The Missing Key

By Caroline McLeod

The Mavericks need more versatile players. Like Harrison Barnes. We’ve seen the course of their past season: marginal losses explained by an ever-present offense and an absent defense.

The fact of the matter is in order for the Mavericks to succeed, the players who can play offense and defense will win games. Teams cannot hope to win any games without players who can shoot and block.

There is no denying that Dallas has guys that can shoot. Harrison Barnes averages 18.9 points per game. Dennis Smith Jr. with 5.9 field goals per game. Wesley Mathews averaging 2.4 3-pointers per game. And not to mention J.J. Barea leads in assists with 6.3 per game.

Salah Mejri remains the only player above one block per game, but only averages 3.5 points per game. Harrison Barnes has six rebounds per game with Dirk Nowitzki following closely with 5.7 rebounds per game.

Harrison Barnes is the closest thing to a versatile player that Dallas has. But even then, Barnes lacks certain defensive capabilities crucial to reach the tipping point. The Mavericks should look to players like Draymond Green who can block, steal, shoot, and get rebounds.

It seems pretty simple, right? If only the Mavericks could see that.