By james art last season, Dallas Mavericks came tantalizingly close to NBA glory After dominating the Western Conference in the playoffs, they reached the finals but fell to Boston Celtics in five games. This year, with the combined talents of Luka Doncic, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving, the team is determined to reach similar heights or even surpass them.
In a statement that reflects the Mavericks’ strong confidence, Irving I spoke with The Dallas Morning News after a 120-114 win over Minnesota Timberwolvesstating: “We have the best rim protection in the league.”
This bold statement demonstrates the confidence within the Mavericks camp, suggesting their defensive prowess could pose a challenge to other NBA teams. Still, Irving’s comment is up for debate when looking at the numbers.
Mavericks Defensive Stats
Despite Irving’s confidence, the Mavericks have room to improve in rim protection based on early season data. In the 2024-25 NBA season so far, Dallas is 19th in the league in blocks per gameaverage 5.3—significantly behind Oklahoma City Thunderleague leading 10.0.
Derek Lively II #2 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates after scoring a goal with teammate PJ Washington #25 as they play against the San Antonio Spurs.
On the individual front, it’s Dallas’ top-hitting blockers Daniel Gafford and Derek Lively IIwith averages of 1.3 and 1.0 blocks per game, respectively. These numbers are insufficient compared to players like Chet Holmgren of Oklahoma City (4.0) and Brooke Lopez on Milwaukee Bucks (3.3).
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however The Mavericks rank in the top ten in the league in defensive field goal percentageholding opponents to 44.2% shooting – a promising stat that supports the team’s defensive prowess. Still, it might be wise to watch how those numbers play out as the season progresses before drawing sweeping conclusions.
Waiting for Dallas
With three wins in their first four games, the Mavericks are off to a strong start. They are looking to extend their winning streak as they prepare to face Houston Rockets in a Texas clash at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night.