Dallas Mavericks Weekly Preview

Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

vs Los Angeles Lakers (1-2), Tuesday Nov 5 @ 7:30 CT

@ Oklahoma City Thunder (1-1), Wednesday Nov 6 @ 8:30 CT

@ Minnesota Timberwolves (2-0), Friday Nov 8 @ 7:00 CT

@ Milwaukee Bucks (1-2), Sat Nov 9 @ 7:30 CT 

**Records reflect up to Sunday Nov 3rd

*Random Note-The Mavericks will face 9 former Mavericks this week, 2011 Championship team players Caron Butler, Corey Brewer, and J.J. Barea, also Steve Nash, Chris Kaman, Shawne Williams, Derek Fisher,  and O.J Mayo

The Dallas Mavericks (2-1)  have a tough week ahead as they’ll face 4 games in 5 nights. The Mavericks face 3 Western Conference foes in the Lakers, Thunder, and Wolves.  Like the Mavericks the Lakers and Wolves will be fighting for a playoff spot as neither is viewed as a guaranteed lock.

The Lakers start the week and first double-header for the Mavericks.  The lone home game for the Mavericks, they’ll face a Laker squad without franchise player Kobe Bryant.  Steve Nash has been limited this season due a hamstring injury and it is to be seen how effective he’ll be if he’s able to play. The Lakers are built around Pau Gasol and role players such as Nick Young, Jodie Meeks, Steve Blake, and Xavier Henry.  It will be important for the Mavericks to not let these streaky shooters get going as they did the first game of the season against the Clippers.

The Thunder will be missing All-Star guard Russell Westbrook. Expect the Mavericks to strongly help on Kevin Durant as the Thunder lack any other reliable and consistent scorers. Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, and Serge Ibaka are the next options on offense for the Thunder, neither has shown the ability or consistency to take over games on offense.  The Wolves held Durant to 13 pts in their matchup by forcing the others to beat them.  It would be smart for the Mavericks to try the same.

The Wolves welcome the Mavericks for the start of the second double-header.  Led by a healthy Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio expect the Wolves to give the Mavericks a piece of their own medicine, as those two love to run the pick-n-pop together..  The Mavericks will also have their hands full down low with Love and Nikola Pekovic. A healthy Minnesota squad may be the Mavericks toughest competition when competing for a playoff berth.

The Mavericks end the week facing the Bucks.  This game will feature the matchup of swapped guards as O.J Mayo and Monta Ellis will be facing their former team. A game that should be an easy win for the Mavericks is made difficult due to being the 4th game in 5 nights.  It is to be seen how much gas the Mavericks will have after facing the Thunder and Wolves.

If the Mavericks can go 3-1 this week and be 5-2 overall, they will have a great start early on in the season to make a strong playoff push.