Playoff Worthy Dallas Mavericks? A Season Preview!

September 29th was the day of the annual Mavericks Media Day at the American Airlines Center in Dallas Texas. This would mark the 5th time in six years I had the privilege of covering Mark Cuban's team. Prior to that a season ticket holder for close to five seasons courtesy of two solid hook-ups.

Before looking ahead to the 2014-2015 outlook in the West lets take a moment to enjoy some video visits with four people you are going to see alot this season. 

October 30 2001 was the day the AAC opened its doors for the Mavericks. It was my first game watching Dallas defeat the Pistons. It was also Rick Carlisle's first game as an NBA for the Motor City.

This shall mark the 17th season for Dirk Nowitzki to don the Mavericks uniform. Look for him to continue to climb the record books for scoring and other statistics that he will lay claim to in the Dallas annals.

Now into his eight season as Dallas Mavericks coach, Rick Carlisle is quick to talk about making the best of the pieces that are put together via free agency and of course what the CBA shall allow. Two years ago the Mavericks were a banged up crew who fought to get to a 41-41 mark.

Last year the additions of Devin Harris and Monta Ellis added some spark off the bench and in tihe starting five. Dallas kept Dirk Nowitzki healthy and the Mavericks pushed San Antonio to a seventh game before bowing out in the first round.

In essence Rick Carlisle proceeded to awaken the sleeping greatness that would become the San Antonio Spurs. I was there and now wish to take you back to what was a heartfelt postgame speech on May 4th with Greg Popovich.

As luck would have it October 28 the Mavericks open their season in San Antonio before having their home opener on the 30th with the Utah Jazz. The team that gave the eventual champs all they could handle get to watch the banner get raised before some crazed and happy Spurs fans. 

Gone for the Mavericks are Vince Carter (Three year deal in Memphis), Shawn Marion (now a Cavalier), Jose Calderon (New York Knicks). We wish them nothing but the best as the first two will get their names placed high up in the rafters in due course.

With all the talk about LeBron James coming home Dallas also had a reunion of sorts. The one man who got more done in one year than many others did not in five to ten. His name was Tyson Chandler and in case you forgot who Tyson Chandler is here he is.

As the schedule Gods would have it the Mavericks begin their exhibition season with the Houston Rockets October 7. This means another new Maverick-one who got to party with Mark Cuban-gets to reunite with his old team and teammates. Now in love with Dallas, but also grateful for the opportunity the Rockets provided him back in the day. Of course we speak of Chandler Parsons. No stranger to Dallas if you've been to Dirk Nowitzki's charity events in June. Here's Mr. Parsons.

Safe to say that in 2014-2015 Dirk Nowitzki's minutes will be lessened for the sake of fresher legs in the latter part of the season the face of the Dallas Mavericks since 1998-Dirk Nowitzki-is very excited about the collective group of people he has in place to be competitive, balanced, able to compete in the West, and perhaps able to deep into the playoffs.  

Dirk Nowitzki was one of he happiest people to have Tyson Chandler return to Big D in a contract year. Don't take my word for it. I'll let Dirk Nowitzki tell you in his own words. A moment or three with the Dirkinator.

Lastly before breaking down the season that will be for the new look Dallas Mavericks lets take a moment to allow Rick Carlisle to assess and break down the season that could be in Dallas. Coach is quick to talk about how much he enjoys the challenge of putting bodies together into a tightly run system and seeing the magic produced. It has worked well in Detroit, Indiana and in Texas since 2008. Ecstatic about having Tyson Chandler back for this fall lets now hear from Rick Carlisle. How quickly eight years flies by.

Other notable acquisitions for Dallas this offseason include Jameer Nelson from Orlando. Greg Smith, Richard Jefferson, Raymond Felton, Eric Griffin, and Al-Farouq Aminu. Returning to round out this Dirk led squad are Jae Crowder, Brandan Wright, Gal Mekel, Bernard James, Ricky Ledo, Devin Harrris, and the Sarge Bernard James.

The Mavericks of a year ago were 49-33. An eight game improvement over 2012-2013. The biggest knock on Team Carlisle was the number of games lost after a double digit lead was built. Lack of defense was the downfall of the Mavericks in 2013.

With the arrivals of Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton, and Chandler Parsons its safe to say that we should see a marked difference when leads are had. How many games did Dallas give away when trying to lock down a playoff spot last April?

November will feature a home heavy schedule of games beginning with the Celtics on the 3rd followed by four straight in one week when the Heat kick off the homestretch on the 11th. Sacramento follows up on the 13th with the 76ers and Minnesota on the 15th and 17th.

November 21 the Lakers make their first visit to Dallas (we believe) with a healthy Kobe Bryant, Indiana on the 24th followed by the Knicks on Thanksgiving Eve.

Eight home games in November. San Antonio comes to Dallas on December 20th. The Lakers again on the day after Christmas. Oklahoma City on December 28 and the Wizards to close out 2014 on the 30th.

Only four home games for the Mavericks in January. The most notable will be the Bulls on January 23. February will yield eight home games including the Nets on Feb 28, Houston on Feb. 20, The L.A. Clippers on the 9th.

For March Dallas will welcome LeBron and Shawn with the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 10th. The first of a five game stretch at the AAC where the Thunder swing on by on the 16th, Orlando on the 18th and the Grizzlies on the 20th. 

The Spurs make a final visit March 24 before heading into the playoff month of April. 

In my humble opinion the American Airlines Center (with both tenants getting better by leaps and bounds is going to be the place to be this fall entering the winter and onward. Dallas comes off a 49 win season. The 2014 team should be good for 55 games. The Southwest Western Conference will be up for grabs. 

I foresee the division being a horse race with the Spurs winning 60, Houston at 56, Dallas with 55, New Orleans with 52 (an improvement of 18 games!), and Memphis rounding out the cellar with 50 wins. This wll be the most exciting division to watch.

Coming out of the West take your pick with the Thunder, Spurs, Clippers, and Blazers to top off the 1-4 seeds. The Mavericks will wind up at #6 and go two rounds. This will be a fun collection of players who will defend, have alot of energy, and make enpugh good things in the paint to allow to rest more than he has in the past.

Holding out hope that Dirk and Monta Ellis will be able to have an iron man role. Able to play all games with a healthy Tyson Chandler, Chandler Parsons and Devin Harris.

As the Spurs raise their banner on October 28th I am going to think back to that Easter Sunday Game 1 in San Antone when Dallas blew a ten point lead. Mavs fans will also forever wonder what could have been had DeJuan Blair not gotten a one game ejection in Game 5. That was costly. The Game 3 three pointer by Vince Carter was one for the ages.

Dallas awoke San Antonio the final week of April. Lets see of the roles are reversed to start 2014 for the 2011 champions.

LeBron came home. Devin returned home a year ago. Tyson came home this past summer. Expect lots of comments, content, video visits, and podcasts from what will be an exciting year for the Dallas Mavericks and their fans.

Final note. You ever notice al those funny soundbites, quotes, spoofs, skits, parodies, and routines that you'll see all season as a Mavericks game plays out beginning to end?

All of that handled on Mavs Media Day.

NBA Basketball is back. Get your preseason fix starting on October 7 with the Rockets!

October 7-Houston 7:30pm CST

October 10-OKC Thunder 7:30pm CST

October 12-Indiana 6:30pm CST

October 20-Vancouver 7:30pm CST 

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will