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NBA: The Big Question Facing Every Team In 2015-16

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 20, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball as Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) defends during the first quarter at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball as Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward (20) defends during the first quarter at EnergySolutions Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 3, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) comes off the court past Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle during the game against the Boston Celtics at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Celtics 118-113. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Dallas Mavericks

Can Carlisle Save The End Of Dirk’s Career?

A quick look at the Dallas Mavericks‘ roster should tell you this isn’t a playoff team in the West. For years, the combination of a healthy Dirk Nowitzki and head coach Rick Carlisle has been good for around 50 wins and a playoff spot at the very least, but that may finally change in 2015-16.

Seriously though, to convince yourself that an injury-prone/still-recovering/overrated-based-on-reputation quintet of Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews, Chandler Parsons, Dirk Nowitzki and Zaza Pachulia can make the playoffs would require drinking an amount of Kool-Aid that would have even the Kool-Aid Man saying “OH NO!”

Missing out on DeAndre Jordan killed the Mavs, not only because their trio of centers is now Pachulia, Samuel Dalembert and JaVale McGee, but also because by the time he had reneged on his agreement, all the good free agents were gone.

Carlisle is one of the finest coaches in the league, and we all know Dirk will go down as one of the all-time greats, but at this juncture, Dallas is in for a rough year that could get even more brutal with the slightest injury setback.

Next: Denver Nuggets