If you are a fan of the Dallas Mavericks, the 2011 championship will forever be remembered as an amazing title run. Dirk overcame the stereotype that he played soft and fortified himself as the best shooting big man in the history of the NBA.
Watching the championship banner rise into the rafters was wonderful. However, reality set in after witnessing the Golden State Warriors, led by point guard Stephen Curry, hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy this year. This means another year has passed and the Mavs are no closer to reaching the summit of the NBA’s best. With Dirk in the twilight of his basketball career, it is now or never for him to win another championship.
The 2015 Mavericks had many new faces, most notably Tyson Chandler and Chandler Parsons. These two high-profile acquisitions had Dallas surrounded with hype for a championship, but Parsons suffered an injury during the playoffs, the Mavs placed in the seventh seed and lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round. Not exactly what Dallas fans were hoping for. So how do Dirk and the Mavs reach the top again? I believe there are three conditions that must be accomplished: Acquire a big catch in free agency this summer, stay healthy throughout the year and grab a top-three seed in the playoffs.
This summer, the Mavs will be open to signing power forward LaMarcus Aldridge or center DeAndre Jordan. If the Mavs are able to obtain Jordan, they will be letting go of Dallas veteran Tyson Chandler, which is honestly an upgrade in many facets of the position. If the Mavs sign Aldridge, the roster can get very interesting. Dirk has stated that he would come off the bench for the Mavs, and since both Aldridge and Nowitzki play the same position, it makes sense that he should. There is no denying that Dirk is a champion, MVP, finals MVP, and future Hall of Famer, but it isn't 2007 anymore. He has aged and as one could see this year, he poses as a defensive matchup liability. Power forwards are more athletic and stronger than him, which causes coach Rick Carlisle strategic problems. With Dirk coming off the bench, it allows him to score without playing as many minutes, yet CONTINUES to let him be the veteran leader of the team.
The Mavericks have to stay healthy this year. Although their injuries were few, they came at terrible times. Within the later part of the year, Tyson Chandler went down with a back injury for multiple games and Rajon Rondo suffered a major concussion. The worst of these ill-timed injuries came in the playoffs when Chandler Parsons hurt his right knee that later needed surgery. If the team cannot get on the floor together, it disrupts chemistry and lowers morale.
Finally, the Mavs must make it a priority to place within the top three seeds in the Western Conference. After 68 Finals, only two teams have ever won the championship with a seed lower than three. That being said, only seven teams in history have ever won it all being a three seed, one of which being the Mavs in 2011. The higher the seed, the more likely the chance of Dirk raising the Larry O’Brien over his head. Home court advantage means so much in the NBA, and although history is meant to be broken, the odds are heavily against the road team.
If Dirk and his new friends can achieve those three goals, I believe we, the Mav’s fans, could be celebrating one more time before Dirk hangs up his jersey forever.
