Mavericks: Courtney Lee would play more on most other teams

Shooting

Courtney Lee has not missed many shots this season. He is shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 46.7 percent on his 3-pointers this season. It is a small sample size, though.

Lee is an outstanding range shooter. Over the last four seasons combined, he has hit 39.7 percent of his 632 3-point attempts.

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The veteran has averaged 16.9 minutes per playing in six of the last eight games for Dallas, and he is firing three threes each night.

Fans know the value placed on shooting around the NBA. The Rockets are shooting 44.1 3-pointers per game. The Pacers are 30th trying 27.8 each night which would have led the league in 2014.

Lee is a valuable floor spacer in any offense because he does not command the ball.

Defense

Coach Carlisle started him on opening night because of his past success guarding Bradley Beal. Lee has proven to be a positive on the defensive end. His defensive box score plus/minus sits at 1.2 which is fourth on the team. He also has a positive defensive win shares.

Fans may remember Lee blocking Trae Young on a drive in the game against the Hawks on Feb. 22. The play shows he is capable of defending on the perimeter and staying with one of the league’s top scorers.

Next: Veteran presence