The Dallas Mavericks have moved up one spot to No. 22 in the latest NBA power rankings despite a 4-10 record. The team's recent firing of general manager Nico Harrison and strong play from rookie Cooper Flagg have sparked optimism. They split overtime games against the Clippers and Trail Blazers over the weekend.
The Dallas Mavericks are showing signs of improvement amid a challenging season. With a 4-10 record, the team fired general manager Nico Harrison, a move made more than nine months after trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers. This decision has improved team vibes, as noted in NBA.com writer John Schuhmann's power rankings.
Schuhmann highlighted the Mavericks' recent performance: "The Mavs listened to their fans and fired Nico Harrison a little more than nine months after he traded Luka Dončić to the Lakers. The vibes are better and so was the basketball over the weekend, with the Mavs splitting a pair of overtime games against the Clippers and Blazers."
The Mavericks secured a win over the Trail Blazers on Sunday, marking the start of a busy stretch of five games in seven days. They face a rest disadvantage against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night, with a home-heavy schedule continuing.
Rookie Cooper Flagg delivered his best game of the season in a two-point loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, scoring 26 points. His highlights included an impressive spin move and tough finish over Giannis Antetokounmpo, tying the game with less than 30 seconds left. Flagg has shot 57.4% in the paint but maintains an effective field goal percentage of just 36.9% on shots outside the paint, the fifth-biggest differential among 97 players with at least 50 field goal attempts both in and outside the paint.
Teams trailing the Mavericks in the rankings include the Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards. As Flagg continues to develop, the Mavericks look toward a brighter future post-Harrison era.