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NLL Insider - Team By Team: Dallas Mavericks

by vt, updated on Wednesday, August 27 2008, 11:40 pm EST

Dallas Mavericks Review
Alonzo

2007-2008
Finish: 52-30
What went well

The Dallas Mavericks, fresh off a Championship win the previous season, exploded this season to claim tie to the best record in the Western Conference. The team entered the season with a swagger and confidence that only comes with a NLL champion ring.

As the season began, fans had the opportunity to see most of the prior season's squad come back for a victory lap.

With only Ruben Patterson opting to seek greener pastures and the retirement of Corliss Williamson, the Mavericks appeared poised to take the same group of guys back to the Finals.

What mattered most to fans was the Dirk Nowitzki-Steve Nash tandem. Together for five years under GM Smokey's reign as GM, these two players could read one another to the point that it seemed like ESP. Throw in starters Alonzo Mourning and Mike Dunleavy and this team was downright scary. And they exploded out of the gates, ready to win it all again.

Though the team didn't make it to the Finals again this year, they remained dominant. But where did the Mavericks go wrong?

What didn't
It's old news by now, but the Mavericks lost to the eighth seeded Denver Nuggets 4-1. The loss of control can be attributed to one date: December 19. Mourning went down with a season-ending (possibly career) injury as he tore the patella tendon and quadriceps muscle in his right leg. With the starting center out, the Mavs had to rely on the inexperienced duo of Brandon Bass and Hakim Warrick to play under the hoops. The next blow came when GM Smokey decided to bust up the Dirk-Nash tandem. In a surprising trade, Nash (along with champion team pieces Boris Diaw-Riffiod and Devin Brown) was banished to the lowly Indiana Pacers for superstud Carmelo Anthony, the oft-injured Jason Williams and rookie big Spencer Hawes. The introduction of Melo was supposed to spark this aging Mavs team. And it did, but the combo didn't have quite the juice of the Dirk-Nash duo. Dirk and Melo didn't equal Kobe and Dwight. The Mavs bowed out after the first round.


The Stars

Dirk Nowitzki, C -
This guy just keeps getting better and better. He had his best season yet in the NLL, averaging 23.9 ppg and 10.5 rpg. Dirk hasn't even come close to that off the glass before. With the absence of Zo, he really needed to step up the D and he did just that. He is one of the most durable and efficient players in the game and he should produce the same next season. GM Smokey just hopes he syncs up with Melo the way he did with Nash.


Carmelo Anthony- F/G
The new kid on the block had some big shoes to fill as he replaced longtime fan favorite Nash. But impress he did and Mavs fans thrilled to his 25.2 ppg and amazing dunks. Though he had a brush with the law at the start of the season, that setback didn't prevent him from playing some amazing basketball. He hasn't even entered the prime of his career and along with the mad scoring will come some great defensive tools as well. Could he soon be the new face of Dallas?

Mike Dunleavy, F/G -
Earlier this season ex-commish Dunadan pointed out that Dunleavy is good guy to have around if you want to win a championship. Though it didn't happen again this season for the Mavs, Dunleavy contined to play the solid basketball that makes him so valuable. Though Smokey chose to use him at forward rather than his natural guard position, Dunleavy played in all 82 games and reached career highs for rebounding and scoring.


Looking to the future

The Mavs enter the offseason with a lot of questions to be answered. Though Nowitzki is a free agent, he will certainly return. But what about Zo? He claims he will be returning, and given his astonishing revival after a kidney ailment, we believe him. Besides, Nowitzki can play center. It's point guard that will be the problem. Williams has already stated his desire to play elsewhere and Francisco Garcia is not the answer at the point. The team also has only seven guys under contract. Dirk will command big bucks and expect most of their cushion to be gone when they sign him. The team will need to use its MLE wisely.

In the draft, the Mavs selected Donte Greene at 28th. He's a good pick at that position, but he doesn't really help the team which has similar players in Melo, Dunleavy, Garcia and Josh Boone. Greene will have to fight for playing time or play out of position. The team also received the rights to Goran Dragic, who is still trying to get out of his European contract. Though he is a point guard, he is nowhere near ready to lead the Mavs to another title, something they won't get without someone of quality as their floor leader.

Archive

· Team by Team: Boston Celtics

· Team by Team: Denver Nuggets

· Team by Team: Sacramento Kings

· Team by Team: Atlanta Hawks

· Team By Team: Dallas Mavericks

· Team By Team: New Jersey Nets

· Draft Grades by Tor gm

· MVP - Kevin Garnett

· Nick's Mock Draft

· ROY - Mike Conley

 

 

 

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