Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: 10 Opening Week Overreactions That Might Be Legitimate

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 11
Next
NBA
Oct 28, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Andrew Bogut (6) looks down during the second half against the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. The Rockets defeat the Mavericks 106-98. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Dallas Mavericks Will Miss The Playoffs

Ever since Rick Carlisle took over as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks in 2008-09, the general formula of “warlock head coach + healthy Dirk Nowitzki + role players = playoffs” has always held true.

The Mavs have won an NBA championship and made the playoffs in seven of those eight seasons, and the only season they didn’t, Nowitzki missed 29 games. If the first week of the new season is to be believed, the 2016-17 campaign may put that formula to the test.

To be fair, Dallas has played quality teams in their 0-3 start, losing on the road to the Indiana Pacers in overtime before dropping a home-and-away set against the Houston Rockets — both of which were played without Nowitzki (illness).

Looking even further on the bright side, Harrison Barnes has played quite well despite an alarmingly bad preseason.

Three games is a small sample size, but it appears Carlisle is working his magic yet again with a promising role player, as Barnes is averaging 20.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game on .500/.455/1.000 shooting splits.

Harry B knocked down the game-tying three to send the Mavs’ season opener to OT, and followed that up with a career-high 31 points against Houston.

Unfortunately, none of that has stopped the Mavericks from joining the Phoenix Suns, BLANK (New Orleans Pelicans and Minnesota Timberwolves) as the only winless teams in the West. In such a competitive conference, this could be the year Carlisle runs out of playoff magic.