Mavs to training camp: Fish's '3 Must Go Rights' for Dallas to push for NBA Playoffs goal

Mavs to training camp: Fish's '3 Must Go Rights' for Dallas to push for NBA Playoffs goal

DALLAS - The recently-humbled Dallas Mavericks are already talking about being a 2019-20 NBA Playoff team - "We will,'' Luka Doncic says, "we must'' -- and the reasons for optimism exist. As we approach the Sept. 30 start of training camp, here are my three "Must Go Rights'' for Dallas to accomplish its goal.

1) 'LOAD MANAGEMENT'? SURE, FOR A LITTLE WHILE

Owner Mark Cuban was the first to publicly broach the idea of "load management'' for about-to-debut Kristaps Porzingis, And I get it. The budding star (I think that's fair; has KP really done enough in his brief time on an NBA court to be christened a "star''?) is coming off an extremely extended period of rehab, is undergoing a re-make of his body (reviews are great) and outside of some on- and off-court bonding with his new teammates, the February-trade-deadline add from the Knicks has established almost nothing.

Now, there is the praise from coach Rick Carlisle, who said late last year, "“He’s a tremendous talent. That’s obvious. He’s a great kid. He is meticulous in how he approaches things, very detailed, extremely hard-working and organized with everything he does. Those are all the traits of a guy that has a chance to be tremendously great.''

But "tremendous'' isn't "tremendous'' if KP spends a substantial portion of the season playing, say, under 20 minutes per game. Or sitting out the second nights o B-2-B's. Or totaling only 50 games played, or whatever.

For Dallas to be good -- 41-wins-good, let alone playoff-good -- KP will need to be great. (If not "tremendous.'') And for KP to be deemed "great,'' he can't be a part-timer.

2) A THIRD STANDOUT

Assuming No. 1 comes true, we all certainly feel comfortable and "super-excited'' about his teaming with Luka Doncic and with Luka's easy-to-visualize career arc. Rookie of the Year then. An All-Star next. An MVP candidate after that?

Luka pairing with KP is the obvious part. Imagine the pick-and-rolls! Imagine the matchup nightmares? Imagine the offensive creativity unleashed!

But the spring and summer around here were spent on putting down the groundwork for a third star. (Kemba Walker. Remember?) That would've altered for the better coach Rick Carlisle's precious "basketball geometry.''

Who is the "third-best player'' on this roster who does that in 2019-20?

Dallas has plenty of bodies to continue the "matchup nightmare'' trend; if Delon Wright is your shortest starter, you have built a team of "Interchangeable Men.'' And Wright and Justin Jackson (likely starters) can guard multiple positions. And Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber can defend. JJ Barea and Tim Hardaway Jr. can score. And in a role carefully suited to him, Dwight Powell is a value.

Oh, and Seth Curry might end up being the third-best scorer.

But which of them becomes a "third-best player''? If the answer is, "Each of them, on different nights'' ... That's really no answer at all -- unless the brilliant Carlisle is so brilliant that he can presciently predict which guy is for which night, and rely on

3) A SUNKEN PLACE IN THE WEST

Sadly, even though Luka seems like he's got the world on a string (it's a Sinatra song, go look it up), there is a factor that is well-beyond Dallas' control.

In the NBA West last year, the eighth-place team (a good Clippers club) finished with 48 wins. Five teams won 50. I believe that is Dallas vaults from where its been (24 wins two years ago, 33 wins last year) with, say, yet another 11-game improvement -- pushing the Mavs to 44 wins -- it probably still won't be good enough to print playoff tickets.

That's a shame, of course, especially as in the Eastern Conference, 41-win teams perennially contend for the playoffs.

But this might have to be the compromise in enjoying the upcoming season. Playoffs as one goal ... but being over .500 as a more immediate one. Given the gym-full of newcomers here -- Porzingis as a full-time starter, Delon Wright somewhere behind him in starts, Seth Curry somewhere behind him -- the Mavs might need some time to gel ... at which point, the NBA Playoffs may seem far off.

So I'd advise a third, and more achievable goal: "Entertaining competitiveness.'' Dallas shouldn't lose as many close games as it has in recent years. Dallas shouldn't allow itself to be viewed as a sad sack, as it has in recent years. "Organic Tanking'' is probably behind us ...

And hopefully my three "Must Go Rights'' are immediately ahead of us.