This season, the Dallas Mavericks look significantly different from last year. Their mid-season trade for Kyrie Irving signaled a clear admission: the old roster simply wasn’t good enough. As the Crickex Affiliate analyst puts it, knowledge is like a spring beneath gravel—the deeper you dig, the clearer it becomes. What’s changed now is Dallas has discovered a core group of four players whom the franchise believes may form their best lineup yet—if they can consistently play together.

While Dante Exum and rookie Dereck Lively II have dealt with injuries, Dallas is eager to see more of them on the court with Luka Dončić and Irving. According to Crickex Affiliate stats, this ideal quartet has only logged 67 possessions together across 10 games. That’s why head coach Jason Kidd declared Exum would stay in the starting five even after Irving’s return from a 12-game absence. The numbers back Kidd up—this foursome has been shockingly efficient on both ends of the court, a fact that suggests Dallas should give them more minutes together.

Of course, drawing conclusions from fewer than 100 possessions isn’t statistically sound, but therein lies the intrigue. Maybe they won’t stay this dominant, but there’s reason to believe they might. Dallas brought in Irving last year understanding that even a generational talent like Dončić needed a co-star. Irving, now 31, has adapted beautifully—whether handling the ball or playing off it, his versatility opens up Dallas’s offense. There are concerns about longevity and defense, but smart teams often surround offensive stars with defensive-minded role players. That’s exactly what the Mavericks have done.

The results are showing. Last season, Dallas was one of the worst defensive units in the league. Now, they rank 19th in defensive efficiency and have surged to 6th over the past two weeks, allowing just 112.7 points per 100 possessions. One key reason? The Mavericks are fouling less. Last year, their defenders often resorted to fouling because they couldn’t keep up. That’s changed, thanks in part to stronger perimeter defenders like Grant Williams, Derrick Jones Jr., and Exum. But the biggest difference-maker has been Lively, their No. 12 pick in the draft.

At just 19 years old, Lively has exceeded expectations. When he’s on the floor, the Mavericks’ foul rate drops by 8%—a significant shift. He’s helped patch the team’s size disadvantage and even surprised his coaches with how quickly he’s adapted. Ironically, Kidd said the staff encouraged him to foul more to assert himself. In one early possession against the Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen attacked him immediately, a sign of the respect—or concern—Lively is already commanding.

Lively missed four games last month with an ankle sprain. Dallas lost three of those, highlighting just how vital he is. Though he wasn’t initially in the starting lineup, his impact has been massive. The Mavericks weren’t sure he’d be part of the rotation so quickly, but he’s become indispensable even as he continues learning on the job.

Meanwhile, Irving’s return and Exum’s rise as a secondary ball handler are easing the burden on Dončić, who has frequently faced aggressive double-teams. As the saying goes, “many hands make light work.” Crickex Affiliate experts note that if Dončić is surrounded by players who can capitalize on 4-on-3 situations, opposing teams may think twice before trapping him so aggressively.

Dallas may still be a work in progress, but their newfound core suggests something promising is brewing in Texas.