A Season Of Transition

Dallas Mavericks: A Look Back at the 2018-19 Season

A Season of Transition

The Dallas Mavericks ended the 2018-19 season with a record of 33-49, finishing 14th in the Western Conference and missing the playoffs. It was a season of transition for the Mavericks, who traded away several key players, including Dennis Smith Jr., Wesley Matthews, and DeAndre Jordan, in the offseason.

The Mavericks' struggles were evident from the start of the season. They lost their first six games and never really recovered. The team was plagued by injuries, with several key players missing significant time. Luka Dončić, the team's leading scorer and All-Star, missed 21 games with various injuries. Kristaps Porzingis, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Knicks in February 2019, missed 34 games with a variety of injuries.

Despite the injuries, the Mavericks showed some signs of improvement as the season progressed. They won 10 of their last 15 games, including a victory over the Golden State Warriors, the eventual NBA champions. Dončić continued to develop into one of the league's best young players, averaging 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. Porzingis also showed flashes of his potential, averaging 20.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in 31 appearances.

Looking Ahead

The Mavericks have a lot of work to do this offseason if they want to contend for a playoff spot in 2019-20. They need to add more depth to their roster, particularly in the frontcourt. They also need to improve their defense, which was one of the worst in the league last season.

But the Mavericks have a lot of potential, led by Dončić and Porzingis. If they can stay healthy and add some key pieces this offseason, they could be a surprise team in 2019-20.