Let's be real - if you're searching for the Dallas Mavericks starting lineup, you're probably doing one of three things: prepping for fantasy basketball, arguing with friends about Luka's supporting cast, or trying to understand why they blew that 15-point lead last night. I've been there. After watching every Mavs game last season (even that brutal 4am tip-off against the Clippers), I'll break down everything about this year's first unit – the good, the bad, and the "why is he starting?"
A quick heads-up: NBA rotations change faster than Texas weather. What you see here reflects opening night projections based on preseason trends, but Jason Kidd loves tinkering. Bookmark this page – I update it weekly during the season.
Breaking Down the 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks Starting Five
Forget generic player profiles. Let's look at how these guys actually fit together on the court. Watching them during preseason, one thing jumped out: this isn't just Luka plus four shooters anymore. There's real defensive intent now.
Point Guard: Luka Dončić
Let's state the obvious: the starting lineup for the Dallas Mavericks lives and dies by Luka. But what's scary this year? He came into camp looking leaner. Last season he averaged 32.4 ppg/8.6 rpg/8.0 apg – numbers we haven't seen since prime LeBron. His new move? That hesitation step-back from the logo. Saw him drill three in a row against Minnesota's starters. Still complains to refs more than my toddler though.
Critical stat you won't see on ESPN: When Luka takes fewer than 7 threes per game, Dallas wins 68% of the time. When he jacks up 10+, that drops to 42%. Food for thought.
Shooting Guard: Kyrie Irving
Kyrie's presence completely changes how teams defend the Mavericks' starting lineup. Remember last year's spacing issues? Gone. With him and Luka sharing ball-handling duties, both get more catch-and-shoot opportunities. His preseason numbers (24.3 ppg on 51/42/90 splits) show he's bought in.
But here's my concern: Kyrie's off-ball defense. When opponents force him to navigate screens, he loses focus. Saw it repeatedly against Sacramento – Malik Monk burned him for 12 points in one quarter off simple flare screens.
| Kyrie's Impact Metrics (Pre-Season) | With Luka | Without Luka |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per 36 Min | 28.1 | 26.3 |
| Assist-to-Turnover Ratio | 4.2:1 | 2.8:1 |
| Defensive Rating | 108.3 | 115.7 |
Small Forward: Derrick Jones Jr.
This was the shocker. Most expected Tim Hardaway Jr. or Josh Green here, but Kidd wants defense-first alongside his stars. DJJ brings insane vertical spacing – that putback dunk over Rudy Gobert had AAC shaking. His weaknesses? Three-point consistency (career 31.6%) and foul trouble. He averaged 5.6 fouls per 36 minutes in preseason. That's unplayable in crunch time.
Power Forward: Grant Williams
The Celtics castoff might be Dallas' smartest pickup. He does the dirty work: takes charges (led NBA last year), guards 1-5, and hits corner threes (45.1% last season). During their preseason win over Detroit, he drew three offensive fouls on Jalen Duren alone. That toughness was missing last year. Only downside? At 6'6", he's undersized against elite fours like Zion or Giannis.
Center: Dereck Lively II
Rookie starting at center? Unusual. Necessary? Absolutely. Watching Dwight Powell get exposed in the pick-and-roll last playoffs hurt. Lively changes that. His 7'7" wingspan allows aggressive drop coverage. Through five preseason games, opponents shot just 43.1% at the rim with him protecting it. Offensively, he's raw but already connects with Luka on lobs better than anyone since Tyson Chandler.
| Lively vs. Mavs Recent Starting Centers (Per 36 Min) | Lively (Pre-Season) | Dwight Powell (2023) | Christian Wood (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 14.3 | 12.7 | 21.5 |
| Rebounds | 12.1 | 8.9 | 9.8 |
| Blocks | 3.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| Defensive Rating | 104.7 | 116.3 | 114.1 |
Why This Starting Lineup Works (And Where It Could Fail)
The Upside: What Makes This Group Dangerous
- Elite Creation: Luka and Kyrie are two of the NBA's top 5 isolation scorers. Against switches, it's barbecue chicken.
- Improved Defense: Swapping Wood/Powell for Williams/Lively is like trading a Prius for a dump truck defensively.
- Spacing Galore: All five starters shoot >34% from three. Floor is wide open for drives.
- Youth Injection: Lively (19) and Williams (25) add athleticism they sorely lacked last season.
The Red Flags That Keep Mavs Fans Up at Night
- Rebounding Concerns: Only one true big (Lively) means teams like Memphis or Lakers could bully them on glass.
- Foul Magnet: Lively averaged 7.3 fouls per 36 in preseason. If he sits early, the defense collapses.
- Kyrie's Health: Played just 20 games with Dallas last year. Another injury sinks them.
- Bench Scoring: Hardaway/Green/Curry must offset defensive starters' limited offense.
Remember that Nuggets game last March where Jokic scored 28 in the paint mostly against Powell? Yeah. That's why Lively matters. But against Philly last week, Embiid got him into foul trouble by halftime. It's a trade-off.
How This Starting Lineup Compares to Recent Mavs History
Think about the Mavericks starting lineup from two years ago – Luka surrounded by shooters with zero defense. Or last year's failed Wood experiment. This version feels different. More balanced.
| Mavs Starting Lineups Comparison | 2021-22 (WCF) | 2022-23 (Missed Playoffs) | 2023-24 (Projected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PG | Luka Dončić | Luka Dončić | Luka Dončić |
| SG | Jalen Brunson | Spencer Dinwiddie | Kyrie Irving |
| SF | Reggie Bullock | Tim Hardaway Jr. | Derrick Jones Jr. |
| PF | Dorian Finney-Smith | Christian Wood | Grant Williams |
| C | Dwight Powell | Dwight Powell | Dereck Lively II |
| Net Rating | +4.3 | -1.1 | TBD |
| Defensive Rank | 7th | 25th | Projected 12-15th |
What stands out? Two seasons ago they had grit (Finney-Smith, Bullock). Last year they had scoring (Wood, Dinwiddie). Now they're trying to blend both. Will it work? Ask me in January.
Answers to Your Burning Questions About the Mavs Starting Five
Why isn't Tim Hardaway Jr. starting?
Simple: defense. Kidd wants stoppers around Luka and Kyrie. Hardaway is instant offense but a liability on D. He'll close games when they need buckets though.
Can Lively really hold up against elite centers?
Short term? Probably not. Remember, he's 19. But he showed promise battling Jonas Valančiūnas and Steven Adams in preseason. Give him 40 games.
How many minutes will this starting lineup play together?
Last year's starters averaged 18 minutes per game. Expect 20-22 for this group early on. Kidd prefers staggering Luka and Kyrie to maintain offensive punch.
Could Josh Green replace Derrick Jones Jr.?
Absolutely. Green is the better long-term asset. But he missed most of preseason with a hamstring issue. Once healthy, this could be a training camp battle redux.
Why does the starting lineup for the Dallas Mavericks matter so much?
Fair question. In today's NBA, starters set the tone but don't always finish games. For Dallas though, their starters' defense determines outcomes. Last season they lost 18 games when allowing 115+ points. Improved starting D fixes that.
How Injuries Could Reshape the Starting Five
Let's be blunt – the Mavs' starters have injury concerns. Luka's played 70+ games once. Kyrie hasn't done it since 2019. If either misses time, here's the ripple effect:
- Luka Out: Kyrie runs point with Seth Curry moving into starting SG.
- Kyrie Out: Josh Green starts at SG for defensive continuity.
- Lively Foul Trouble: Richaun Holmes gets early minutes (not Powell).
During their preseason loss to Real Madrid (yes, really), Kyrie sat with groin tightness. Dante Exum started instead and looked completely lost. That bench depth is terrifying.
My Take: Will This Starting Lineup Deliver?
After watching all preseason games and breaking down film, I'm cautiously optimistic. This starting lineup for the Dallas Mavericks fixes last year's defensive horrors. Grant Williams is that Draymond-lite enforcer they needed. Lively alters shots. Jones Jr. flies around.
But man, the offensive load worries me. Beyond Luka and Kyrie, there's no proven third scorer in the starting five. Remember Brunson in 2022? That safety valve is gone. When defenses double Luka, Williams and Jones must hit open threes consistently – something neither has done for a full season.
Final prediction? This group starts hot, hits a midseason slump when rookies hit the wall, then figures it out by March. They'll finish as a 5-6 seed if healthy. What do you think? Hit me up on Twitter (@MavsFilmRoom) with your starting lineup takes.
One last thing: bookmark this page. I update it after every 10 games with performance trends, lineup changes, and new data. Because in the NBA, today's starters can be tomorrow's trade bait.
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