Dallas Mavericks Week 2 Preview

Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

If you missed what happened last week, you can catchup here

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

@ Oklahoma City Thunder (2-1), Wednesday Nov 6 @ 8:30 CT

@ Minnesota Timberwolves (3-0), Friday Nov 8 @ 7:00 CT

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

**Records reflect entering Monday Nov 4

*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 have welcomed back All-Star guard Russell Westbrook this Sunday.  It will be interesting to see how effective he will be early on. The return of Westbrook brings a sigh of relief to Kevin Durant, as the supporting cast of Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb, Serge Ibaka, and Thabo Sefolosha lacks offensive consistency and reliable. The Wolves were able to hold Durant to 13 pts in their matchup by forcing the others to beat them.  With Westbrook in the mix now it will change the dynamics of the game drastically.

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.

The field goal percentage may not show it, but Ellis has been great so far for the Mavericks.  If he, Calderon, and the rest of the team can begin to shoot to their abilities the Mavericks offense will be very potent.  The defense needs to improve, and hopefully it will from game to game.

If the Mavericks can go 3-1 this week and be 5-2 overall, they’ll have a great start early on in the season to build on to make a push for the playoffs.