National Basketball Association

NBA 30 Teams/30 Days Preview: New faces, same star can be Mavericks' winning combo

Published Oct. 11, 2014 3:53 p.m. ET

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Editor's note: This is the 13th of Sam Amico's 30 NBA team previews entering the 2014-15 season.

Projected Starters

C Tyson Chandler; PF Dirk Nowitzki; SF Chandler Parsons; SG Monta Ellis; PG Jameer Nelson.

Key Reserves

PG Raymond Felton; G Devin Harris; SF Richard Jefferson; SF Jae Crowder; F Al-Farouq Aminu; F/C Brandan Wright; G Ricky Ledo; G Gal Mekel; PF Greg Smith; SF Eric Griffin.

Coach

Rick Carlisle, 14th year (eighth with Mavericks). Carlisle owns a championship ring and his even-handed approach always earns the respect of his players. He clearly has a firm grasp of the X's and O's, but he's even better when it comes to managing personalities. For Carlisle, it's knowing the delicate balance between pushing his team when it needs it most or simply staying out of the way. There may not be a more underrated coach in the league.

Strengths

If Nowitzki, 36, has lost at a step, he sure has done a bang-up job of covering it up. He's still one smooth operator with the ball and a true craftsman when it comes to drawing fouls. Without a doubt, he remains one of the top-five power forwards. ... Ellis is a natural-born scorer who, to the surprise of some, meshed well with Nowitzki in their first season together. They form quite a tandem. ... Newcomers such as Parsons, Nelson and Chandler aren't superstars, but they are really nice veteran pieces who understand how to win. Placing them alongside the others should also make them better individually. ... The bench is filled with role players who know why they're here.

Weaknesses

With three new starters, chemistry and spacing could be an issue early. ... This is not a lockdown defensive unit, nor is it a team that will simply outscore you. The Mavs are actually very middle-of-the-road in both areas. That said, Chandler and Aminu are two big reasons for hope on D. ... Bench scoring could be an issue. No one on the second unit has proven capable of putting the ball through the basket on a consistent basis. Those who have (read: Jefferson) are probably past their prime. ... Felton can be pretty good or quite invisible. Nowitzki will be all over him if that doesn't change.

Outlook

No one really seemed to notice how much the Mavs improved, but the fairly quiet offseason additions of Parsons, Nelson, Chandler, Felton and Aminu make them a legitimate threat. If it all comes together, and if Nowitzki is close to the same guy, this group has a shot at something special. A lot will depend on how well the reserves support what appears to be a fantastic starting five that possesses a little bit of everything.

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