Cooper Flagg's rookie season is sliding toward an outcome the Mavericks should fear

The Dallas Mavericks' season has been an up-and-down rollercoaster, as their most recent winning streak proves the notion that the team is a play-in team at best. This contrasts with what some experts predicted early on. Some analysts believed the Cooper Flagg era would get off to a hot start, as they expected the Mavs to be a top contender in the Western Conference when healthy.

Although the idea of Dallas being a title contender is almost out of the picture. Recently. Dallas got a wake-up on Friday when they suffered a 21-point defeat to the reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was a reality slap that proved Dallas is light-years away from contender status. The Mavs lack the roster construction and draft capital to be in the same category.

Not to mention, the team also suffered a pivotal 10-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers a week ago. It was the first time Flagg played against Luka Doncic, and Doncic's big game made fans grieve all over again. Plus, Dallas also saw the return of Anthony Davis, a player whom fans don't know how to feel about. Some believed the Mavs need to trade their big man, as his availability has been problematic ever since he arrived in Dallas.

Dallas is stuck in mediocrity at the worst possible time

Currently, the Mavericks have taken a step in the right direction. They have won four of their last five games and are just a half-game back from the final play-in spot held by the Portland Trail Blazers. Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg have both been major components of their recent success.

Davis has tallied two double-doubles and scored above 29 points in two of his last five games since his return. He was a key contributor in wins against the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets, two Western Conference contenders. It's no wonder the team has yet to take a clear stance on his trade status.

Flagg, on the other hand, has elevated his game. He has had a hot start to December, averaging 20.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game this month. It's obvious why he was awarded the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award in November. His increased production also played a role in helping Dallas beat some top contenders lately.

Both players mentioned above improved Dallas' defense, as the Mavs have become one of the best defensive teams in the league. The Mavericks currently have the third-best defensive rating and have made major strides, something Nico Harrison hoped to achieve. The former general manager traded a Doncic while using defense as an excuse. But in reality, this move placed Dallas in an awkward rebuilding mode.

As mentioned, Dallas is closing in on a play-in spot and is on the rise, with wins against the Nuggets and Rockets lately. Yet, losses to the Lakers and Thunder highlight the concept that the team is just a mid-level contender at best, and probably won't tank. The Mavericks are too good to tank, but not good enough to contend.

This means that if Flagg hopes to make the playoffs in his first season, it will likely have to start in the Play-In Tournament. The Mavs' recent surge has given fans hope, but not enough to entrust Dallas to make an NBA Finals run. This might disappoint fans who wanted to tank and get draft capital.

So, unfortunately for the tanking crowd, the team has shown they are good enough to make the playoffs at best. Dallas has an uphill battle if it hopes to make Flagg's rookie year a success, but all signs point to mid-level expectations, putting them in a controversial limbo. A rebuild seems unlikely, especially with Kyrie Irving possibly nearing a return, but the effectiveness of the Mavs' current strategy remains to be seen.