Dallas Mavericks on pace to lead league in crucial stat after wild offseason

Last season, the Dallas Mavericks had one of the top 10 offenses in the league. The team was led by all-stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who combined to average 59.5 points per game. Doncic was a big part of the team's offensive success, pouring in a league-high 33.9 points per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field.

One big part of their high scoring was their 3-point shooting. The team shot 36.9 percent during the season, ranking 13th in the league. However, they ranked second in 3-point attempts, averaging 39.5 per game, and made the third-most threes per game with 14.6.

The team averaged 117.9 points per game. They were the seventh highest-scoring team in the league, behind teams like the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets.

Things changed in the playoffs, especially in the Western Conference semi-finals and finals. For example, in Game 6 of the semi-finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Mavs shot 47.1 percent from the 3-point line. In the Western Conference Finals, Dallas knocked down 44.1 percent of their long-range attempts in a closeout Game 5.

Mavericks on pace to lead NBA in 3-point makes per game

Dallas however ran into a shooting slump during the NBA Finals. The Mavs went 7-27 on threes during Game 1, as Doncic and Irving failed to get anything going. In the team's elimination game, things stayed the same. Dallas shot 29.7 percent on threes in Game 5 and failed to convert their open attempts. Their long-range misses were the main reason the team fell short of their ultimate goal.

Their lack of a third-scoring option also doomed Dallas in the finals. Newcomers like Klay Thompson though could help solve the team's postseason woes and help them take the crown from the Celtics of making the most 3-pointers per game.

The former splash brother shot 38.7 percent from the 3-point line last season. This isn't bad for a player, who shot 41.3 percent for his career.

It's no question Thompson is one of the top 3-point shooters. He ranks sixth all-time behind players like Reggie Miller, a player he is expected to pass this season. Thompson even mentioned Miller in his jersey number switch with Dallas. This would be a huge accomplishment if he were to pass him.

Thompson has shown he can still play at a high level. He shot 43.7 percent from long range during the final month of the season, as he had multiple games where he shot 50 percent or higher. His presence alone is going to create great 3-point shooting opportunities for everyone else around him due to hiss off-ball gravity.

Other acquisitions like Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes could help elevate the Mavs' 3-point shooting. While both players are known as defensive specialists, they too could become elite long-range threats while playing next to Doncic and Irving.

For example, Derrick Jones Jr.'s replacement, Naji Marshall could become a more complete 3-point shooter than Jones Jr. was. Last season, Marshall shot a career-high 38.7 percent from long range. He played well during the Pelicans' final two games of the postseason. In Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he converted four of his seven 3-point attempts. The game prior Marshall shot 50 percent from downtown.

Grimes too could improve the Mavs' shooting. He was a top 3-point specialist before injuries took a toll. In his first NBA season, Grimes shot 38.1 percent from the 3-point line, The following season he made 38.6 percent of his attempts. Last season, he had his best game on December 11 against the Toronto Raptors. He shot 71.4 percent from behind the 3-point line in the game and made five of his seven attempts.

Marshall and Grimes could end up being steals for Dallas, assuming they stay injury-free and continue performing at a high level. They are both known as good 3-point shooters, and their presence on the floor combined with the shooting excellence of Thompson, Doncic, and Irving should help make them the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA.

Dallas seems to have all intangibles to lead the league in 3-point shooting. Thompson will be a huge step up, as he could drastically improve the team's catch-and-shoot attempts.

The team had multiple players shot above 35 percent from the 3-point line last season. It's highly probable that with the new additions, the Mavs' long-range shooting could help the team become one of the deadliest offenses in the league.

October 24 can't come soon enough for Mavs fans.