The Dallas Mavericks now have the 4th best defense and the 30th best offense, will defense win them the championship?

Godymas · Post #1 » by **Godymas** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 1:05 pm

Anthony Davis has averaged 21-10 with 2.8 Stocks across 5 games. He's also injured

Obviously no Kyrie

Just for the full story, the Lakers have the 11th best offense and the 14th best defense WITH Luka averaging 45 ppg and Reaves averaging 32 ppg, which is kind of absurd because the rest of this team must be trash on offense for that to happen.

The big question is, who will be more important to their team winning? Kyrie returning or "the 40 year old King" LeBron James.

chilluminati · Post #2 » by **chilluminati** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 1:11 pm

Well, Nico did say that he's prioritizing defense.

He wasn't lying.

BruttoNostra · Post #3 » by **BruttoNostra** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 1:33 pm

Yes, they will take a lot of pingpong lottery balls this season

Tottery · Post #4 » by **Tottery** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 2:01 pm

If they can stay afloat until Kyrie comes back, they will be a tough out. Flagg isn't being utilized properly either.

Yoshun · Post #5 » by **Yoshun** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 3:12 pm

The short answer is no.

I wouldn't bank on Kyrie this season either. I'm willing to bet he comes after the All Star break, sits back to backs, etc... They have a good team though, and Flagg is only going to get better.

JB2 · Post #6 » by **JB2** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 3:16 pm

As a Lakers fan, I voted 'I love Nico Harrison'

Post #7 » by **og15** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 3:28 pm

Sadly you don't win with defense alone and have to actually have an above average offense also, but I guess you have to start somewhere. PJ Washington as your second leading scorer is also not a recipe for being a good offense, and that's not shade towards him, just the reality

Archx · Post #8 » by **Archx** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 3:41 pm

Unfortunately these stats don't show a lot in such a short span. They played only 1 team with a 90% healthy roster so far and that were the Spurs who demolished them. Only 1 win was quite impressive but that were Raptors.

It's going to take a while before these stats settle down and we actually see where Mavs are at, but right now it doesn't look that good. And AD has actually been pretty mediocre on defense, a lot of fans even think he's been quite bad.

Post #9 » by **Mavrelous** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 3:57 pm

Small sample theatre...
Mavs were below average defense 1st 3 games, 116 DRTG, then they played depleted OKC and Pacers teams, and barely beat the Pacers whonhad only Siakam and the rest unknown players.

JasonStern · Post #10 » by **JasonStern** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 11:04 pm

Guy who has never won a championship wrote: Defense wins championships.

Sofia · Post #11 » by **Sofia** » Sat Nov 1, 2025 11:45 pm

Tottery wrote:If they can stay afloat until Kyrie comes back, they will be a tough out. Flagg isn't being utilized properly either.

They’re currently staying afloat like a stubborn fibrous turd that refuses to flush

41Dirk41 · Post #12 » by **41Dirk41** » Sun Nov 2, 2025 9:41 am

Fire Nico

kane0801 · Post #13 » by **kane0801** » Sun Nov 2, 2025 9:47 am

Duren just destroy them in paint area

Dominator83 · Post #14 » by **Dominator83** » Sun Nov 2, 2025 9:50 am

Your not gonna win being dead last in any category. Even it they had the #1 defense, that would still only put them in the middle overall

brutalitops · Post #15 » by **brutalitops** » Sun Nov 2, 2025 10:06 am

Small sample size as well, since they have played 3 absolutely trash teams and two good teams where one team pulled starters early because the game was over quickly.

Give them a stronger schedule and Kyrie back, im sure they could get to 20th in offense and 10th defense, which would make them absolutely smack bang average.

41Dirk41 · Post #16 » by **41Dirk41** » Sun Nov 2, 2025 10:11 am

Dominator83 wrote:Your not gonna win being dead last in any category. Even it they had the #1 defense, that would still only put them in the middle overall

This.

Larry Ellison · Post #17 » by **Larry Ellison** » Sun Nov 2, 2025 10:46 am

og15 wrote:Sadly you don't win with defense alone and have to actually have an above average offense also, but I guess you have to start somewhere. PJ Washington as your second leading scorer is also not a recipe for being a good offense, and that's not shade towards him, just the reality

Very true. The Kyrie injury, which happened after the Luka trade, was devastating to the Mavs. Their entire team building strategy relied upon Kyrie shouldering a heavy load offensively to balance the defensive focus at other positions. Kyrie would have been an All Star this year. Flagg is a great talent but he is a rookie and not a PG. It appears Kidd has realized he has no choice but to give D-Lo minutes.

Lalouie · Post #18 » by **Lalouie** » Sun Nov 2, 2025 11:06 am

this is the most lopside poll ever.

congrats

KokoKaizer · Post #19 » by **KokoKaizer** » Sun Nov 2, 2025 11:10 am

Lalouie wrote:this is the most lopside poll ever.

congrats

Not that lopsided !

There's some true Nico lovers 8-)

BruttoNostra · Post #20 » by **BruttoNostra** » Sun Nov 2, 2025 12:12 pm

KokoKaizer wrote:
Lalouie wrote:this is the most lopside poll ever.

congrats

Not that lopsided !

There's some true Nico lovers

I see that as "I'm Lakers fan" answer

Will Dallas take it all this year?