The Smoking Cuban
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Dallas Mavericks: A look at the most talented Mavs team in the last 20 years

ByAustin Speck|
DALLAS - APRIL 22: Antawn Jamison #33 and Antoine Walker #8 of the Dallas Mavericks pose for a portrait on April 22, 2004 in Dallas, Texas. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS - APRIL 22: Antawn Jamison #33 and Antoine Walker #8 of the Dallas Mavericks pose for a portrait on April 22, 2004 in Dallas, Texas. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
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DALLAS – APRIL 2: Don Nelson, head coach of the Golden State Warriors, disputes a call with the official against the Dallas Mavericks on April 2, 2008 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS – APRIL 2: Don Nelson, head coach of the Golden State Warriors, disputes a call with the official against the Dallas Mavericks on April 2, 2008 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nellie Ball

In today’s NBA, the fast-paced high volume long ranged shots are spawned from the offensive strategy by Don Nelson. At the time Nelson wanted to outrun and focus heavily on outscoring the opponent and be a little more lax on defense.

The NBA was still in the traditional low post big man style of play. Players like Shaquille O’Neal, Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo, Marcus Camby, Vlade Divac, and others were still dominating the paint. Teams were still running their offenses through traditional big men.

For the Mavericks, the only other seven-footer with significant playing time was Shawn Bradley. Bradley was at the tail end of his career and had always struggled with bigger and stronger players than him. Even players that were nearly a foot shorter than him were putting him on a poster. Cue Tracy McGrady‘s dunk.

The shorter Danny Fortson was seen in limited playing time as a depth center. Undersized but a hoss of a player, Fortson put up multiple seasons of double-digit rebounds per game. But there was no offensive game or speed for him to get heavy minutes in Nelson’s system.

So What Exactly Happened?

For the Dallas Mavericks, the defense and paint protection was just nonexistent despite being one of the most talented teams in the league. If this team was playing in today’s NBA, it could possibly be a championship contender. In the end, this team was just way ahead of its time.

Small ball wasn’t in the mainstream yet and the chemistry was completely off. It would be interesting to see what this team could do in the modern NBA. It’s one of the greater “what if” Dallas Mavericks teams to think about.

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