Dallas Mavericks (Lost 4-1 to the Thunder)
The Dallas Mavericks were easily the most overlooked team in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and rightly so. Nobody expected the Mavs to make any really noise this post-season. In spite of Nowitzki quietly enjoying one of the most efficient seasons of his career (He averaged 18 PPG while being his usual efficient self on the floor), you cannot contend for a title with a 40-year-old veteran as the focal point of your offence.
Unlike most of the teams that have been eliminated so far, the problem with the Mavs primarily lies in their front-office. Since winning the title in 2011, Marc Cuban (Owner and Team GM) has been involved in some of the horrendous deals a championship calibre team can possibly make.
Firstly, the Mavs have a terrible habit of signing point guards who are clearly way past their prime. Admittedly, investing in Jason Kidd brought them a championship five years ago; still, Kidd was merely an aberration. Signing Rondo, a notorious headcase and locker-room poison, last season was clearly a wrong decision. Yes, he brought the playoff experience also boasted by Kidd, but the negativity which he brought with him clearly created a hostile environment, leading to his benching during last
Yes, he brought the playoff experience also boasted by Kidd, but the negativity which he brought with him clearly created a hostile environment, leading to his benching during last season's playoffs by head coach, Rick Carlisle.
Dealing for Deron Williams was also an exercise in the past. Williams had always expressed his interest in playing for his home state, ever since his Utah days. However, Cuban was five years too late, as Williams is clearly merely a shell of himself with his best years behind him. With the league becoming more and more PG oriented, the Mavs management needs to be sensible when signing their next point guard.
The second problem that needs to be addressed by the Mavs is paying average players superstar money. They have already burned their hands by signing Chandler Parsons, a perfectly serviceable forward, for max money. Fortunately, they dodged a major bullet by not signing Deandre Jordan this past free-agency.
Thus, the Mavs have to be sensible this off-season and not give out franchise contracts to average players like Michael Carter-Williams. The process has alredy started for the Texans with Dirk Nowitzki opting out of his last year of his contract and will work with the management to bolster the team via the 2016 free agency.
Guess the Lakers players!
