Should The Dallas Mavericks Be Panicking After Back-To-Back Blowouts?
Yes, it’s early in the NBA season. But its not too early to throw up a red flag for the reigning 2011 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. The very team that hoops pundits touted heading into this shortened season has made those who protected them look foolish. Losing two games in a row is tolerable, but back-to-back double digit losses on their home court is simply unacceptable.
Getting crushed by Miami wasn’t indicative of Dallas’ woes so much as it was of the Heat’s newly found focus. But getting wrecked by the Denver Nuggets in a 115-93 romp at home has us questioning if Dallas will even be worthy of defending their titles come playoff time.
Their dedication to winning was placed into question the moment that they allowed paint patrolman Tyson Chandler to slip through their fingers and land in the Big Apple. It was thought that the loss was healed by the snagging of Lamar Odom but it’s really difficult to replace what Chandler brought to the team. It may be only two games, but the Mavs were brutalized on the glass. The Miami Heat held a 51-31 advantage on the glass on opening night and the Mavs found themselves outrebounded 37-47 against the Denver Nuggets. Not a good place to be. Vulnerability in the paint is likely going to be an ongoing theme in 2011 that Dallas will have a difficult time remedying. Brendan Haywood remains their only threat to teams inside. Dirk Nowitzki and Odom have never been a spooky presence in the paint and with your only other options being unproven Ian Mahinmi and Brian Cardinal, you can expect teams like New York to feast in the post.
It doesn’t help that the team just looks like it aged ten years on the court. A Jason does lead the team in assists. Only its Terry and not Kidd with a paltry 3.5 assists a game. Vince Carter is playing below the rim and below expectations as his time is clearly up. Simply put, it’s very difficult to say that this Dallas team will have any chance to compete in this abbreviated season unless they show some signs of life. But we’re going to go on record now and say that Dallas won’t be close to winning it all again.
[...] Should The Dallas Mavericks Be Panicking After Back-To-Back Blowouts?DrJays.com LiveDirk Nowitzki and Odom have never been a spooky presence in the paint and with your only other options being unproven Ian Mahinmi and Brian Cardinal, you can expect teams like New York to feast in the post. It doesn't help that the team just looks like … [...]