Breaking Down Dallas Mavericks' Power Forward Position for 2014-15 Season
The Dallas Mavericks have enjoyed the luxury of retaining one of the best power forwards in the history of basketball for well over a decade now. However, Dirk Nowitzki is not getting any younger, and the team's front office has actively looked to add frontcourt depth this summer.
Last year, excluding an injury-ridden 2012-13 campaign, Nowitzki averaged the least amount of minutes per game since he was a rookie. He managed to stay healthy, missing just two games, but head coach Rick Carlisle will most likely keep his 7-footer on a tighter leash moving forward.
The Mavericks' power forward production begins and ends with Nowitzki, which was the case more than ever last year. DeJuan Blair was the only true power forward on the roster other than the team's superstar, and he was still mostly used as a backup center.
Nowitzki was part of seven of the Mavericks' 10 most-used lineups, and the recently departed Shawn Marion was slotted in at the power forward position in the other three. While Marion could stretch the floor offensively and hold his own against bigger guys on the defensive end, having some more bulk up front wouldn't have hurt.
Carlisle has set himself an ambitious goal of trimming down Nowitzki's playing time to under 30 minutes this season, a proposal that would've been unfathomable just a year ago.
Just by being on the floor, Nowitkzi is able to pull defenses toward him like almost no other big man in the league. His smooth shooting touch, paired with an unguardable post game, forces opponents to make concessions.
This opens up space on the floor for his teammates, and Monta Ellis was obviously one of the biggest beneficiaries in that regard, as he formed an absolutely lethal pick-and-pop duo with Nowitzki upon landing in Dallas a year ago.
Guys like Jae Crowder and Brandan Wright also managed to sneak their way into some of the most effective and balanced Dallas lineups next to Nowitzki last year.
In fact, a perplexing lineup featuring those three players, along with Devin Harris and Vince Carter, put up both an offensive and a defensive efficiency that would have led the league by a large margin, via NBA.com.
Things won't really change in that the 36-year-old German will remain the most important power forward on this roster, but this summer's acquisitions are meant to release some of the pressure that rests on his shoulders.
2014-15 Power Forward Outlook
Nowitzki should hover somewhere around 30 minutes per game this year, which means there will be approximately 18 minutes up for grabs in his position. While Marion, who filled most of those minutes, is gone, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban rolled up his sleeves and brought in a group of players to fill the void.
Chandler Parsons was the big-name signing this summer, and he is expected to see some time at the power forward position. He has put on weight in order to hold his ground against bigger guys defensively and should make the trade-off worthwhile by being a nightmare matchup offensively.
Playing small ball in the right setting has become increasingly more popular in the NBA, and having a mobile stretch-4 on your roster gives you the freedom to do just that. Parsons' ability to put the ball on the floor, pass and shoot threes will give Carlisle a unique weapon he hasn't had in a while.
The 6'9" Parsons will obviously start at the small forward position, but will certainly be part of some lineups without Nowitzki, and his young legs can carry a heavy minute-load. It's questionable whether he can defend bigger guys as well as Marion could, but he will provide a more versatile threat on the other end in return.
Even though Parsons looks good as a stretch 4 on paper, he will still have to adjust to the position, as he rarely played at power forward with the Houston Rockets last season.
Al-Farouq Aminu is another summer acquisition that is very interesting.
He is a tenacious rebounder, and it's not out of the question that he also steps in and plays some power forward. The fact that he doesn't have a reliable three-point shot is somewhat detrimental, but he can still abuse slower big men with his speed and athleticism on cuts, which is something Carlisle will likely tinker with.
The Mavericks have also made it a point of emphasis to replace the departed Blair. Ivan Johnson is perhaps one of the most visually intimidating players in the league, and while he doesn't have a refined offensive game, he will add some bulk in the frontcourt.
Johnson isn't a great shooter, and his game mostly revolves around the rim, but he did show an ability to knock down open shots at the top of the key in his two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. If he can become even more consistent with his mid-range game, he could potentially crack the rotation. He is a great physical presence and hustles a lot, which is how he initially earned his first NBA contract at the age of 27.
Another late addition to Dallas' preseason roster was Charlie Villanueva. His career was on a steady decline in his five years with the Detroit Pistons, and the Mavericks offered him what could be one of his last chances to play meaningful NBA basketball.
Villanueva was only guaranteed an equal opportunity to fight for a roster spot in the month leading up to the regular season, and he appears to be taking full advantage. He is putting up 10.7 points and three rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game his first three preseason showings.
It's not hard to point out what Villanueva does well. He has a quick shot release and can stretch the floor, but he is on a team where other guys can do that as well. The 6'11" forward will need to prove that he can maintain a high level of play on both ends if he wants to make the team's roster and eventually crack the rotation.
Closing Thoughts
The power forward position is certainly an interesting one for the Mavericks this year. We know the team will thrive with Nowitzki on the floor, as his mere presence will continue to tantalize defenses around the league.
The biggest challenge for Carlisle will be to construct lineups that remain efficient offensively. Dallas' offense was 4.3 points per 100 possessions worse without Nowitzki on the floor last season. It's a major dropoff, which is understandable for a player of his caliber, but it's a gap that the Mavericks will hope to bridge this year.
Having Parsons carrying the offense as a stretch 4 with Nowitzki on the bench is an interesting proposition. They will obviously start, and most likely finish, games together, but it's quite plausible that Carlisle will attempt to keep the two players apart a little more to find a suitable balance.
As mentioned, Nowitzki was terrific in some funky lineups in 2013-14, and maintaining a consistent level for 48 minutes is the most important thing in the regular season.
What kind of roles Johnson, Villanueva and Aminu might potentially carve out as power forwards remains to be seen, but Carlisle will be able to get a whole lot more creative this season.
You can follow me on Twitter: @VytisLasaitis
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