Despite early season buzz and expectations surrounding the Mavericks‘ young core and the addition of DeAndre Jordan, they have gotten off to another slow start this season, sitting at just 2-7. As Eddie Sefko writes for The Dallas Morning News, this start looks eerily similar to past seasons, as the Mavericks are no stranger to such struggles.
As a result of anticipation surrounding the backcourt pairing of Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka Doncic, as well as the signing of Jordan, many were expecting the Mavericks to make a significant jump in the Western Conference. Even with Doncic impressing on a nightly basis, Dallas has struggled to win games, despite a relatively easy schedule to start the season.
Sefko points out that there are ways out of this early hole, with the Mavericks getting Dirk Nowitzki back in the near future as Harrison Barnes continues to work his way back from a preseason injury. The Mavericks have yet to have their ideal rotation playing together, which can give them some confidence that things will turn around.
It will take plenty of fight and effort, as well as a healthy rotation, for the Mavericks to truly turn things around given how tough the conference will be this season. Early signs indicate that this will be another year of growth and development for the Mavericks.
There’s more from the Mavericks:
- Speaking of Nowitzki, Eddie Sefko (via Twitter) also points out that coach Rick Carlisle would be “thrilled” if the 40-year-old big man plays in games this month. Nowitzki has been working out during practices, but this seems to indicate that he is still several weeks away from getting on the court during games.
- After earlier reports revealed that Wesley Matthews had an intense meeting with Mavericks’ President of Basketball Operations Donnie Nelson after the team’s loss to the Knicks on Friday, according to Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News, Rick Carlisle is denying that the meeting was heated in any way.
Wesley Mathews for Brandon Ingram plus exchange of picks….
Lakers get another 3 shooter, and get Ingram off the books before he really messes up
Salary wise and talent wise that trade doesn’t add up
Lol that’s such a terrible trade.
Brandon Ingram for a garbage salary/player AND A PICK!?!?! Ad long as we are living in crazy land might as well ask for LeBron too.
People thought they were gonna be good?
You don’t remember? Everybody was saying Luka doncic was the second coming of Magic Johnson and Jalen Brunson was the perfect 10 year career backup point guard?
People also thought that DeAndre Jordan was a real NBA player LOL. When he was younger he ran the floor relied on athleticism to do all the dirty work and block shots and rebound by the truckload.
He’s gotten older feeling fat with that contract and can’t create his own shot. He still rebounds and blocks a couple shots but that youthful vigor is gone. Especially without playing with a terrific point guard on his butt every night, like Chris Paul did. Now he’s got a small forward is 19 years old playing the point and it’s going to take a couple years to go from flashy and hilights… to winning games and making his teammates better.
I kind of feel the same way if Klay Thompson left the Warriors to be his own man or the number one Guy on a team… he would disappoint.
He’s a spot-up shooter plays Great D and needs a guy like Curry. Curry also needs a guy like Thompson and they work well together but Klay would disappoint as a number one guy on his own Fringe playoff team.
As much as you still hate Doncic for whatever reason, you do know that hes playing the 4 mostly, right? Also, I thought you said he couldn’t shoot. Defense hasn’t been great, but they’re playing out of position.
Credit to Jordan, that the 4 can be Doncic… No true 4.
Although they are not winning with that.
Pace n space is going too far with some teams! Are the top teams playing without 4s & 5s? It is overrated.