The presumed starting lineup for the Dallas Mavericksthis season was going to be Dennis Smith Jr. at point guard, either Wes Matthews or Seth Curry at shooting guard, Harrison Barnes at small forward, Dirk Nowitzki at power forward and Nerlens Noel at center. Head Coach Rick Carlisle is switching things up and going small, though:
Carlisle said he doesnt see Noel as the starting center. He said he plans on starting Dirk at center. He also said Noel is fine with that.
— Dwain Price (@DwainPrice) September 25, 2017
With Nowitzki moving over to center, Barnes will start at the 4:
Harrison Barnes says he has prepared his body to play power forward more this season. He is expected to start at PF with Dirk at center.
— Earl K. Sneed (@EarlKSneed) September 25, 2017
I don’t hate the idea of going small, but the Mavs absolutely do not have the personnel to do so successfully. Dirk Nowitzki is 39 years old. He was a bad defender in his prime. Now, he’s an atrocity on that end. Starting him at center, next to Barnes, is asking to be outrebounded by literally every NBA team.
This is an extraordinarily blatant tanking strategy.
Noel accepted his qualifying offer, worth $4.1 million, to stay with the Mavs for this season.