Led by one of the league’s top young stars, Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks hope to compete in the Western Conference. Nonetheless, Gilbert Arenas cited significant flaws in the lineup when comparing the All-Star guard to the NBA legend.
In a recent episode of the “Nightcap” podcast, Gilbert Arenas and Shannon Sharpe talked about the Mavericks’ tough loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Luka Doncic scored 39 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, but it was not enough to help the team win.
When discussing this game, Anias pointed out how thin Dallas’ depth is. He compared their roster composition to when Michael Jordan first entered the NBA. While Doncic is good enough to make them a contender, they don’t have enough talent around them to truly compete.
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“Dallas only has one superstar. It reminds me of when Michael Jordan first came to the league,” Arenas said. “When we thought it didn’t matter because they were going to fight each other, Luka was outstanding. Well, he’s good. They’re not.”
“Your third-best player, is now your second-best backup. It gives you an idea of where the team is. He’s unmatched. That’s just the five he had against Cleveland.”
Do the Dallas Mavericks have enough talent around Luka Doncic to contend in the Western Conference?
Through the first third of the season, the Dallas Mavericks ranked sixth in the Western Conference with an 18-13 record. Looking at some of the teams ahead of them, Gilbert Arenas’ assessment of their bench was pretty accurate.
It’s worth noting that the Mavericks are dealing with injuries to key players. Kyrie Irving has been sidelined since Dwight Powell went down, and Maxi Kleber has played in just five games. At full strength, the Mavericks will look deeper than they do now.
Regardless of the injury situation, the Mavericks’ depth behind Luka Doncic is thin compared to other top teams in the West. They rely on young players like Josh Green and Derrick Lively to provide consistent playing time, as well as players like Dante Exum who have been out of the league for many years.
Doncic is a special player who can cover up some weaknesses. That said, Dallas’ depth could be an issue against top teams like the Denver Nuggets, Sacramento Kings and Thunder. If the supporting cast can’t step up, it could lead to another early playoff exit for the young superstar.