jones Jr. The Mavericks’ strong case can help them become the best in the Western Conference in one to two years.
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