3 studs, 2 duds from Mavericks' disappointing preseason loss to Timberwolves

4. Dud - Dwight Powell

Dwight Powell is known by some Mavericks fans as being a 'saloon door' on defense. Powell was the epitome of that against the Timberwolves today, unfortunately. Powell obviously isn't just a complete albatross on defense as he has an extremely high motor, but his inability to flip his hips on defense and stay vertical whilst contesting shots at the rim definitely hurt Dallas today.

Powell may not fall victim to the same rookie mistakes that Dereck Lively II struggled with such as being out of position, but he's been in Dallas long enough for us to know that his defense has limitations to it.

Given the fact that Minnesota had two dynamic bigs offensively attacking Powell in Karl-AnthonyTowns and Naz Reid, it's no surprise that the pairing combined for 36 points on 14-of-30 shooting with Powell defending both of them respectively for decent stretches throughout the game.

Dwight didn't look terrible on the offensive side of the ball, but he didn't really have many opportunities to score outside of a few rolls and slips to the rim that he found himself open upon.

Powell also missed a wide-open left-handed layup in the first half, and while it's just one play in the preseason, rudimentary mistakes will have to be avoided on a consistent basis if Powell wants to plant himself above Richaun Holmes and Lively II in the Mavs' center rotation.