Wesley Matthews Post-Up Game Can Help Mavericks Offense

Wesley Matthews is back healthier than ever, but his biggest contribution to the offense could be his ability to post up as a guard.

The Dallas Mavericks shook up their roster this off-season, and the Mavs identity will differ from past seasons. In the past, Dallas has touted an offense that can run up the score for many seasons as it was led by all-time Maverick great Dirk Nowitzki and head coach Rick Carlisle. Most of the Mavs wins would come in high scoring shoot outs, depending upon Dirk & Co. to score at an extremely high rate.

In the 2016-17 season, Dallas will present a roster that can defend just about anyone in the league. Led by top notch defenders Andrew Bogut, Wesley Matthews, Harrison Barnes, and even you studs Justin Anderson, Salah Mejri, and Quincy Acy, the Mavs should have one of the best defensive units in the NBA.

However, question marks now surround the Mavs offense.

The Big German is another year older, Deron Williams is no longer capable of carrying an offensive load, and Harrison Barnes will in all likelihood have some growing pains with his new offensive role. Nowitzki is still an elite shooter and can create spacing and opportunities with his post up game. Williams will find a way to get to the whole and dish for a few threes, but that will not be enough to keep up with the high powered Western Conference teams.

Coach Carlisle will be looking for new ways to create offense, and Wesley Matthews post up game may be an answer.

Matthews was underwhelming offensively in his first season with Dallas, however his struggles are understandable given the fact that he was still recovering from a ruptured Achilles injury the prior season.  Now, the Iron Man is fully healthy and ready to increase his workload.

Wes’ best aspect on the offensive end no doubt his three point shooting. As slasher and paint scorer he isn’t as effective, and likely it won’t be a big facet of his game. However, one overlooked aspect of his playbook is his ability to post up.

Posting up is an old fashioned way to score in today’s NBA. As we head towards position-less lineups and long range shooting big men, it is even more rare among guards. Conventionally posting up is reserved for Centers and Power Forwards who tower over everyone else. However, Wesley Matthews is 6’5″ with broad shoulders, and can use his size on smaller defenders the same way a center might use his size.

We saw Matthews’ post up game utilized some last year, but not often enough if you ask me. It is an underrated part of his game, and in an offense that will be needing to conjure ways to create spacing and opportunities, there are far worse options. It is a good way to make the Iron Man more effective without asking him to do things he’s not as comfortable doing, not to mention it will put him at the foul line often.

Next: 5 Expectations for the Dallas Mavericks This Season

Look for Rick Carlisle to use all of Matthews’ talents, as he finds new creative ways to make the Mavs machine work.