The Mavs’ draft history in recent years has left a lot to be desired and that’s one reason why second-year player Justin Anderson‘s regression is alarming, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com writes. Anderson, the 21st overall pick in the 2015 draft, hasn’t seen his shooting touch translate to the NBA and seems to be battling against a confidence issue, as MacMahon points out. The Mavs, who are 5-18, were hoping for a step forward from Anderson, but his sophomore slump is one reason behind the slow start.
Here is more on Dallas:
- While there is a lot of focus on the Mavs being without Dirk Nowitzki, the absence of J.J. Barea has been detrimental to the team’s success as well, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes. Since Barea has been out with a strained left calf, the Mavs have been limited to 90 points or less in seven of the 13 games he has missed, Sefko points out.
- The silver lining of Nowitzki, Barea and Andrew Bogut all missing significant time in the early part of this season is that young players can make the most of their opportunities for the Mavs, Sefko writes in a separate story. Yet so far the Mavs have received mostly underwheliming results from the young group. Dallas is hoping to gain some insight on whether or not Salah Mejri and Dwight Powell should be part of a rebuilding process going forward, Sefko adds.