2007 Dallas Mavericks Season Preview

2007 Dallas Mavericks preview from the Maddux Sports experts. In addition to the free seasonal outlooks we provide, Maddux offers NBA predictions against the NBA pointspread throughout the hoops season.

The Dallas Mavericks looked destined for the NBA finals last season and then they ran into an extremely pesky Golden State in the first round. This is a team that has been poised for the last few years to deliver the NBA title to Dallas but has been able to do so. Dallas fans are not happy with division titles; they want it all and nobody can blame them. This is a team that should be able to win it all.

Upfront, the Mavericks have two of the best forwards in the league—nine-year vet Dirk Nowitzki (.502 FG%, .416 3P%, .904 FT%, 8.9 RPG, 3.4 APG, 24.6 PPG) and four-season man Josh Howard (.459 FG%, .385 3P%, .827 FT%, 6.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 18.9 PPG). The seven-foot Nowitzki can be a monster player and Howard’s presence gives the Mavericks another premium frontcourt player. At center, neither DeSagana Diop (.470 FG%, .000 3P%, .558 FT%, 5.4 RPG, 0,4 APG, 2.3 PPG) nor Erick Dampier (.626 FG%, .000 3P%, .623 FT%, 7.4 RPG, 0.6 APG, 7.1 PPG) provides adequate offense or defense. This position is the weakest part of the Mavericks’ team.

Devin Harris (.492 FG%, .280 3P%, .824 FT%, 2.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 10.2 PPG) and Jason Terry (.484 FG%, .438 3P%, .804 FT%, 2.9 RPG, 5.2 APG, 16.7 PPG) should be manning the point, but both or either need to step up. Jerry Stackhouse (.428 FG%, .383 3P%, .847 FT%, 2.2 RPG, 2.8 APG, 12.0 PPG), a 12-year veteran, is a fine money player but missed 15 games in 2006- 2007. There’s certainly potential in the back, but someone needs to become the dynamic glue at the point.

This is one of the best scoring, defending and rebounding clubs in the NBA. Coach Avery Johnson knows how to get these guys to win in the regular season. But can he temper his enthusiasm for going all out in the 82-game season and save some of the team energy for the tournament? If he can’t get this team to the promised land, especially with the league’s MVP Nowitzki at the helm, then expect Johnson to be out.

If you liked the 07 Dallas Mavericks team preview read up on the rest of their Southwest Division basketball rivals like the Spurs, Grizzlies, Hornets, and Rockets.