Who are the Dallas Mavericks?
The Dallas Mavericks are 33-17, sixth in the Western Conference and third in the Southwest Division. Dallas has quietly been one of the most consistent teams in the National Basketball Association, save for a four-game losing skid at the conclusion of January. With a future first-ballot Hall of Famer providing a steadying influence, these veteran Mavericks are laying in the weeds, waiting to make a move.
Dallas has faded into contender-oblivion since winning the NBA title over the Miami Heat back in 2010. The Mavericks underwent an overhaul which touched everyone except Dirk Nowitzki and head coach Rick Carlisle. The band is somewhat back together this year after owner Mark Cuban traded point guard Jose Calderon along with some other spare parts to the New York Knicks for guard Raymond Felton and center Tyson Chandler, who was a key cog of that 2010 group.
Few teams can match the talent of Dallas. The Mavericks have a devastating backcourt on paper with Rajon Rondo and Monta Ellis, while the frontcourt consists of Chandler, Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons. Speaking of reuniting the band, the bench has a familiar face in J.J. Barea, along with former Maverick Devin Harris. Veterans Al-Farouq Aminu and Richard Jefferson round out the rotation, giving Carlisle even more experience.
So should Dallas be considered in the upper-crust of the Western Conference with the likes of the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs? In Vegas, the oddsmakers have Carlisle’s team tagged at 15/1, even with the Los Angeles Clippers for the sixth-best odds. Golden State is leading the pack at 7/2.
The Mavericks have a terrific offense paced by Ellis and Nowitzki, ranking second only to the Warriors in scoring at 106.8 points per game. The problem has been on the other end of the court. Dallas is an older team which tends to wear down, leading to cracks in the defense. The Mavericks check in at 22nd in points allowed/game at 101.0, the second-highest total for any team in the top 10 Westerns seeds.
Dallas is also taking advantage of its opportunities against the East. The Mavericks have hammered the inferior conference with a record of 18-5. Unfortunately, that will not do much good when Dallas is facing the giants of the West. In games against the other seven teams currently positioned in the Western Conference playoffs, the Mavericks are a putrid 2-10. They will have a chance to better that mark on Wednesday, when Golden State hosts them at ORACLE Arena.
The month of March might be the mark it or break it moment for Dallas. The Mavericks play 13 games including a pair against San Antonio, road games at Golden State, Phoenix and Portland, and home dates versus the Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Clippers.
