5 Massive strengths, 5 weaknesses for Mavericks heading into playoffs

3. Strength: Playoff experience

The Dallas Mavericks have certainly gotten younger this season, as the team now has a much more fair composition of younger and older players compared to in the 2022-23 season. The average age of the Mavericks this season is 26.6-years-old, compared to 28.4-years-old in the 2022-23 season.

However, just cause the Mavericks are marginally younger now, does not mean that this team lacks Playoff experience as we head toward the postseason. Dallas is obviously spearheaded by Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, both of whom have a ton of Playoff experience even though Doncic just turned 25 years old in February. We all know how much Irving has been able to step up in the most crucial moments since he’s been with the Mavericks, but this is obviously nothing new to Irving as he’s come through in the clutch in plenty of deep Playoff runs and runs to the NBA Finals.

Dallas doesn’t just have playoff experience, but they have two players in Irving and Doncic who have both come up huge in multiple playoff series, something that a team such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves lack in comparison to Dallas for instance. The Mavericks are battle-tested without a doubt, but they still have a few players who are getting their first big moments in the playoffs such as P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II.

Everyone else on the Mavericks barring some of the rookies and two-way players have playoff experience, but Dallas’ poise in tight situations will certainly need to come from Irving and Doncic, as their experience in leading a team at the highest level is truly invaluable for this Mavericks’ roster.

The Mavericks’ playoff experience is certainly a strength despite it not being completely idealistic, so it’s something that the Mavericks will need to hang their hat on when the postseason finally arrives.