Dallas Mavericks: Challenges Lie Ahead On The Road
Ten games into the 2014-15 season the Dallas Mavericks find themselves with a record of 7-3. The Mavericks have been led by their offense, averaging an NBA best 107.1 points-per-game. Dallas may have eight new players on their roster, but this veteran group has come together faster than many expected.
The Mavericks are looking to manage the minutes of their veteran leaders, and their strong play during a soft spot in their schedule allowed them to limit the minutes that Dirk Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler and Jameer Nelson had to play. This reduction in minutes could pay dividends during a busy upcoming week.
Dallas has four games on their schedule over the next six days and they could need Nowitzki and Chandler to play north of 30 minutes if they want to extend their three-game winning streak. Let’s take a look at what challenges await Dallas as they hit the road for three of the next four games.
Monday, Nov. 17 at Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets enter the week with a disappointing record of 4-6. The Hornets’ offseason acquisition of shooting guard Lance Stephenson was expected to vault Charlotte into the top half of the Eastern Conference but he has struggled early on with his new team.
Stephenson has struggled to find his shot during the early part of the season, shooting only 37.5 percent from the field, down from 49.1 percent last season. Despite his recent struggles shooting the ball, Stephenson remains an athletic guard that can be difficult to contain. He is only averaging 9.9 points per game this season but he is capable of contributing on the glass and he is a strong defender.
Center Al Jefferson and point guard Kemba Walker are the Hornets top threats on the court. Tyson Chandler will be asked to limit Jefferson’s effectiveness in the paint and Dallas will use their collections of guards to limit what Kemba Walker can do in the half court.
Wednesday, Nov. 19 at Washington Wizards
The Wizards have come out of the gate strong this season, winning seven of their first nine games. The Wizards are led by dynamic point guard John Wall, forward Paul Pierce and center Marcin Gortat.
Washington is without second-year shooting guard Bradley Beal, who is close to returning after fracturing his wrist on Oct. 10. Beal will no doubt improve the Wizards as a team when he makes his return to the court. Beal is expected to return next week, but he will not suit up to face the Mavericks.
The Wizards may be off to an impressive start, but they have yet to defeat a team with a winning record. Dallas defeated Washington both times they met during the 2013-14 season, and they should be favored again in Washington this season. Keeping John Wall in check will be critical to the Mavericks’ success in Washington.
Friday, Nov. 21 vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Mavericks return home for a Friday night matchup with the 1-9 Lakers. The Lakers have the worst record in the Western Conference and it looks like they could be in that position for the majority of the season.
Kobe Bryant is still scoring at a high clip, averaging 27.3 points per game, but he is not as efficient as he has been in previous seasons. Bryant is trying to do it all, but he is shooting only 36.7 percent from the field. Brant has never shot under 40.0 percent from the field in any of his previous 18 seasons.
The Lakers are dreadful on the defensive end of the court, giving up an average of 109.4 points per game. Only the Minnesota Timberwolves allow more points per game and Dallas made quick work of them on Nov. 15, winning with ease by a score of 131-117.
This may have the makings of a trap game with a big matchup the following night, but Dallas has proven during the past week that they have the ability to bury lesser opponents rather quickly.
Saturday, Nov. 22 at Houston Rockets
Dallas travels south to face the Houston Rockets on the second night of back-to-back games. The Rockets boast an impressive 9-1 record and this should be a great matchup of two teams with aspirations of a deep playoff run in the Western Conference.
This game will have no shortage of subplots as the Mavericks’ signing of Rockets’ small forward Chandler Parsons kicked of a series of verbal barbs between Dallas owner Mark Cuban and Rockets manager Daryl Morey.
On the court Dallas will be dealing with the dynamic duo of shooting guard James Harden and center Dwight Howard. The Rockets have been surprisingly good on the defensive end of the court to start the season, allowing their opponents to score the second fewest points-per-game (91.6) in the NBA. Look for both teams to come out aggressive as they try to make an early-season statement to their in-state rival.