2008 Dallas Mavericks Predictions & Season Preview

Written October 8, 2008 by Luke Knight

Avery Johnson was the fall guy at the end of last season for the continued woes of the Dallas Mavericks. Rick Carlisle will take his place at the coaching helm this season. The Mavericks seem to still be reeling from a painful loss to D-Wade and the Miami Heat in the 2006 finals. In 2007, a 67-win season saw the Mavericks at the top of the west again, only to be ousted from the playoffs by 8-seed Golden State, who was the first 8-seed to beat a 1-seed in NBA history in a seven game series. In 2008, Mark Cuban went after Jason Kidd, and while the team won 51 times, they were 16-13 after the trade. The Mavs fell to 7th in the west and were beaten by Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets in the first round of the playoffs. Continue reading to see if we think the Mavericks will return to the top of the west or if time is up for this organization. If you want to bet on the Mavericks to win the Western Conference Championship they are +1200 odds at BetUS. You can also check the NBA odds on our site all year long for every Mavs game.

Jason Kidd never meshed with the rest of the Mavs after coming over from New Jersey mid-season. Kidd’s numbers dropped across the board and the huge question facing the Mavs is whether Kidd is washed up or if he is still the impact player he once was. Kidd is a 9-time All-star and 3-time Olympian, competing in the Beijing Olympics over the summer. Kidd should be better for the Mavs this year, and quite frankly if he isn’t, the West is far too competitive for the Mavericks to compete without him. Kidd should gel better with the rest of the team, which is pretty much intact as far as starters go. Jose Juan Barea will be the number two slated guy here and should pick up some minutes, but if something serious were to happen to Kidd, then Jason Terry would likely shift over and return to his point guard position.

Jason Terry is at his best in the open court where he can knock down jumpers or fill the lanes. Terry is also decent on the defensive end. Assuming Jason Kidd stays healthy; Eddie Jones should pick up minutes when Terry is off the court. If Terry has to move over to the point, Eddie Jones and Jerry Stackhouse are the only real options here. Both are effective in short bursts but they are older and nowhere near as good as they once were. Defensively, the Mavericks tend to struggle due to matchup problems. Antoine Wright, who was acquired as a part of the Kidd deal, could see some time here.

Get a 50% Signup Bonus at BetUS!

Josh Howard has improved statistically each of his 5 seasons in the league. He now averages just under 20-points a game (19.9 to be exact). Howard has had his share of off-court problems, including admitting to a predisposition for smoking marijuana and getting arrested for drag racing during the summer. Howard is an appreciated player, but has not reached star-status, but the Mavericks need him to continue improving if they want to compete in the West. Jerry Stackhouse may fill the backup role here in small doses. Also look for veteran Devean George and 22-year old Gerald Green to get some minutes. Neither has been spectacular lately. Green is playing for his 4th team in 4 years and George, a part of the championship Lakers team, has not been able to transfer that success to Texas.
Dirk Nowitzki may face more pressure than any other member of this team. He is still a deadly shooter who can pound the glass, and at age 30 shows no signs of slowing down. Nowitzki also has the ability to find the open man. Nowitki’s main problems come on the defensive side of the ball, where he has not been much of a shot blocker, and gets beaten off the dribble my quicker opponents. Brandon Bass, who secured the backup position with solid play in his second season, surprised many last year after playing a minimal amount as a rookie. If the Mavs go to a quicker lineup, look for Bass to play alongside Nowitzki.

Erick Dampier is a force in the middle that can block shots, grab rebounds, and score in the paint. He sometimes gets forgotten in a lineup with Nowitzki, Howard, and Kidd, but he plays well. Desagana Diop, who went to the Nets in the Kidd deal, is back with the Mavs and will fill in when Dampier is on the bench. Nowitki will play some center when the Mavs to go their quicker lineup to get both Dirk and Bass in the game.

Final Analysis

The two stars of this team spent their summers representing their respective countries in the Beijing Olympics instead of resting and recharging for the long season ahead. It is unclear how much of an effect that will have on the 35-year-old Kidd and 30-year-old Nowitzki, but as the season drags on these players could slow down quite a bit. All that aside, the Mavs didn’t really do a whole lot to get better in a conference that could very easily leave them behind. Rick Carlisle has had success in this league and his resume is impressive, but whether he can get Kidd to mesh with the rest of his teammates. Carlisle does have a good track record with point guards, so that should help, but in the end I don’t think it will be enough. We have the Mavericks finishing 4th in the Southwest Division, behind the Hornets, Spurs, and Rockets, and ahead of the Grizzlies. Despite their low finish in the division, the Mavericks will still compete for a low playoff spot, but once again will not be a factor in the conference championship. You can bet on the Dallas Mavericks at +2200 odds to win the NBA Championship this season at BetUS.

Get more of Luke Knights NBA predictions:

Deposit Instantly Using Your Credit Card at Sportsbook.com!

Filed Under NBA