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

What Dallas Mavericks must do to become title contenders: 1. Elite offense

The Mavs' defensive struggles are well-documented, so they are going to have to outscore the opposition. Dallas has all the makings of an elite offense, but consistently being one is always easier said than done.

They had the best offensive rating in the league with Luka Doncic on the floor before the trade. The Mavericks had the worst offense when number 77 went to the bench. They are currently sixth in offensive rating for the season, but fourth since Feb. 8.

Kyrie Irving will run the offense when Doncic needs a rest, and he should keep things rolling. Dallas just went on a massive run to open the fourth quarter to blow out the Spurs on Feb. 23. Before the trade, the Mavs were just trying to survive the non-Luka minutes, but now they have a chance to dominate them.

The Dallas Mavericks must have a top-five offense if they want to contend for a title this season, and they need to keep scoring in the postseason when defenses stiffen. It won’t be easy, but they do not have enough defense on the perimeter or interior to have it any other way.

Will the Mavericks become title contenders? How do Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving mesh down the stretch? Dallas promises to be one of the most interesting teams in the NBA, so please stay tuned to see how it all shakes out.