Dallas Mavericks: What Opponents Should Fear the Most

The Dallas Mavericks were once a team that struck fear into each opponent that walked onto the court, but those days are past now.  Could this Mavs team bring a similar daunting task to those who play them each night?

In this month of October, focused on the tricks and the treats, the horrors and the nightmares, and the spooky holiday known as Halloween, it seemed right to talk a little bit about the scary things the Dallas Mavericks present to the league this season.

When it comes to the Dallas Mavericks over the last few seasons, fear was certainly not a word associated directly with the team. As much as many of the fans have loved the play of O.J. Mayo, Monta Ellis, and Chandler Parsons, it never struck a fear in the heart of the opponents that Dallas faced.

This year, the Mavs were written off early once again with teams not thinking twice about who came to Dallas and what the strengths and weaknesses of the new roster are. That is going to change over the next few weeks.

The perception around the nation about the Mavericks is that they rely on great coaching and beating the beatable teams. This year, the team has new strengths, new weaknesses, and new playing styles.

So why should teams be afraid of this Mavericks team in particular?

To me, it all comes down to a level of toughness the Mavs look to bring to the court. With Andrew Bogut manning the middle, Harrison Barnes and Wesley Matthews locking down the wings, and key bench players like Justin Anderson, Salah Mejri, and Dwight Powell coming off the bench ready to make an impact, Dallas will not back down.

One of the things that the Dallas Mavericks championship team brought to the court was an attitude that no one wanted a piece of. If a player for the Mavs got picked on, Tyson Chandler had his back. If someone threw a punch, DeShawn Stevenson threw right back.

That never back down mentality may not always reflect in a record or on a scoreboard, but it shows when teams come to town. When these professionals know they are going to get beat up and knocked around for 48 minutes, they dread the flight to Dallas more than ever.

Aside from the aggression, Dallas has a coach. Like I mentioned earlier, Rick Carlisle knows how to max out a players potential. The youthful tenacity and energy this team has is going to be a weapon for Coach Carlisle. A dangerous one.

If Dallas utilizes this tool, teams are not going to know what to expect on any given night. Even though the core of the team is still old, the youth around them will make up for it. Youthfulness and attitude are a great combination.

The Golden State Warriors mastered this combo, especially with vocal leader, Draymond Green. Green may not be the best player on the court, but he is capable of getting in heads and taking advantage. This is what the Mavs need to do.

Anderson is turning into a vocal leader everyday, while Dirk continues to keep tempers from rising. This is a great combination for the Mavs and could prove very helpful.

Next: 4 New Mavs Who Will Contribute This Season

The Mavs may not be the most dangerous team this year, but they are going to be scary. Keep an eye out for the new players and the bolstered defense this season. It could be a spooky night when opponents look across the court at the Dallas Mavericks.