{"id":76659,"date":"2025-12-30T01:41:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T04:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/nba-power-rankings-watch-the-mavericks-and-their-hopeful-new-year\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T01:41:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T04:41:13","slug":"nba-power-rankings-watch-the-mavericks-and-their-hopeful-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/nba-power-rankings-watch-the-mavericks-and-their-hopeful-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Power Rankings Watch: the Mavericks and their hopeful new year"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Dallas Mavericks are wrapping up a tumultuous 2025, skidding to the finish line in ever-dramatic fashion. The hope would be clarity for a 2026 focused on a future surrounding rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, and putting away the baggage this year has accumulated.<\/p>\n

The focus of this week\u2019s Power Rankings Watch, in a way, is about that very thing. Watch a Mavericks game for a five minute stretch and it\u2019s obvious, even with a healthy Anthony Davis (a rarity), that Flagg is their most dynamic player on both ends of the floor. He still has plenty to figure out as he adapts to the league. But the foundation of his game is already flourishing. Whether that accumulates more wins than losses this season remains to be seen. But his development is the team\u2019s most prized possession, and reason for plenty of hope in the new year.<\/p>\n

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Ranking: 21<\/h4>\n

Last week: 19<\/h4>\n
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Young riser:<\/strong>\u00a0Cooper Flagg<\/a><\/p>\n

No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, who turned 19 over the weekend, is living up to the hype.\u00a0LeBron James<\/a>\u00a0is the only player who had similar production as an 18-year-old as Flagg, who played out of position as a point guard to start the season. Since shifting to his natural forward position, Flagg has averaged 20.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 50.5% from the floor. He\u2019s the only rookie to rank in the top three in his class in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks and steals.\u00a0\u2014 MacMahon<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Ranking: 19<\/h4>\n

Last week: 19<\/h4>\n
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The Mavs have wins over the Nuggets, Rockets and Pistons this month, having edged Detroit in overtime on Thursday. But that win was sandwiched by losses in Utah and Philadelphia, and they remain in the bottom five in the West.<\/p>\n

Three takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n