Sergio De Larrea is already putting Mavericks' backup point guard debate to bed

While it's only preseason and there's still plenty of time for things to change, Sergio De Larrea is making a strong case to be the Dallas Mavericks' backup point guard come opening night. The 20-year-old Spanish guard is one of three true point guards on the roster between himself, Marcus Sasser, and Kyrie Irving, and Sasser missed both of Dallas' first two preseason games due to left adductor soreness.

Meanwhile, De Larrea put forth two very impressive games against the Houston Rockets in Macao, China. He played close to 25 minutes in both contests, totaling 20 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists, while shooting 7-for-13 from the field and 4-for-6 from outside. His versatility as a bigger-bodied guard was on full display in these two games, and his vision in the half-court proved to be a huge asset for the Mavericks.

Sergio De Larrea is proving he should be Dallas No. 2 PG in early action

De Larrea still has to prove he can perform like this once the intensity kicks up with regular-season action, but it cannot be denied how impressive he's looked since being traded to Dallas on draft night. He also had a decent Summer League, and he's knocking down 3-pointers at a higher rate than most analysts expected at the start of his career.

He also hasn't been a pushover on defense, as he totaled three steals in Dallas' two games in Macao. He has good size at the point of attack and quick hands, even if he's not a grade-A athlete who is going to change games defensively. Keeping turnovers down will be key for him, but his prowess as a passer is one of his most intriguing attributes of his game so far.

There's still optimism for Sasser, as he profiles as a better shooter off the bounce compared to De Larrea, but Sergio's playmaking, defense, and rebounding are attributes Dallas isn't necessarily getting from the rest of their guard corps. Nothing is final, and Dusty May will probably treat Dallas' backup point guard spot fluidly depending on the game, but Larry has put himself in the driver's seat over Sasser as things stand.

It'll be interesting to see if De Larrea can keep this up

De Larrea is undoubtedly one of the biggest swing players on Dallas' roster, as him playing more like a lottery pick compared to the No. 25 pick could really elevate Dallas' second unit. It cannot be understated how sorely the Mavericks lack playmaking and shot creation behind Irving on paper, as De Larrea has no actual NBA experience yet, and Sasser was buried in the Detroit Pistons' rotation over the last couple of seasons.

However, if De Larrea continues to play at this level and is as effective a shooter as he's shown in preseason once the real action kicks off, Dallas is going to have a lot more juice when Irving is resting or off the court. This could be the type of thing that takes the Mavericks from a good to great offense, and it's a very important development considering Dallas lacks first-round picks over the next couple of years.

Sasser is going to have a say in the minutes distribution between him and De Larrea once he returns to the court, as the 25-year-old Dallas native is probably eager to prove himself in the rotation of his hometown NBA team, but Mavericks fans unfortunately haven't even got to see him yet, while De Larrea has shone in limited action.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow