The Dallas Mavericks are off to a slow start this season with a 3-8 win-loss card. If the team wants to improve on this lowly record, head coach Rick Carlisle says that needs to see better defense and ball movement from Dallas.
Dwain Price of Mavs.com tweeted out Carlisle's comments on pointing out the key areas of improvement for his talented team.
Carlisle on the #Mavs: "Right now we've got to really commit to the basics of our game, which is solid individual defense and then team defense built on help and rebounding. And we've got to get more ball movement." @dallasmavs
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) November 10, 2018
Considering the Mavs' recent acquisitions in the offseason, it's a bit surprising that Carlisle is emphasizing the team's lack of defense and ball movement.
Two-time NBA All-Defensive Team member DeAndre Jordan was signed by the Mavericks this summer to anchor the team's defensive schemes. Luka Doncic, the team's 2nd overall pick in the 2018 draft, is arguably the best playmaker of his class.
Still, basketball is not just about two All-Star caliber players. The Mavericks need more team effort and communication to improve their 24th-ranked defense (115.3 opponent points per game). Aside from that, the team also ranks at the bottom bracket in terms of rebounding (24th), steals (28th), and blocks (24th).
To make matters worse, the Mavs are also 27th in the league in turnovers per game, a reason why Carlisle is clamoring for better ball movement from his team. While their assist numbers are actually not that bad (19th in the league), one would expect more from a team that boasts point guards like Doncic, Dennis Smith Jr and J.J. Barea.
With All-Star Dirk Nowitzki expected to play sometime this month, the Mavericks have to hold the fort until his return.
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