Mavericks' daring preseason goal could turn the NBA Finals into their destiny

After a long wait, the Dallas Mavericks finally tipped off preseason basketball with a dominant win over the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week. Fans not only got to see the spectacle of this year's new look Mavericks squad, but all eyes were on Cooper Flagg, and he didn't disappoint.

In limited time on the floor, Flagg finished with an impressive 10-point and six rebound performance, where he even poured in a few dishes, which could transform Dallas' offense. While one of the Mavericks' paths to success hinges on their offense and how easily they can space the floor, the reality of Dallas' season is that it truly hinges on the team's defense and whether or not they can be in the top three in defensive efficiency.

In order for the Mavericks to sniff any sort of regular-season success to achieve a playoff berth once again and potentially make a push all the way to the NBA Finals, they must be one of the league leaders on the defensive end, and it starts with the frontcourt. Players like Max Christie know best that it will take a full team effort, but the Mavericks' season truly hinges on how bought in every player can be on the defensive side of the ball.

Mavericks' defensive identity could define the season

In a postgame press conference, Christie was asked about the Mavericks' defensive identity and whether or not the team's season could hinge on their defensive success.

“We set that goal at the beginning of training camp, we said we want to be the best defensive team in the league, at least top three at worst," Christie said. "We definitely have the personnel to do it."

Not only do Christie's comments confirm that the Mavericks' main focus will be on the defensive side of the ball this season, but he essentially says the Mavericks have the perfect personnel to be one of the league's top defensive teams. Having Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg headline your perimeter and front court can easily be a recipe for success, but it also must hinge on the team's bench unit, and even still, the Mavericks have some solid depth to back up Christie's argument.

Not only will the Mavericks be relying on their star players for their defensive depth, but if the Mavericks truly want to surprise the league as a standalone team, Christie must emerge as a viable starting or even sixth man option off the bench. Christie possesses all the skills to be a great two-way guard, and if the Mavericks are truly buying in on the defensive side of the ball, adding Christie to Jason Kidd's rotation may not be a bad option.

Christie also mentioned that the Mavericks discussed being the league leader in defense during training camp, and that is their goal. While it's easy to say that your goal is to lead the league in defensive percentage, the Mavericks truly do have an opportunity to back up their words this coming season.

In just their first preseason game against the Thunder, Dallas proved that they could not only be a force with their speed and strength, but that they would be a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end. There's no doubt that the Mavericks played against a lesser Thunder squad, but regardless of the personnel, the Mavericks proved they can surprise many doubters and be one of the most fierce teams on the defensive side of the hoop.