Mavericks: A Look at a Potentially Potent Small Ball Lineup

As the small ball craze has taken over the NBA and many teams have turned to different forms of the traditional ‘Run & Gun’ or the newer idea of position-less basketball, I thought it would be fun to dream up a potential lineup the Mavs could turn to this season if needed.

The Run & Gun philosophy is not one foreign to the Mavericks or the NBA in general and really shouldn’t be looked at as a new idea. Many coaches have tried to work a system in the league that was fast paced enough and had enough firepower to basically say ‘Hey, the only way to beat us is if you can outscore us.’

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Coaches like Mike D’Antoni, George Karl, and even Don Nelson have taken this philosophy to heart at some point in their careers. Some have even turned to smaller, more athletic lineups to run the floor and score at a faster pace than everyone else such as when D’Antoni used to play Amar’e Stoudemire and Channing Frye at the power forward and center positions in Phoenix.

So what is the difference between the small ball teams then and the ones now? A lot of changes have been made and the quality of players for those teams using the small ball lineup is better but really this last year has proven that it can work if used correctly.

That being said, the lineup I would love to see Coach Carlisle use for the Mavericks is as follows: PG- Devin Harris, SG- Wesley Matthews, SF- Chandler Parsons, PF- Jeremy Evans, C- Charlie Villanueva.

Why it Would Work

Feb 20, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Utah Jazz forward Jeremy Evans (40) goes up for a dunk during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at EnergySolutions Arena. The Jazz won 92-76. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Offensively, this unit could score at a high rate. Utilizing Chandler Parsons’ slashing ability and control to run a pick and roll with high-flying Jeremy Evans, the opportunities to score are numerous.

Compound that with the shooting ability of Wesley Matthews and Charlie Villanueva and you’ve got two formidable kick out options if anyone tries to collapse in on the pick and roll. Meanwhile, Harris offers a bit of a safety net on the offensive end.

On the defensive side, the team would be built to move and to stay in front of the opponent while collecting steals and forcing the other team into mistakes and miscues. Evans would also have a chance to protect the rim where he is a bit undersized but makes up for in natural shot blocking ability and energy.

Why it Would NOT Work

As with any lineup, this one would be full of question marks. The biggest concern would have to be the development of Jeremy Evans. We all know that he is an athletic player but can he fit as a role player or even a situational player with the limited amount of time he has gotten in the last 5 years?

Along with that, Charlie Villanueva is going to have to prove that he is capable of running and moving with the rest of these younger players. His shooting, quick release, and size are a rare combination but if that’s the only thing he shows to be competent at, he probably will not be cracking the small ball lineup.

Will We Get to See it?

It is hard to predict what players Carlisle may use with the amount of substitutions and bench players that we have seen over the years, but I do expect to see the small ball lineup occasionally in the coming season. Looking back at last year, we had a chance to see Carlisle use a lineup with Aminu and Stoudemire handling the front court positions and, if I’m not mistaken, even had Aminu run the center spot against other small ball lineups.

Whether we see this particular lineup or another small ball squad, I believe it is safe to assume that the Mavs are ready to jump on board with the movement and show some teams how we play small ball.

Next: 3 Things to Watch at Mavericks Training Camp

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