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Dallas Mavericks NBA schedule release: Mavs score 5 national TV games

By Tyler Watts

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 30: Deron Williams #8, Harrison Barnes #40 and Wesley Matthews #23 of the Dallas Mavericks huddle up during the game against the Golden State Warriors on December 30, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 30: Deron Williams #8, Harrison Barnes #40 and Wesley Matthews #23 of the Dallas Mavericks huddle up during the game against the Golden State Warriors on December 30, 2016 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Dallas Mavericks released their full regular season schedule for the upcoming season, and they only have five games on national television.

The Dallas Mavericks got their regular season schedule for the upcoming 2018-2019 season on Aug. 10.   A full PDF version of the schedule is available here.

Today, we focus in on the five national TV games on the Mavs docket and why that is too low for a team that should be significantly improved.

NOTE: Only games on ESPN, ABC, and TNT are considered national TV contests for the schedule release.  Dallas figures to play on NBA TV on at least a few occasions this season as well.

ESPN slate

The Mavs open the season with an ESPN game in Phoenix against the Suns on Oct. 17.  You can read more about this contest here.

Exactly one week later on Oct. 24, the Mavericks head to Atlanta to face the Hawks in another ESPN contest.  The top storyline is the battle of rookies that will forever link in Luka Doncic and Trae Young.  The draft night trade that saw Doncic head to Dallas and the Hawks scoop Young being the central tie.

Must Read. Mavs players who must improve for the sake of the team

Those are the only two ESPN games that Dallas plays all season.  Oddly enough, they both take place in the first eight days of the regular season.

TNT contests

Their remaining three national TV games are on TNT.  On December 13, they travel to Phoenix for the first TNT contest.  December 20 marks their second TNT game in Los Angeles against the Clippers in DeAndre Jordan’s return to face his former team.  Their final TNT contest takes place on March 14 in Denver against the Nuggets.

Home games?

The Mavericks do not have a home game on national TV all season.  If only scoring five games for the broader audience was not insult enough to have zero home tilts is the icing on the cake.

Final thoughts

The NBA regular season schedule released on Aug. 10 and the Dallas Mavericks have only five national TV games this season.

Expect the Mavs to make a significant improvement this season.  The additions of Doncic and Jordan figure to pay enormous dividends.  Their roster is a nice mix of talented youth and steady veterans.  Dallas should push for a playoff spot in the deep Western Conference this season.

Next. Predicting the Mavs entire opening night roster

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