What is going on with the Mavs?

[sefant]

Quite right, the unusual circumstances are unusual for every team.

My thoughts are some combination of the following:

1) lots of teams besides the Mavs are also struggling. The standings are WEIRD right now. So, the circumstances are affecting other teams, too. We’re just hyper focused on our team. For example, Denver fans are probably WAY more freaked out than we are, and their star is playing WELL. Luka isn’t, so there’s reason to believe this is a temporary situation for the Mavs. 

2) The Mavs got YOUNGER this off-season, and experience wasn’t their strong suit to being with. Mix in a different approach with more time spent on defense with that youth and less prep time than usual, and I can understand why they might be prone to a little early season funk. Someone mentioned the other day that they’re ALSO tangibly transitioning farther away from the Barea/Dirk Mavs from a leadership standpoint, which I think might be a bigger adjustment than we realize, especially with KP out and Powell not being himself yet (if he ever will be). If Luka really is the team’s leader, then, we’ll...he’s 21. That’s going to be a work in progress. 

3) sometimes, things just work. Point being, some of the teams who look prepared might have actually lucked into a mix of goals/personnel that just fit together more quickly. That doesn’t necessarily mean those teams did training camp any better than other teams (although it could mean that) and it doesn’t mean they will all look this good in a month.

I was about to bring up Denver. Jokic playing at a "MVP level" and being in top shape, and they are 1-4. MPJ is shooting 58 % from the field and 42 % from 3. And avg 19 ppg. Its not like they are not playing well on offense so far. Defense has been the problem early on for them without Grant. 29th in Def Rating.

Grant with 4 straight 25+ games for DET as well. Grant, Plumlee and Torrey Craig are all gone from last years team who were 3rd, 8th and 9th on the team in minutes played. I think they lost some valuable depth. Relying on "young players" to contribute. Bol Bol/Hartenstein etc. pp