The Dallas Mavericks are off to a 3-1 start to the season despite the offense still rounding into form. Tuesday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves gave them an early win to hang their hat on and look like one of the best teams in the NBA after last season’s run to the Finals.

Dallas reorganized around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, bringing in Klay Thompson, Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie to add more shooting and defensive options. Grimes, Dinwiddie and Thompson made noticeable impacts offensively, while Marshall emerged as the team’s best defensive player. Those additions with an improved Dereck Lively II have the Mavs as favorites in the NBA power rankings across the media landscape.

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NBCKurt Helin has the Mavericks third behind the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, saying, “Klay Thompson has been everything the Mavericks could have hoped for early in the season, starting with him dropping 22 points in face Spurs in the opener. averaging 19.7 points per game and 45.5% on 11 3-pointers per game (stats were obtained before the Timberwolves game), but more importantly, the Mavericks defense was 8.6 points per 100 better possessions with him on the field (small sample size). alert, but this is a promising sign). Overall, the Mavericks have been strong defensively to start the season, their 107.3 net defensive rating is fifth best in the league.”

CBS SportsColin Ward-Henninger has Dallas fifth behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thunder, Celtics and Phoenix Suns, saying, “So far so good for the Mavs, off to a 3-1 start punctuated by another dagger Luka Doncic pas back 3-pointer to beat Timberwolves The defense that came together last postseason appears to have continued as point guard Klay Thompson thrives in his new surroundings, averaging 16.5 points on 43 percent 3-point shooting .

ESPNThe combined power rankings have Dallas fourth behind the Celtics, Thunder and Cavaliers, with Tim McMahon saying, “Klay Thompson continues to be one of the NBA’s premier perimeter shooters after amicably parting ways with Splash Brother Stephen Curry. Thompson anticipated receiving looks very good alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas and he was not disappointed in the first week of the season. He shot 45.5% from 3-point range on 11 attempts per game during the 3-Mavs. 1 start, averaging 19.7 ppg. he is also gone). off to a strong start on that end the Mavs have a 112.7 defensive efficiency with Thompson on the court this season (101.9 when he’s off the court).

Dallas has a good chance in front of them to make a small run, as Thursday night’s Halloween contest against the Houston Rockets will be the first of five consecutive home games for the Mavericks. If they come away clean from this home stand, they could soon be challenging for the top spot in the power rankings.

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