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Dallas Mavericks: A Fast Start Would Be Huge

By Cole Mentzel

Oct 23, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) drives on Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Chicago defeated Dallas 103-102. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; Lincoln, NE, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) drives on Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Chicago defeated Dallas 103-102. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Dallas Mavericks will not start the season at full strength as they will be without a few key players. Injuries have been a major topic throughout training camp and the preseason and they will continue impact the team as the the regular season looms.

Chandler Parsons has gone through contact practice in the past few days but his status for opening night is uncertain. JaVale McGee has been a work in progress ever since he was signed back in August. The Mavs knew they would have to take some time to help him get back to normal since he had a leg injury last season and was waived by the 76ers in March.

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On Twitter, I asked Tim MacMahon of ESPN how soon McGee could be back to action and he told me this:

After waiving Samuel Dalembert, the Mavs will be limited at the center position. Zaza Pachulia will be the starter early on, but they will have to rely on rookie Salah Mejri and possibly Dwight Powell as backups for the first few weeks of the season.

On the bright side of things, Deron Williams and Wesley Matthews look good to go after playing against the Bulls in the preseason finale.

For the Mavs, a fast start to the season would something big to build on. The first reason why is because of how stacked the Western Conference is.

Of the 15 teams in the West, the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder are virtual locks to make the playoffs, unless something major, such as injury, hurts a team.

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All of these teams, besides the Spurs, are generally very young and have loaded benches that can give them a spark. The Mavs have to make sure they win games against the teams that they are supposed to win against. They cannot take bad losses and then expect to stay in the playoff race by simply staying near or at .500.

The second reason is that the Mavs will be getting help in the future in the form of  McGee and possibly Parsons, depending on when he comes back. McGee, if he is able to return to his explosive ways of the past would be a huge addition to the Mavs starting lineup and would give them much needed defense against the superstar centers of the West.

By getting going early, the Mavs would be able to drastically improve by gaining impact players and they would already have a good strategy down as to what combinations work and how they could fit the new players in.

The last reason is that the Mavs simply can’t get left behind. In the West, and the entire NBA for that matter, the key to making the playoffs and having success is getting ahead of the competition early.

If they allow themselves to be caught up with the bubble teams such as the Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans, they most likely won’t be able to crawl out of that spot and the final weeks of the season will take a toll on the team physically and mentally.

Overall, the key to a successful season for a Mavs team that will be facing huge odds is to open the year with confidence. Though it’s a lot easier said than done, a fast start will be critical in setting the tone for the long winter that is embodied in the NBA season.

Next: Williams, Matthews See Preseason Action

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