2007 NBA Team Preview: Dallas Mavericks

Alright, so do we all feel different about Mark Cuban now that he is on Dancing with the Stars? Hmmm...not so much. Although he is by far the most famous owner and most flamboyant, what does this translate into this season for the Mavs? Well, not much, actually, if you can believe it. In terms of blockbuster deals there really weren’t any, as GM Donnie Nelson and Coach Avery Johnson decided instead to just tweak a roster that won 67 games in 2006-07. Eddie Jones was signed in addition to Brandon Bass, who played well in Summer League.

Where do the Mavs continue to be strong? Good team chemistry, jumpshooting, and defense. Avery Johnson’s focus on defensive basketball has allowed Dallas to become a top 10 team on both sides of the ball, and their consistency makes them almost "Spur-like". They are a team with many weapons on offense, from reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki on down to Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Devin Harris, and perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jerry Stackhouse. With a strong bench, the Mavs come to win night in and night out.

So where's the holes in the team? Dallas finished 28th last season in points in the paint and will drastically need to improve that number when the jumpshot isn’t falling. Another main problem is the lack of leadership on the roster; as the huge upset with Golden State proved--Dallas has no one to go to when things fall apart. The team also suffers in passing the ball in terms of assists. In the West, that's a recipe for disaster.

Don't get me wrong--Dallas is still one of the class teams of the league. However, I wouldn’t expect them to be as strong in the regular season as they involve some younger players while keeping guys rested for the postseason. I’d expect them to go further in the playoffs (duh!), at least to the Western Conference Finals.

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2007 NBA Team Preview: Dallas Mavericks

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