Mark Cuban refuses to let the Dallas Mavericks enter rebuilding mode.
Er…what exactly would you call this, Mark?
Asked about whether this upcoming season would be considered a rebuilding year for the Mavericks, Cuban told The Dallas Morning News rather eloquently that it wasn’t.
Oh no. Hell no. Don’t even go there. Look, there’s no template for winning in the NBA. … Dirk’s got to be healthy and he’s working hard. He’s been in the gym every single day looking great. Then we’ve got to come together as a team. We’ve got Samuel Dalembert, Monta Ellis, Wayne Ellington, DeJuan Blair. We brought in a lot of really good players and now it’s up to Coach Carlisle to make it all work together.
A few different things can be gleaned from Cuban’s latest rendition of devoted owner. First, he’s got a point. About there being no template for winning in the NBA, that is.
The Miami Heat would beg to differ, as would many of their fans, but superteams don’t necessarily pan out. And the ones that do don’t always make it as far as they should. Look at the Los Angeles Clippers last season. Or the New York Knicks. Or the Brooklyn Nets.
Then look at the Memphis Grizzlies. And Indiana Pacers. They marched their way to their respective conference finals as defensive juggernauts, not superstar-laden factions. So while superteams can be nice, outside of Miami, they aren’t everything.
Second—and I’m saying this not to stir the pot but out of genuine curiosity—it seems Rick Carlisle’s job could be on the line next year. I really mean that. Cuban appears to be operating under the notion that he’s assembled a decent team. At the very least, there are expectations. He wouldn’t say the Mavs aren’t rebuilding if there wasn’t.
Failure to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season could then cost Carlisle his job, three years removed from a championship run. Wrong? Right? If it actually happens, who knows? It will be what it will be.
Before making any drastic decisions or bold proclamations, however, I would suggest Cuban taper his expectations considerably. There’s no doubt in my mind Dirk Nowitzki looks great. If he stays healthy, he’ll continue to score 20-plus points or just play at a high level in general. I can even board the Monta Ellis train at the price Dallas paid. He’s instant offense as well.
But is a combination of Ellis, Dirk, Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, DeJuan Blair, Wayne Ellington and Devin Harris going to get the Mavs to the playoffs? In an incredibly deep Western Conference? I have my doubts.
Gun to the head, if I had to rank the Western Conference, the order would be as follows: 1) Oklahoma City Thunder, 2) San Antonio Spurs, 3) Los Angeles Clippers, 4) Golden State Warriors, 5) Memphis Grizzlies, 6) Houston Rockets, 7) Denver Nuggets, 8) Los Angeles Lakers and then 9) Dallas Mavericks. I could even argue that the New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers are in better shape than the Mavericks if the mood struck.
Unless something happens to the Lakers (Kobe Bryant stays down) and/or Timberwolves and Nuggets, I don’t see the Mavs clinching a playoff berth. So maybe they aren’t rebuilding. I doubt Cuban would lie about that. But they sure as hell aren’t contending for a championship either.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
