The Dallas Mavericks have high expectations this season with Anthony Davis now in the mix.
The Dallas Mavericks are expected to compete for an NBA Championship with a fully healthy Anthony Davis.
The Mavericks have a strong roster around Davis, including the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft Cooper Flagg.
Kyrie Irving will be out until at least January with an ACL injury, but the Mavericks are still hoping that they can remain competitive without him.
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty ImagesJohn Hollinger questions Anthony Davis being used as a power forward
Davis spent most of his time at the center position with the Los Angeles Lakers, despite his preference to play the power forward position.
Upon arriving to Dallas, Davis slid back to the four spot with the Mavericks having centers in Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford.
However, John Hollinger questioned if Davis playing the four with the Mavericks is the right call.
“They are so bought into the fiction that Davis is a four and the thing that breaks that down is he’s just not that threatening a shooter, and people just don’t, aren’t worried about him from there.
“And that’s why if Dereck Lively is the rim runner, or Gafford is the rim runner, like they’re just not that worried about Davis on the perimeter.”
Zach Lowe agrees and says Anthony Davis is a five
Davis not playing the center position will relegate him outside of the basket.
Instead of playing around the rim finishing dunks and cleaning up instead, Davis at the four spot will be more of a spot-up guy, which is something Zach Lowe doesn’t want to see this season.
“Anthony Davis is a five… You want to spare him in the regular season and see what this behemoth lineup can do defensively and on the glass, fine, I get it.
“What you cannot do is then relegate Anthony Davis into a glorified spot-up guy 18 feet from the rim, where no-one spots up any more in the NBA.”
If the Mavericks are going to be contenders they need Davis to be at his best and it starts with how they utilize him this season.