67-15.

One of the greatest records in NBA History. One team, the Dallas Mavericks, had it set going into the 2007 NBA Playoffs. The Mavericks were eager, hungry, whatever you want to say; the Dallas Mavericks had a bad taste in their mouth they needed to get rid of after being 2 games away from a title, and then pulling one of the biggest choke jobs ever. You can say the refs favored Dwayne Wade, who seemed to get to the line at ease each possession. You could say the Mavericks were just not as good as the Heat, but the truth is, they choked, and were anticipating another title run – which they did not get.

Avery Johnson took over the Mavericks in 2005 after being an assistant previously for the Mavs. He went 16-2 in the regular season but only 6-7 in the Playoffs. The next season was full one as the Head Coach for Avery. The Mavs went 60-22 only to lose in the Finals. Fans in Dallas were pleased with the Finals trip of course, but found every reason to blame the Mavs’ Coach for blowing the 2-0 Finals lead. Job on the line? I think not. Then in 06-07 Dirk Nowitzki took the MVP Honors and led the Mavs to a historic 67-15 record, and the top seed in the West – just to get the worst matchup. The Mavericks struggled all season to beat the Golden State Warriors – coached by Don Nelson. The Mavericks lost the series 4-2, losing all road games, which made it 7 straight road losses in the playoffs. Job on the Line for Avery? Still no. One would say, “Come on, 67-15, he’s a legend.” That just frustrates me. The Playoffs are a whole different game and if you can’t win on the road in the Playoffs, you’re in trouble.

This season the Mavericks were 42-20, looking great with Josh Howard playing well, Dirk Nowitzki being a star, Jason Terry and Devin Harris firing up the backcourt, as well as the center rotation of Erick Dampier and Desagna Diop working out fine.

To begin the month of February, teams in the tough Western Conference were looking for any way to make them the elite team that will represent the Conference. On February  1st, the Lakers traded almost nothing for former Grizzlies star Pau Gasol – that has worked out tremendously so far. Phoenix made the next move. The suns dumped Shawn Marion’s expiring contract as well as Marcus Banks to the Heat for “The Big Diesel” – Shaq! The Shaquille O’Neal in Phoenix project looked like it was starting to mesh towards the end of the regular season, but the Suns, the six seed, drew a bad matchup in the playoffs – the three seed – the San Antonio Spurs. The Suns barely avoided a sweep, and the former champs took care of the Phoenix squad in 5 games. Mavericks well-known owner Mark Cuban obviously felt some pressure to land a big name and stay in contention, and pulled the trigger on a trade that pretty much changed the face of the franchise. Don’t get any crazy ideas – the Mavs didn’t trade Dirk, but they landed Hall of Fame bound point guard, Jason Kidd, who, if I may mention, is 35 and wearing down. The Maverick sent former Michigan State guard Maurice “Mo” Ager, well contributing center Desagna Diop, a solid defender in Trenton Hassell, and they traded Keith Van Horn – who just accepted some cash coming out of retirement to complete the deal after Devean George stopped it by using his no-trade clause.

Oh, I almost forgot.

The Mavericks also sent one of the best young point guards in the game, Devin Harris, 25 years old, TEN years younger than Kidd, who is 35, if I hadn’t mentioned that.

As a Mavericks fan, I was hoping we’d come to our senses and not fall in love with the big name – but GM Donnie Nelson, Mark Cuban, Coach Avery Johnson, whoever involved – thought this would help the franchise, but it surely did not. Jason Kidd had 12 triple-doubles in New Jersey before coming to Dallas. It took him until the last game of the season against the New Orleans Hornets for Kidd to get a triple double in Dallas – it was number 100 on his career – a great number – but I’m still not for the trade. The Mavericks went 14-11 after Kidd arrived. Kidd is a great player, but he doesn’t belong in the Western Conference. He excels against teams without star point guards, teams that aren’t the Hornets, Jazz, Spurs, and Suns –West. Teams that are the Celtics, Raptors, Knicks, 76ers, are Eastern Conference teams, and most don’t have an elite point guard like the ones previously listed. Kidd is a great point guard when the game comes to him, not when he has to lead his team against a top (Western Conference) team.

The Mavericks were once again an early first round exit after finishing the season 51-31. Not bad, right? Well, 16 games worse than the previous season and they ended the season without confidence of beating better teams.  They matched up with one of the most improved teams and the Coach of the Year Byron Scott, the New Orleans Hornets. Young superstar Chris Paul led the way. At nearly each position I told people who doubted them, “Look at the point guard, the center, the small forward. Tell me, at each position with them and Dallas, who has the edge?”

Let’s see – Tyson Chandler >Erick Dampier, Peja Stojakovic > Josh Howard, Chris Paul > Jason Kidd. Yes, Dirk Nowitzki > David West, but West may have outplayed the Big German. Morris Peterson and Jason Terry are closer than the others.

The Mavericks early exit threw blame and criticism at Coach Johnson. “The General” (Avery) had reportedly gotten into a scuffle weeks before with owner Mark Cuban and according to a source, said, “…Then why don’t you coach the team!” Well, I don’t think that’s the case for Cuban, but the Mavs coach is no longer Avery. On April 30, Johnson was fired by the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavericks are in shambles and are still searching for their team identity. ESPN’s Marc Stein reports Rick Carlisle, currently doing studio work for ESPN, may take the job. Carlisle has had trouble winning but is a smart coach and could bring to the Mavericks the desire they need…could.


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