Breaking down how the Mavericks can have a perfect season next year

What would a perfect season look like?

As I mentioned on the first slide, a perfect season doesn't mean 82-0. Last season's runner-up, the Miami Heat, were nowhere near perfect in the regular season but advanced to the NBA Finals.

A perfect season would theoretically be a top-three finish in the West, and a deep playoff run, perhaps a Finals appearance.

The Mavericks were recently ranked as the eighth-best team in the West in ESPN's Power Rankings. The teams ahead of Dallas have some merit, but as the upcoming season unfolds, the Mavs' ranking will be clearer.

Dallas currently has more questions than answers with their roster. However, the pieces have been put in place for success.

As for individual contributions, a perfect season for each player will look very different of course. First off, Luka Doncic would need to turn in another magnificent season, potentially on the path to his first MVP.

If all goes accordingly, Kyrie Irving would provide Doncic with his first more-than-capable co-star and go on to be an All-Star. Next, the supporting cast would work together as an efficient and cohesive unit.

Youngsters, Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, Dereck Lively II, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper would produce for Dallas. A perfect season for Green and Hardy would be averaging more than ten points per game and affecting the game beyond the box score.

Green's improvement would be on the offensive end, but his defensive contributions wouldn't go unnoticed on a perfect Mavs team. Establishing himself as the starting small forward and a starting, NBA-caliber wing would be ideal.

Hardy is the Green antithesis, a score-first sparkplug who shoots early and often. Cleaning up his shot selection and providing some playmaking would be an improvement for Hardy. Any showing of plus defense would be the cherry on top.

After drafting two relatively raw prospects in the draft, the Mavs coaching staff might not expect much immediately from Lively II or Prosper. If either of the two rookies are able to come out the gate strong, then the quintessential season would have already begun.

The supporting cast must continue to provide shooting and defense around Doncic and Irving. And luckily for Dallas, they have the supporting cast to do such a thing.

Tim Hardaway Jr. and Seth Curry must provide efficient and reliable shooting from distance. Shooting above 40% from beyond the arc is a prerequisite.

Grant Williams must yield shooting while defending the opponent's toughest wings and forwards. Taking his game to another level by providing consistent scoring and defense for a full season is essential.

And finally, the bigs. No one big man really stands out in the Dallas rotation. Here, a collective performance must materialize.

Dallas knows it won't get Nikola Jokic production, or even DeAndre Ayton production from Richaun Holmes, Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, JaVale McGee, or Lively II. But if these centers can combine to affect the game in a positive way on both ends of the floor, then many of Dallas's weaknesses would be diminished.

In conclusion, a perfect season for a team like the Dallas Mavericks isn't too far-fetched. However, individual improvements must be counted on by young players. And, pressure must be taken off Doncic for this Mavs team to perform above expectations.