Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets Preseason Outlook

Tonight is the night!!

Okay listen, I know it’s just the preseason…but, can you remember a more anticipated preseason than this one for the Mavs? With a rebuilt roster, a new motive to win, and an abundance of media attention this offseason, its time for the Mavericks to prove their worth.

It is impossible to imagine a scenario where this game can justify all the craziness and criticism the offseason has brought us, but there are still things we can watch for that may prove to be signs of good things to come.

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I have been looking forward to this game for some time now in hopes that we will get a glimpse of what our roster may look like and, more specifically, if our bench is going to be a source of strength or a potential team downfall.

I know this is intended to be a pre-game preview but my excitement for the Mavs to hit the court has overruled my judgment on the details of the matchup so the truth is, this isn’t going to give you much insight on how the Mavericks match up against our opponent but rather just some fun things to watch for as we are finally underway.

Sorry about that.

What to Expect

This entire preseason should be dedicated strictly to rounding out our roster. It isn’t a mystery to anyone that we have upwards of 10 to 12 shoo-ins on the team that aren’t going anywhere. But that leaves a few spots up for grabs with players that are ready and determined to make their case.

Players like Jarrid Famous, Maurice Ndour, and Salah Mejri, among others, are waiting to show Coach Carlisle that they have what it takes to compete at an NBA level. Be ready to see these guys running the court, taking the ball to the hoop, and in general playing each play fast and physical.

Another player who isn’t fighting for a spot but still has something to prove is our highly anticipated rookie, Justin Anderson. Anderson is already considered one of the best draft picks the Mavs have made in team history…and we haven’t even seen him play yet. Well today that all changes and from what I have read and heard around the web, we should see plenty of him throughout the preseason.

The last player to keep an eye out for is one I am personally excited to see and that is Jeremy Evans. I wouldn’t normally pinpoint a player with such little success in the past but various reports have stated that Evans has been working out at not only the small forward and power forward positions but the center position as well. Add that on to the fact that he shot .500 (1-2) from 3 point land on Sunday at the Fan Jam scrimmage, he could be an exciting player this season.

Possible Sightings

Mar 22, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Justin Anderson (1) reacts after a basket during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

This preseason game may be our first look at the Dallas Mavericks running some small ball this year. With many young athletic players fighting for time and the Nuggets likely missing some pieces at the center position, it is safe to assume the Mavericks will try a smaller Run and Gun style lineup at some point in the game.

Another thing to watch for will be the battle of first round draft picks Justin Anderson and Emmanuel Mudiay. Although we may not get the luxury of watching the two players guard each other, it is safe to say that both these tremendous athletes will get there fair share of minutes and scoring opportunities on the court.

What Not to Expect

Although this is our first preseason game, the Nuggets have already had a chance to hit the court against another opponent, (some team in LA not named the Lakers). So using the box score from that game, the Nuggets had many players that did not get any time on the court. The most notable of these players would be Danilo Gallinari, Mike Miller, and Jusuf Nurkic.

On the Mavericks side, we can only speculate as to who won’t be participating in the game. It is expected at this point that we will be short Chandler Parsons (knee), Wesley Matthews (achilles), and JaVale McGee (leg).

Other reports I have seen included Deron Williams (calf strain), Dirk (age), and Dwight Powell (??) on the injured list as well. None of these can be confirmed but most have been retrieved from reliable sources.

Whatever the results tonight, it is exciting to finally have this lengthy offseason behind us and one more milestone passed towards the season. Keep an eye out for those new Mavericks players this evening and get excited for another season of Dallas Mavericks basketball!

Next: Justin Anderson Hype is Real

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