The 5 biggest weaknesses for the Dallas Mavericks before the playoffs

Unlike last season, the Dallas Mavericks will be going to the playoffs this year. Currently the fifth-best team in the West, the team has been on a tear lately and looks like a formidable postseason threat.

However, that doesn't mean that they are perfect. Instead, the Mavericks still have a few problem areas they need to address. Some of their issues are self-made and some are out of their control but all of them could prove horribly consequential in the weeks ahead.

One thing that the Mavericks have no power over is their health and, sadly, that has been a problem all season long. Players like Maxi Kleber, Dereck Lively II, Dante Exum, and others have all been hurt at points during the season. The good news is that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been spared from any serious mishap, but these injuries are adding up and could hurt in the near future. 

The Mavericks are good at many things but offensive rebounding is definitely one of their biggest problems. They are 23rd in the league, which simply cannot stand if they want a strong playoff run. Lively and PJ Washington need to step it up if they want to increase this.

Jason Kidd has done a lot of great things this year but some of his choices have been questioned, such as his decision to go with a small ball lineup during a loss to the Boston Celtics. Kidd still doesn't have the full trust of the loyal Mavericks fanbase.

Luka Doncic has been in the playoffs several times before. Kyrie Irving has spent a lot of time there too. But beyond those two players, few other Mavericks stars have starred in the postseason. This could pose a problem because inexperience really hurts in the playoffs. Of course, this isn't an issue that can be solved without simply getting out there and playing.

This will be a problem this year, but not in the future.

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are the two best players for Dallas, of course, and they produce the most for the team.

But the Mavericks have grown too reliant on the combination of Doncic and Irving, which could spell trouble in the playoffs. Without these two stars on the floor, the team's offensive output falls apart at times. Other players have tried but inconsistency flares up without Luka and Kyrie.