5 things Mavericks must do to become title contenders after Kyrie Irving trade

What Dallas Mavericks must do to become title contenders: 4. Sink open shots

The Mavs attempt the third-most 3-pointers per game this season at 40.6, and that number is up to 41.5 since Kyrie Irving’s first game on Feb. 8. Dallas is going to take a ton of wide-open 3-pointers as Luka Doncic and Irving get into the paint and spray out shooters against a collapsing defense.

Since the trade, Dallas is shooting 41.8 percent from 3-point range. Having two elite playmakers and space creators gives the Mavericks a massive advantage. They always have a superstar on the floor to bend the defense, and two to open and close games.

For the season, the Mavs are tenth in 3-point percentage at 36.7 percent, and they need to be there or better to maximize their offense. Reggie Bullock, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, and Justin Holiday are all going to be asked to be catch-and-shoot options. They need to sink those shots and keep the defense honest, so Doncic and Irving can get easy buckets inside.

The Dallas Mavericks will live and die by their outside shooting. When they are making their shots, they can defeat any team in the league. The addition of Kyrie should limit their downside when the jumpers are not falling, but it is something to watch closely down the stretch.