5 things the Dallas Mavericks need to improve to get back on track

Thing Dallas Mavericks must improve to get back on track: 3. Rebounding

The Mavs are the worst rebounding team in the NBA through 18 games, and their numbers are even worse over the last five. Dallas plays at a slow pace, but they are still 29th in rebound percentage and 28th over their most recent five contests.

Their woes on the glass stand out in games like Saturday’s. The Raptors grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, and they had 25 second-chance points. In a game the Mavericks lost by five, giving Toronto 15 additional field goal attempts and 20 extra second-chance points proved to be the difference.

The Mavs struggled on the glass during their run to the conference finals. They were outrebounded in nearly every postseason game, but they overcame it with 3-point shooting. Those jumpers are not falling and Dallas cannot overcome their rebounding woes any other way.

The front office added Christian Wood and JaVale McGee to help solve their issues on the glass, but it has not worked out. McGee has gone from starting to the fringes of the rotation, and Wood alone is not saving the Mavs. It will be interesting to see if Dallas attempts to solve their rebounding issues before the trade deadline.