NBA Dallas Mavericks

Are the Dallas Mavericks Capable of Winning It All?

Dallas Mavericks NBA contender

Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks are only three years removed from their first NBA title, but for some reason it feels like it happened more than a decade ago. The Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in six games that season thanks to strong bench play by J.J. Barea, Jason Terry and the veteran defensive leadership of Jason Kidd and Tyson Chandler.

Instead of trying to keep the team together, owner Mark Cuban was very confident in a play to snag either Dwight Howard or Deron Williams in free agency the following season, and thus elected to save the necessary cap room so that the team could make a run at them. The team let Chandler go to the New York Knicks and Barea signed a more lucrative deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ever since they won the championship, the Mavericks have struggled to come even close to the NBA Finals. They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in 2012, and missed the playoffs entirely in 2013. However, they had a bounce-back season in 2014, making the playoffs and pushing the San Antonio Spurs to their limits by forcing a Game 7. Although they eventually lost the series, many argued the Mavericks were the toughest team the Spurs played all postseason. Obviously we know how the rest of the story went for San Antonio.

The Mavericks completed a very successful offseason over the summer by stealing away Chandler Parsons from the Houston Rockets in free agency and trading back for Chandler, as well as acquiring point guard Raymond Felton and signing free agent Jameer Nelson.

It also helps when they have Dirk Nowitzki, who will probably go down as not just the most unique player to ever play in the NBA, but to ever play the sport of basketball, too. After seeing his buddy Tim Duncan win his fifth championship this past season, Nowitzki has to feel encouraged that he still has a chance to add to his decorated resume at the age of 36.

Nowitzki, Chandler and Parsons are one of the most talented front courts in the league, and a lot will depend on the older Mavericks remaining healthy. However, Chandler has been plagued with injuries during his last few seasons. When he is on the floor, he is one of the more skilled defensive big men in the game, but staying on the court has been a huge issue for him. Dallas is hoping that he can return to his 2011 form and become their defensive anchor again.

The Mavericks have to feel very confident coming into the 2014-2015 season, given their vastly-improved roster and the impressive run they had in the playoffs last season.

When it comes to the West and the favorites in the conference, many mention the Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers. But no one really mentions the Mavericks, despite the acquisition of a potential star in Parsons and the possibility that Chandler could turn into a defensive beast once again for the team.

I think Dallas has the chance to become a real threat out West, especially given that it has one of the best coaches in the league in Rick Carlisle, who worked wonders with last year’s squad. It will be a huge undertaking to make this Mavericks team a contender this year, but they should be a much better squad coming into this year, given what they accomplished over this summer.

Nowitzki is on a mission to capture at least one more championship before he calls it a career, and I would not be surprised if the Mavericks become a serious contender to win the championship this year.

Dan Schultz is an NBA sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @dschultz89. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.

Share Tweet