At 2-5, the Dallas Mavericks have fallen short of many of their early-season expectations, with injuries derailing their season once again. While trying to mitigate Kyrie Irving's absence has undoubtedly been Dallas' biggest issue so far, injuries to their frontcourt have not helped their cause whatsoever.
Daniel Gafford just returned from an ankle injury, and while he's played well through two games so far this season, he's on a 20-minute restriction, and Dallas' other prominent big men are already out due to injury, with Dereck Lively II out due to a knee sprain and Anthony Davis out with a calf strain.