Mavericks' shooting overhaul still won't be enough to compete in the West

The Dallas Mavericks have tried desperately to solve their shooting woes from last season this offseason. The team added shooters like Tarik Biberovic and Sergio De Larrea through a trade and the draft, hoping their overseas talent would translate to NBA success. They could play a pivotal role off the bench as Dallas hopes they can increase their offensive production after winning 26 games a season ago.

They weren't the only additions to the roster, as Masai Ujiri looked to put more 3-point shooting around Cooper Flagg. Dallas also added proven NBA shooters like Marcus Sasser and Santi Aldama to fix the lingering issue. Their high-volume 3-point shooting should definitely benefit the Mavs, especially since they are both catch-and-shoot threats.

However, it's possible the new additions might not be enough to fix the team's glaring weakness. Health and consistency will make a huge difference if Dallas hopes to improve their offense, and the preseason didn't give fans much faith that this issue will be fixed.

Mavericks' new additions won't be enough

The Mavericks did well by adding shooters to counter their shooting struggles from last season. Each shooter they added brings their own flair, giving the team diverse shooting options.

Yet, the new additions might not be enough to solve Dallas’ shooting woes, and there's a chance that their long-range shooting holds them back once again.

De Larrea was the Mavs' best option during the preseason. The rookie was lights out in his first preseason game, knocking down all three of his three-point attempts. The 6-foot-6 guard shot 66.6 percent from beyond the arc during the preseason, quickly making a name for himself and showing Dusty May that he deserves to be in the rotation.

Availability and health remain concerns for multiple shooters

The other Mavericks have struggled to find their rhythm, though, with Biberovic being a prime example. During preseason, the Turkish sharpshooter endured a cold streak, shooting 1-for-9 from three against the New Orleans Pelicans last week.

The knockdown shooting that he was known for before coming to the NBA was, for the most part, nowhere to be seen.

Sasser and Aldama also have their own issues that could hinder their ability to help the Mavericks get back on track from beyond the arc. Mainly, their health has been the main concern since coming to Dallas. Sasser played a career-low 38 games last season because of a hip injury, while Aldama is recovering from knee surgery.

Their availability will be a huge question going into the season.

Dallas still doesn't have enough shooting to compete

On top of Dallas' injury concerns that are already brewing, they just don't have enough 3-point shooting. The Mavericks shot 32.4 percent from 3-point range during the preseason, which ranked 26th in the NBA. Despite shooting the fifth-most threes per game during the preseason, Dallas couldn't cash in their open looks.

The sharpshooters that they added this offseason don't seem like they'll be enough to push the Mavs over the hump, and after seeing how they played during preseason action, they have a long way to go before being a contender in the West.

Dallas is in the same conference as powerhouses like the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, and until the Mavericks can start making more of their long-range attempts, don't expect them to be able to keep up with these teams.

Mavericks' starting lineup doesn't provide many answers

It's unclear what the Mavs' starting lineup will look like on Wednesday for their first game against the Houston Rockets, and this game will be telling of whether the Mavs added enough shooting around their star duo. It's clear that Flagg and Kyrie Irving will get the nod, but other players are still in question.

While the starting shooting guard spot is up in the air, it seems likely that Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington will start in the frontcourt. Washington shot 32.5 percent from three last season, while Gafford has never made a 3-pointer in a regular-season game.

May must do whatever he can to put enough shooting around Flagg and Irving in order to space the floor, but if preseason is any indication of how they'll fare during the regular season, Dallas is not in a great spot. Poor 3-point shooting can lead to a team's downfall, as we saw with the Mavericks last season, and Dallas must take a step in the right direction in this department if they want to survive in a loaded Western Conference.

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