The Dallas Mavericks are in the driver's seat to land Cooper Flagg

 On Monday, the NBA had their Draft Lottery, which figures out the order that teams will draft. Picks 1-4 are determined by the lottery and then picks 5-14 are determined by record once the top four teams have been figured out. As you can see from the graphic above, the Dallas Mavericks won the top pick despite having 1.8% odds of doing so. The Spurs, 76ers, Hornets, Jazz, Wizards, Pelicans, Nets, Raptors, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Bulls, Hawks, and Spurs follow in that order. 

Of course, the Utah Jazz are the big losers in this given they came in with the league's worst record and had 14% odds of winning the top pick. Their strategy of tanking to get the top pick hasn't been going so good, but hey, getting the 5th overall pick still isn't a bad place to be picking all things considered. 

Going back to the Mavericks, by securing the top pick, this means they are now in the driver's seat to select Duke phenom Cooper Flagg, who is has been the consensus top pick in the draft for quite a while. Flagg had a fabulous freshman season in Durham, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game on 48.1% shooting from the field, 38.5% shooting from 3-point range, and 84.0% shooting from the foul line. Duke reached the Final Four, losing to Houston 70-67 in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament. Flagg was obviously a major reason why they went so deep. 

Assuming they do indeed select Flagg, the Mavericks will be getting a new super star talent to replace Luka Doncic, who they traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis earlier this season. Given his skills and gifts at 6'9", 205 pounds, Flagg certainly has the potential to make Mavericks fans forget about Doncic rather quickly. 

Still, there will be a lot of pressure on Flagg to deliver the goods and be the new face of the franchise. While that pressure would be there no matter where he goes, he'll be under an even bigger magnifying glass in Dallas given the recent Doncic trade. He'll immediately get compared to Doncic and given how good Doncic is, those aren't easy shoes to fill. 

It certainly will be interesting to see how Flagg does in Dallas (assuming he goes there) and where the Mavericks are five years out. One thing is certainly true: By winning the lottery, the Mavericks have an opportunity to look really smart for trading Doncic even though everybody has to know they had no crystal ball. 

NBALord.com on X (Twitter): @nba_lord 

NBALord.com on Facebook: @NBALordNation 

Ben Parker on Facebook, IG, Threads, YouTube, X (Twitter), & Blue Sky: @slamdunk406 

The Dallas Mavericks gave up on Luka Doncic

 

                                             (Credit: LM Otero/AP Photo) 

The biggest move at this year's NBA trade deadline was undoubtedly the three-way deal between the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and Utah Jazz that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Mavericks. Given that Doncic is one of the brightest young stars in the NBA, it was a shocker to the basketball world to see the Mavericks willingly trade him to a Western Conference foe. Davis will be turning 32 years old later this season and being as injury prone as he is, it's far from a guarantee that he'll produce to the level that the Mavericks want him to. Actually, on that note, Davis reportedly might need to undergo surgery to address an injury, so there ya go. 

Doncic in contrast is turning 26 years old later this season and is only in his seventh NBA season. He's arguably not even in the prime of his career yet. At least he shouldn't be. Most guys peak at the ages of 28-30. To trade one of the brightest young stars in the league before he's hit his prime can only signal one thing: The Mavericks gave up on Doncic. 

Now the obvious question is why? Why did they give up on him? They were faced with either having to give him a max deal this summer or trade him at the deadline and they chose to move him. Why? 

The word on the street is the Mavericks were worried about Doncic's conditioning and durability. When looking at his career stats, you'll see that in four of his seven seasons, he's played 61-66 regular season games. He's barely cracked 70 games once as a rookie with 71 games played and in a league that plays 82 games per regular season, you need guys who can play at least 75 games per season with a good deal of regularity. Doncic hasn't hit that mark once. And if he's not able to hit that mark, it's hard to have faith in him being able to play deep into May and June during the playoffs. Though I should note, Doncic did play in all 22 playoff games for the Mavericks last season in which they lost to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals in five games. 

Still, the questions about durability and conditioning appear valid when you look at Doncic's body of work. He's getting a lot of money to play in the NBA and when he's missing 20% of the regular season, that makes him cost a good deal amount more per game played. Of course, the irony of this trade is what I mentioned earlier which is that Anthony Davis is injured all the time. He's at least played in 75+ regular season games three times in his NBA career, but he too is frequently playing around 65 games per season if not fewer. 

Obviously, as I said, the Mavericks really didn't want to pay Doncic a max deal and just didn't have the faith that they could build a consistent title contender around him. That's pretty amazing considering that they were in the NBA Finals last season. For Doncic, this could prove to be a wake up call for him to get in better shape and take his conditioning more seriously. Or it could just plant even more seeds of doubt in his mind. It'll be interesting to see how he responds.

Note: Just want to say thank you to FeedSpot for including NBALord.com as one of the top 100 best basketball blogs in 2025! Click here to check out the full list of blogs that have made the cut. 

NBALord.com on X (Twitter): @nba_lord 

NBALord.com on Facebook: @NBALordNation 

Ben Parker on Facebook, IG, Threads, X (Twitter), & Blue Sky: @slamdunk406 

Saturday Slam: Making sense of the Clippers-Mavericks series

                                                 (Credit: Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports) 

The NBA more than any other pro sports league values home court/field advantage. But in this year's first round Western Conference series between the Los Angeles Clippers and Dallas Mavericks, home court advantage has become home court disadvantage as the road team has won the first six games. This is the first time this has happened in NBA playoff history. Game 7 will be on Sunday in Los Angeles, which I guess means the Mavericks should be favored. In this blog post, I want to quickly analyze what has happened in this series and what we can expect to happen on Sunday. 

The Mavericks won Game 1 113-103 in Los Angeles behind 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists from Luka Doncic. 21 points from Tim Hardaway, Jr. and 18 points from Dorian Finney-Smith, both of whom also start, made a difference as well as 15 points off the bench from Jalen Brunson. For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard (26 points) and Paul George (23 points) stepped up, but they didn't get enough help. As a team, the Mavericks made 17 three-pointers, while the Clippers made 11. That seemed to make a pretty big difference in the game. 

Going on to Game 2, the Mavericks once again won, though this time it was closer (127-121). Doncic exploded for 39 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists while Hardaway, Jr. (28 points & 5 assists) and Kristaps Porzingis (20 points) had big nights as well. For the Clippers, it was more of the same: A huge night from Leonard (41 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) and a double-double from George (28 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists) while not getting much help from anyone else. 18 made threes from the Mavericks and 13 made threes from the Clippers made a difference similar to Game 1. 

Game 3 went the Clippers' way as the series shifted to Dallas by a final score of 118-108. The Clippers got down 30-11 in the first quarter, but found a way to bounce back. I had pronounced them dead, but they proved me wrong.

Leonard (36 points) and George (29 points) once again had big nights, but this time it was the role guys that stepped up. Reggie Jackson's 16 points and Marcus Morris' 15 points were just what the doctor ordered. Meanwhile for the Mavericks, it was basically Luka Doncic going wild with 44 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists without much from anyone else. 

The Mavericks' three-point shooting was hot again as they made 20 threes, to the Clippers' 13, so in that vein it's a little odd they didn't win Game 3. But, the Clippers did outbound them 39-33 and also shot 57.9% from the field compared to the Mavericks' 44.2%, so three-point shooting obviously isn't everything in this series. 

In Game 4, the Clippers won big 106-81 to tie the series up 2-2. Leonard's 29 points and George's 20 points led the way. Doncic had a quiet 19 points and he was the top scorer for the Mavericks. So, this game wasn't really all that competitive. 

In Game 5, the Mavericks stole back home court, winning by a final score of 105-100. Doncic exploded for 42 points, 8 rebounds, and 14 assists while Hardaway, Jr. chipped in 20 points. Leonard didn't have his best outing as he had 20 points. George was the top performer with his 23 points and 10 rebounds. Jackson (20 points) and Morris (16 points) played pretty well, but Leonard having an off-night relative to his standards did the Clippers in. 

In Game 6, the Clippers won 104-97 to force a Game 7 as Leonard really took the team on his back with 45 points and 6 rebounds, his best performance of the series. George also had a nice night with 20 points and 13 rebounds while Jackson had a series high 25 points.  As for the Mavericks, Doncic had 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists, which is very good performance while Hardaway, Jr. had 23 points. The problem for the Mavericks is nobody else really stepped up. 

So, that's where things sit as we head into Sunday's series deciding Game 7. As far as what we can learn from the first six games, it's clear that star power is key. When Kawhi Leonard goes off and is the best player in the game, the Clippers win. When Luka Doncic is the top performer and goes off, the Mavericks win. It also seems like when those guys get going for their respective teams, their teammates feed off that and play better as a result. 

What does help Leonard is the presence of George, who for the most part has been a pretty reliable number two option. Doncic doesn't have that same number two guy who he can consistently depend on, but if there were to be such a guy on the Mavericks, it would be Hardaway, Jr. who has played pretty well this series. 

As far as my prediction is concerned, obviously anything can happen in a Game 7 and we are in uncharted waters here as it's the first Game 7 in NBA playoffs history where the road team has won every game in the series. So, it's hard to just pick the Clippers to win Game 7 because they are at home. 

That said, I do think the Clippers will win Game 7. Not because they are at home but because they are the slightly better team. If Leonard can go wild and George does his regular thing, that should be enough for the Clippers to win provided they get decent support from their role players. Doncic has to do more for his team and I think that's starting to wear on him a bit as the series goes on. But once again, anything can happen. The Mavericks winning certainly wouldn't surprise me. It's going to be fun to see how this one plays out! 

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here. 

To connect with Ben Parker, click here. 

Tomahawk Tuesday: Luka Doncic isn't Michael Jordan, but he's damn good

                                         (Credit: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) 

On Sunday, Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic finished with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in his team's 110-106 loss to the Sacramento Kings. While his team lost the game, he did surpass Michael Jordan for most consecutive games with at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists since the NBA/ABA merger. Jordan's record was 18 games and Doncic now has 19 games achieving the feat. For your reference, Oscar Robertson had 29 games of 20/5/5, but it was before the merger.

Scottie Pippen, who has turned into an apologist of sorts for his 90s Bulls teams, made a statement to TMZ about how Doncic can't be compared to Jordan because he doesn't have six rings: "He got six titles yet?!" The question Pippen was asked was whether or not he sees any of MJ's game in Doncic. It's actually a pretty fair question. Instead of giving a good response, Pippen gave one of his pompous "I'm not the GOAT, but I played with the GOAT, so that makes me more important than you and your silly question" answers. It's annoying. I understand MJ is the greatest basketball player of all-time, but that doesn't mean he can't ever be compared to anybody.

Look, it's highly unlikely that anyone will come along who matches MJ's overall impact on the sport. A major reason for that is timing. MJ came along in an era in which the NBA had most of its fan base in the United States. Thanks to him, the NBA became much more popular worldwide. No matter how good someone else is, they'll never be able to replicate that same impact. On top of that, it's highly unlikely, though not impossible, that someone else will lead a team to six NBA championships in the same decade without losing in the finals. Maybe someone will come along and win seven, but the odds of that are really low.

That isn't to say Doncic can't put his own stamp on basketball. We need to stop looking for the next Michael Jordan because there's only one Michael Jordan. We need to instead appreciate what other great players bring to the table and cherish what they're accomplishing.

While he isn't Michael Jordan, Luka Doncic is damn good. He's one of the most versatile players we've seen and he's only in his second season. So long as he keeps playing like he is, he'll make the Basketball Hall of Fame and go down as one of the greatest, if not the greatest player of his generation. As tempting as it is to compare him to those that came before him, we need to do our best to live in the present and admire what he's doing for its own sake.

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here. 

To connect with Ben Parker, click here. 

Saturday Slam: The Dallas Mavericks have been beating the pulp out of opponents

At 10-5, the Dallas Mavericks sit at 5th place in the Western Conference, having won four straight games. In their last two wins, they've handed the Golden State Warriors a 142-94 loss and the Cleveland Cavaliers a 143-101 loss. While neither of those teams are very good, your jaw still drops when you see wins that lopsided in the NBA. Especially when it's done by the same team.

In the win over the Warriors, Luka Doncic finished with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists before putting up 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 14 assists against the Cavaliers. Doncic has been on fire as of late, showing why he may one day win NBA MVP honors.

(Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

Given how crowded the Western Conference field is, it's easy to forget about the Mavericks, which is why I wanted to give them some love this week. They're playing hard, they're playing as a team, and they have one of the most exciting young players in the NBA. There's a lot to like about what they're doing right now. 

Like all young up and coming teams, the question is can the Mavericks sustain this and be a factor come playoff time. Personally, I don't see why not. In order to be a competitive team in the NBA, you need a true superstar and they definitely have one in Doncic. He may be young, but he plays like a poised veteran. He's not afraid to take big shots and he genuinely likes having that load on his shoulders. 

As we continue to march through this NBA season, keep a close eye on this Mavericks team. The ingredients to have a competitive team are definitely there. If they can somehow get a top four seed in the West, they might even win a first round series.

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here. 

To connect with Ben Parker, click here. 

Tomahawk Tuesday: Doc Rivers did a really cool thing for Dirk Nowitzki

                                         (Credit: Robert Gauthier-Los Angeles Times) 

During the closing seconds of Monday night's game against the Dallas Mavericks, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers called timeout, giving the fans in the Staples Center a chance to applaud Dirk Nowitzki, who is on his goodbye tour. Thanks to having a 121-112 cushion, Rivers was able to make this nice gesture and Nowitzki seemed to appreciate it as did the fans. While these guys are really competitive during the heat of battle, there's also a ton of mutual respect among all who have played and/or coached in the NBA. It's a very elite fraternity and moments like this remind you of that.

Thanks Doc and Clippers fans! I will always remember this https://t.co/kzVfbt5S4E

— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) February 26, 2019

If there's any guy who is deserving of such a moment, it's Dirk Nowitzki. He's a 14x NBA All-Star, 4x All-NBA First Team, 5x All-NBA Second Team, 3x All-NBA Third Team, an NBA champion, an NBA Finals MVP, and #7 on the NBA's all-time scoring list (#6 Wilt Chamberlain isn't far ahead). Nowitzki is one of the greatest players to ever step on an NBA floor and he's done it all in a very unassuming, non-flashy way. He played for the same team his entire career, never was one to demand trades, and did things the right way.

In some ways, seeing Nowitzki retire marks the end of an era. He was drafted in 1998 with the 9th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks and traded to the Mavericks that same day. He's played against John Stockton, Karl Malone, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, and many others who are either retired or soon to be retired. As a matter of fact, of that group, only Carter is still in the league. He comes from a different generation and so to watch him play is really special.

While he's part of a different generation, Nowitzki also was one of the first big men to really stretch the floor with his 3-point shooting prowess. Given how stretch bigs are much more common in today's game, Nowitzki in a way was ahead of his time. His fadeaway jumper was almost impossible to stop and when left open from 3-point range, he was death. He's unique in that he's sort of a bridge between an era where bigs played strictly in the post and the modern era where they have much more freedom to play out on the perimeter.

The NBA will be different with him gone, but his legacy will live on forever. When we think about the greatest players in NBA history, we tend to think of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and several others before we think about Dirk Nowitzki. But the truth is his name absolutely should be mentioned in the same breath as those guys. When you look at his body of work, it's clear that it measures up pretty well. I hope more people will realize this and give him the same due respect that Doc Rivers did.

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here. 

To connect with Ben Parker, click here. 

Tomahawk Tuesday: The Dallas Mavericks are back in business after getting Kristaps Porzingis

As many of you have already heard, the Dallas Mavericks acquired Kristaps Porzingis in a trade with the New York Knicks, giving their gifted rookie Luka Doncic a legitimate sidekick. Porzingis, who is rehabbing from a torn ACL, won't play again this season but so far is saying all the right things about wanting to stay in Dallas for the long-term.

Before his injury, Porzingis was an All-Star averaging 22.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. He looked like a legitimate franchise piece for the Knicks, making it surprising that the Knicks would be willing to give him up without being ensured a super star in return. While it's no slam dunk Porzingis will return to his All-Star level form, odds are good he will given the advances in modern medicine and the way in which many guys have successfully rehabbed from torn ACLs. Assuming he does, the Mavericks have a future to be really excited about.

What makes a Doncic/Porzingis combo so scary is the way in which they compliment each other so well. Doncic (20.7 points, 7.0 rebounds & 5.4 assists) has already established himself as a player who is unafraid of the big moment, willing to shoulder a franchise on his back. When you give him a big man like Porzingis that can stretch the floor and protect the rim, you make his job so much easier and allow him to play his game even more freely.

                                         (Credit: Clutchpoints.com) 

With the Dirk Nowitzki era fading into the sunset, the Mavericks have been in need of a next chapter to look forward to and now they have that chapter with Porzingis and Doncic. I don't know if it will yield another championship, but if these two guys stay together, the potential to make several deep playoff runs is definitely there. It's a bummer we won't see these guys in action together until next season, but on the flip side, that gives us something to look forward to as we look ahead to the 2019-20 season.

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here. 

To connect with Ben Parker, click here. 

NBALord.com Southwest Division Preview

Up next in my division previews is the Southwest Division, home to the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, and New Orleans Pelicans. This division once again projects to be highly competitive and very interesting. 

The Houston Rockets were a healthy Chris Paul hamstring away from reaching the NBA Finals last year and will look to finish the job this year. The addition of Carmelo Anthony is aimed at giving them more offensive potency off the bench and another veteran in the locker room. Anthony will be coming off the bench for the first time in his career and will have to adjust to this new role. 

Another key piece on this Rockets team is big man Clint Capela, who is one the most talented big men in the league. He runs the floor extremely well and is becoming a pretty versatile player, capable of scoring, rebounding, and blocking shots. With him anchoring the middle, the Rockets have one of the better front courts in the NBA. 

While Anthony and Capela will have big roles on this team, the success of the Rockets ultimately hinges on the success of James Harden and Chris Paul. When healthy, these two guys form one of the most dangerous backcourt in the NBA, capable of putting up points and making plays for others. When they're not at full strength, this team suddenly becomes very beatable. 

The key thing for Mike D'Antoni to do this year is to manage his minutes effectively and keep Paul and Harden as rested as possible for the playoffs. That won't be easy, but it's essential that he finds a way to keep these guys fresh. If he's able to do that, these guys just might reach the NBA Finals. 

It's a new era in San Antonio. Manu Ginobili has retired, Tony Parker is now with the Charlotte Hornets, and Kawhi Leonard is now a member of the Toronto Raptors. Despite these changes, the Spurs have a very talented team led by DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Rudy Gay. 

Of course the main guy to watch this year is DeRozan since he is the main new face on this team. Coming up short in the playoffs dogged him during his entire time in Toronto, so he'll be eager to show that same reputation won't follow him in San Antonio. 

I don't see the Spurs coming out of the Western Conference this year or anything along those lines, but I do expect them to make the playoffs and compete to win an opening round series. What really hurt this team last year was the drama surrounding Kawhi Leonard. With that now behind them, these guys can get back to focusing on playing Spurs basketball. I expect this renewed focus to do them a lot of good and make them a sneaky good team. 

The New Orleans Pelicans are led by double-double machine Anthony Davis, who is arguably the best player in the NBA. His 32 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 blocks in their opening night win over the Rockets speaks for itself. When you have a guy like Davis on your team, you are automatically going to be a tough team to beat every night you step on the floor. 

In addition to Davis, the Pelicans have some other talented pieces in Nikola Mirotic, Jrue Holiday, and Elfrid Payton. Holiday and Payton form a really dynamic backcourt while Mirotic is one of the better stretch forwards in the game. They're starting to put together a talented core around Davis and that should put the rest of the Western Conference on notice. 

Like every team, health will play a big factor in the success of this team. If they are able to remain relatively injury free and develop some cohesion, they should be another team vying for a playoff spot. 

With Dirk Nowitzki in the twilight years of his career, it is a new era in Dallas led by Dennis Smith, Jr., DeAndre Jordan, and rookie sensation Luka Doncic. 

Doncic will be the one to really watch on this team. There was talk of him possibly going #1 overall in the 2018 NBA Draft and many feel he's got the chance to be really special due to his unique blend of size, shooting, and play making. While I think Deandre Ayton will win rookie of the year, Doncic should put himself in the conversation. 

If there's one other guy to really focus on, it would be DeAndre Jordan, who is looking for a fresh start after spending a decade with the Los Angeles Clippers. For the first time in his career, Jordan is expected to be the top dog on an NBA team, which puts more pressure on him than ever before. I expect Jordan to have a solid season with the Mavericks, but he's not enough to make these guys competitive. 

It will be a long season in Dallas, but hopefully one where they are able to develop their young talent and start to build an identity. The future could be bright for this team, but we are at least a couple of years away from finding out what they really have. 

The Memphis Grizzlies still have their one-two punch of Mike Conley, Jr. and Marc Gasol and they added a really talented rookie power forward in Jaren Jackson, Jr. out of Michigan State. It's a bit of rebuilding situation in Memphis, but the hope is they'll be back to playoff form sooner rather than later. 

Conley is coming back from a left Achilles injury and might take a little while to get back to full strength. So long as he's not 100 percent, it will be hard for this Grizzlies team to be competitive. As good as Marc Gasol is, he can't shoulder the load all on his own. 

If the Grizzlies are going to have any success this year, they're really going to need major production from their first round pick Jaren Jackson, Jr. There are high hopes for him and with a really young roster, the opportunity for a lot of minutes are there to take advantage of. If he can have a big rookie year, the Grizzlies could exceed expectations. 

Similar to the Mavericks, this will be a year for the Grizzlies to really focus on cultivating their young talent and figuring out who they want to be a part of their franchise for the long-term future. One such example is Ivan Rabb, who got some minutes for them in the front court last year and showed some promise. If they can get a feel for Rabb's future along with their other young players, the Grizzlies will have a productive season regardless of their record. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Google Plus, click here. 

To connect with Ben Parker, click here. 

Tomahawk Tuesday: Will Nerlens Noel find a groove in Dallas?

Earlier this week, the Dallas Mavericks re-signed Nerlens Noel to a one-year, $4.1M deal after acquiring him in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers last season. Noel was the #6 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, selected by the New Orleans Pelicans and then traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Noel missed the entire 2013-14 season after recovering from a torn ACL and has since struggled to stay healthy, playing in just 51 games last season.

Before tearing his ACL, the 6'11", 228 pound forward had all the makings of an elite big man. He could run the floor, jump, etc. He was the perfect big man for the modern NBA that likes to play at a faster pace. Since the injury, he hasn't been the same and has had a very difficult time reaching his full potential.

While he hasn't become the player everyone thought he would be, Noel has still been a solid NBA player when healthy, averaging 13.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 2.0 blocks per 36 minutes. If he is able to actually log in 30+ minutes per night, he could become a really good player for this Mavericks team.

In terms of whether or not Noel finds a groove in Dallas, a lot of that comes down to whether or not he stays healthy. The Mavericks are getting him on the cheap, so this is a low risk, high reward type of signing for them. If he finds a way to stay on the court, there are good odds that he'll be a very effective player for this Mavericks team. If on the flip side, he doesn't stay healthy, he could find himself playing overseas in a year.

                                                    
                                                      (Regina/acrphoto. Click here for source)                   

Noel truly finds himself at a critical point of his NBA career. He's no longer the talented young big man that is waiting to get back on the court. He has a few years under his belt now and can no longer afford to sit on the bench like he has in past seasons. If he doesn't put it together this year, there's good reason to think he never will, making it hard to see him survive one more injury ridden season.

What Nerlens Noel does have in his favor is the fact that the Mavericks aren't very good, making it the perfect place for him to get his career back on track. He doesn't have to worry about being buried on the bench or not getting enough minutes from the coach. The minutes and opportunities will be there. It's just a matter of him not being in a suit and tie every time the team is playing.

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Google Plus, click here. 

Tomahawk Tuesday: Dirk Nowitzki joins the 30,000 career points club

                                                       (Keith Allison. Click here for source) 

On Tuesday night, Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki became the 6th player in NBA history to score 30,000+ career points in the NBA, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and Wilt Chamberlain in this exclusive club. When people mention the greatest of the greats, Nowitzki's name doesn't ever come up, but with him officially joining this elite NBA class, I think it's time we start thinking of Nowitzki as more than just a hall of fame player. He's beyond a hall of fame player. He's one of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA right along with the likes of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Bill Russell.

Hell, none of those three guys eclipsed 30,000 career points! It might feel weird to say it, but we need to come to grips with the fact that Dirk Nowitzki is a living legend that deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence as the rest of basketball royalty. His resume speaks for itself. He's 6th all-time on the NBA's all-time scoring list, the 6th member of the 30,000 point club, an NBA champion (2011), NBA Finals MVP (2011), NBA Regular Season MVP (2007), 13x NBA All-Star, 4x All-NBA First Team, 5x All-NBA Second Team, and 3x All-NBA Third Team.

In addition to his NBA accolades, Dirk Nowitzki has an impressive international competition resume with Germany as the FIBA World Cup MVP and FIBA World Cup top scorer in 2002. He's been the greatest player in the history of Germany and helped put basketball on the map in Europe. His impact on the game of basketball from a global perspective cannot be understated.

What I like most about Dirk Nowitzki is his perseverance. He never gave up. When the Mavericks blew a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA Finals and proceeded to lose in the first round of the 2007 NBA playoffs to the Golden State Warriors during his MVP season, Nowitzki could have given up on his dreams of winning an NBA championship. Doubt could have easily crept in, but Nowitzki instead used those setbacks as motivation to get better. In the end, Nowitzki was rewarded with an NBA championship in 2011 and an NBA Finals MVP to go along with it.

While it took him a while to accomplish all of the things that he has accomplished, there is little doubt now of as to where Dirk Nowitzki belongs in the history of basketball. He's one of the games' greatest players and deserves to be mentioned among the very best to every play in the NBA. His body of work says it all. In my opinion, Dirk Nowitzki has to be mentioned as a top-ten player in NBA history and maybe even a top-five player. He's been that good and it's time he gets recognized as such.

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Google Plus, click here. 

Fadeaway Friday: Yogi Ferrell is making the most of his 10-day contract

                                         (Credit: SportsCenter on Twitter.) 

Sometimes stars are born out of 10-day contracts and it appears as though Dallas Mavericks guard Yogi Ferrell, an undrafted rookie from Indiana, is on the cusp of being one of those stars. Tonight against the Portland Trail Blazers, Ferrell led the Mavericks to a 108-104 win, scoring 32 points on 9-11 shooting from three-point range. The nine three-pointers in a game is an NBA rookie record.

Tonight, Yogi Ferrell was simply in the zone. He did a good job of getting separation from defenders, swishing virtually every open look he got. He did it all in this game. He hit catch and shoot threes off screens, pull up jumpers, transition, you name it. His offensive arsenal was on full display and Portland simply didn't know how to contain him.

His performance was reminiscent of Jeremy Lin, who put on a similar display when he was claimed off of waivers by the New York Knicks in the 2011-12 season. Nobody expected Jeremy Lin to have the kind of performances that he had and similarly, nobody saw Yogi Ferrell putting up these kind of numbers in the NBA.

Going forward, all that Yogi Ferrell can do is continue to grind and continue to make the most of his 10-day contract. He's certainly playing like a guy who will stick with the Mavericks for the rest of the season, getting similar treatment as Chasson Randle (76ers) and Quincy Acy (Nets), two guys who turned 10-day contracts into multi-year deals.

While I don't think Yogi Ferrell will consistently go off for 30 points in each game, I think it is safe to say that he belongs in the NBA and will stick around in the league for several years to come. Games like tonight aren't flukes. They are the result of hard work. Yogi Ferrell has clearly put the work in to stay in the NBA and as a result, I expect him to sign a multi-year deal with the Mavericks as soon as possible.

Click here to watch highlights of Yogi Ferrell's 32 point game against Portland.

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here.  

To connect with NBA Lord on Google Plus, click here. 

Tomahawk Tuesday: The Dallas Mavericks take out the Spurs and Cavaliers

One team that has been pretty quiet this season is the 18-30 Dallas Mavericks. With Dirk Nowitzki past his prime, this team hasn't been as competitive as they've been in past seasons, but after taking out the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers in back-to-back games, maybe we should pay more attention to them.

In their 105-101 win over the Spurs, Seth Curry led the charge with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists on 4-9 shooting from the field while Harrison Barnes finished with 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. In addition to Curry and Barnes, Wesley Matthews (17 points and 7 rebounds) and Dirk Nowitzki (15 points and 10 rebounds) had solid outings as well. What made the win all the more impressive is the fact that the game was in San Antonio and the Mavericks came back from a 49-59 deficit at the half to win. Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge both played solid games for the Spurs, Leonard finishing with 24 points and 7 rebounds and Aldridge finishing with 16 points and 7 rebounds. It was probably the best game the Mavericks played all season up until that point.

I say up until that point because the very next night in Dallas, the Mavericks took out the Cleveland Cavaliers by a final score of 104-97. Even with LeBron James putting up a near triple double (23 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists), the Mavericks were able to fend off the defending champs and get the win. Harrison Barnes (24 points and 11 rebounds) and Wesley Matthews (21 points and 4 rebounds) were the top performers for the Mavericks in this game, but much like their game against the Spurs, the Mavericks got help from other players as well. Seth Curry finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while Dwight Powell finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds.

 Perhaps the most shocking contributor was Yogi Ferrell, an undrafted guard out of Indiana who is currently playing on a 10-day contract. Ferrell finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, which should guarantee he stays with the team for the rest of the season. Ferrell stepped up big time and is a major reason for why the Mavericks were able to get the win. If he is able to continue to prove his worth as a solid rotation player, the Mavericks will have hit the jackpot since they desperately need more backcourt depth with Deron Williams and J.J. Barea sidelined with injury.

Even though these wins over the Spurs and Cavaliers are only two games out of 82, they are still very noteworthy and should grab our attention. Especially since the Mavericks are only 4 games back of the 21-25 Denver Nuggets for the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Mavericks could be on the verge of turning the corner and making a serious push for that final playoff spot.

When looking at this Mavericks roster, there's no good reason to not expect them to make the playoffs. They've been dealing with injuries all season, but at full strength, these guys have the pieces to be a dangerous team. Dirk Nowitzki is a wily old veteran with some juice left while Harrison Barnes, Wesley Matthews, and Seth Curry are shaping up to be a very solid trio to build around for the future. Unless some other team starts to grab the bull by the horns and take command of the 8th spot in the Western Conference, I got my money on the Dallas Mavericks to be the team that gets it. They have the most talent of all the teams battling for it and the most experience. They just have to stay healthy and continue to play sound basketball on both ends of the floor.

To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here. 

To connect with NBA Lord on Google Plus, click here. 

Saturday Slam: Looking back on the career of DeShawn Stevenson

                                         (Credit: jazzbasketball.wordpress.com) 

Earlier this week, DeShawn Stevenson officially retired from pro basketball after having not played in the NBA since the 2012-13 season with the Atlanta Hawks. I thought that with him officially hanging up his sneakers, it would be good to reflect on his career.

When I think of DeShawn Stevenson, I still think of his early days with the Utah Jazz, who drafted him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. When the Jazz drafted him, they were hoping he would become their franchise player for the future due to his athleticism and upside.

To give you a sense of how much upside he had, NBADraft.net compared DeShawn Stevenson to Michael Jordan: "Special player. Extremely gifted athlete. Great ball handler. Very advanced shooter and scorer for his age. A showstopper. Can play the 1 or 2. Won the McDonald's High School dunk contest. Super character. As NBA ready as any HS player in his class." 

While he never lived up to the hype that NBADraft.net created, DeShawn Stevenson still had a very good NBA career. Defense became his calling card and he was more than ok with that. He didn't care that he wasn't the star of the team. He took great pride in defending at a high level and making things as tough as possible on the opposing team's star player.

DeShawn Stevenson's defense was so good that it gave LeBron James fits back when the Cleveland Cavaliers would battle the Washington Wizards in the mid-late 2000s and once again when the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. DeShawn Stevenson's defense was a major reason for why the Mavericks won that series over the Heat. His ability to defend LeBron James at a high level and get in his head gave the Mavericks a significant advantage in that series that other teams didn't have when facing the Heat.

                                         (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here  for source). 

During the 2011 NBA Finals, DeShawn Stevenson was a bit of a crazy guy and in a good way. He had a Dennis Rodman like edge to him to accompany his stellar defense, which really made him a series changer. The fact that DeShawn Stevenson could defend LeBron James so well is reason enough to say he had a great NBA career and then when you consider that he lasted for 13 seasons and picked up an NBA championship ring along the way, his career suddenly appears to be a very good one.

If there is anything that DeShawn Stevenson exemplifies it is toughness. You have to be tough to play in the NBA for 13 seasons, especially if defense is your calling card. His career averages of 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game don't do a very good job at telling the story of his career. DeShawn Stevenson at his best was a game changer on the defensive end of the floor and he took great pride in being just that. He was selfless and put his team first. He's a player who more NBA players should exemplify from the standpoint that he was totally content with doing his job in the background.

In a league where too many players are concerned with how many points they score or how many all-star teams they make, DeShawn Stevenson was worried about how many points he allowed his man to score and whether or not he was getting inside the heads of his opponents. Guys like DeShawn Stevenson are hard to come by because what they do isn't glamorous and it takes a lot of hard work.

DeShawn Stevenson showed up every night and played elite defense night in and night out. That says a lot about the kind of player he was and the amount of character he had on the basketball court. More basketball players should try to emulate that same kind of character on the floor. If they did, they too would have productive and long careers in the NBA.

Click here to connect with NBA Lord on Twitter. 

Click here to connect with NBA Lord on Facebook. 

Click here to connect with NBA Lord on Google Plus. 

Note: This blog post also appears on utahjazz406.blogspot.com. Click here to check it out. 

                 

Fadeaway Friday: Pierre Jackson is lighting it up in the D-League

One of the top players in the NBA's Developmental League right now is Pierre Jackson, a 5'11" guard who is averaging 29.1 points per game for the Texas Legends on 54.0% shooting from the field and 42.9% shooting from 3-point range. Pierre Jackson has always been able to "get buckets", but due to his lack of size, he's had a hard time sticking in the NBA. To his credit, Pierre Jackson keeps on grinding and keeps on putting up big numbers in the D-League, proving himself to be one of the top players vying for a spot in the NBA.

Hopefully the Dallas Mavericks will give him a shot sometime this season to give them some much needed off the bench scoring. Heaven knows the Mavericks need it and Pierre Jackson may be just the man to give them the off the bench scoring punch that they sorely need. He is an exciting player to watch and appears to be all the more ready to give some NBA team quality minutes off the bench.

Click here to follow NBA Lord on Twitter. 

Click here to follow NBA Lord on Facebook. 

Click here to follow NBA Lord on Google Plus. 

Saturday Slam: Should NBA championship teams boycott trips to the White House during the Trump administration?

Credit: Gage Skidmore. Click here for source. 

     Earlier this week, the Milwaukee Bucks, Dallas Mavericks, and Memphis Grizzlies all made the decision to not stay in Trump Hotels when their teams play against the Knicks and the Nets in New York.  This is a great way for these teams to protest against the Trump Administration since it is peaceful and powerful at the same time. With the NBA being such a progressive league that stands up for the rights of the LGBTQ community and stands up against any form of discrimination, one has to wonder whether or not NBA championship teams will visit the White House during a Trump administration. 

     The NBA has done a great job at using its global platform to raise awareness about environmental issues, health issues, and also issues surrounding equality and discrimination. With that in mind, the NBA would really send a message if their championship teams elected to not visit the White House during their visit(s) to DC to take on the Washington Wizards. 

     For those of you who may not understand the gravity of an NBA boycott of the White House, what needs to be understood is that as far back as I can remember, NBA championship teams have made it a tradition to visit the White House the following season. They've always made it a priority to visit the White House and give the president a jersey with his name on it. The president makes a few jokes, the players make a few jokes, they embrace, they have a good time, etc. But with the NBA being such a diverse league with players from all racial makeups, nationalities, and backgrounds, I'm not sure it's possible for NBA championship teams to have a "good time" when visiting Trump in the White House. 

     Going a step further, what message could it send to the fan base of a respective team to see Trump's name on the back of their team's jersey? Might it offend them? Might it not make them want to come to the games? Might it hurt the fan base? 

     The answer to these difficult questions is that it could and perhaps therein lies the answer. The NBA is about making all of its fans feel safe and comfortable coming to the games. If seeing their favorite players shake hands with Donald Trump makes fans feel uncomfortable or angry, maybe it is just best for NBA championship teams to skip visits to the White House during Donald Trump's administration. 

     By not visiting the White House during a Trump administration, NBA players would be sending a strong message of solidarity to their fans that are African-American, Latino, Muslim, LGBTQ, etc. I think it would let them know that they don't stand for what this administration stands for and that they themselves are not going to be idle in letting the administration set forth racist, xenophobic, islamophobic, homophobic, and anti-environment policies. NBA fans really look up to their favorite players and by boycotting trips to the White House during a Trump administration, NBA fans would see their favorite players as guys who have their back and care about making sure they don't get left behind. 

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks

                            (3) Oklahoma City Thunder (55-27) vs. (6) Dallas Mavericks (42-40)

     The Oklahoma City Thunder are the best team in the NBA that nobody is talking about. The Warriors and Spurs are getting a lot of attention and deservedly so, but lost in the shuffle is what the Thunder are doing right now. They have a very impressive record and are led by the fantastic duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant is averaging 28.2 points per game and Westbrook is averaging 23.5 points per game. As a duo, they give Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson all that they can handle. It's just that they don't have as much of a supporting cast.

     As for the Dallas Mavericks, they are still led by Dirk Nowitzki, who averages 18.3 points per game. Dirk is producing at a very high level for a player of his age and Deron Williams is actually playing pretty well, averaging 14.1 points and 5.8 assists per game. The problems for the Mavericks is that they don't have as much talent as the Thunder and to make things worse, they aren't even at full strength. Jeremy Evans is out for the season and Chandler Parsons is out for at least the series with a return in the second round of the playoffs a possibility, but nothing that can be banked on.

     The bottom line for the Thunder in this series is that if Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook both show up and produce like they've been all season, they'll win this series with little trouble. Durant and Westbrook by themselves should bury the Mavericks and then when you give them Enes Kanter, Serge Ibaka, and Dion Waiters, it's fair to ask what point the Mavericks have in even showing up to the arena.

     As for the Mavericks, they need Dirk Nowitzki to work some magic and they need his supporting cast to step up. If Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews, Raymond Felton, and David Lee all come up big every night, the Mavericks could make things interesting. However, it's highly unlikely that they do.

     Assuming miracles are rare occurrences, I have the Thunder winning this series in five games. Dirk Nowitzki will find a way to lead his team to a win on their home floor in Dallas. Beyond that, it'll be one way traffic in favor of the Thunder. Look for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to have their way in this one.

Note: Game 1 of this series in Saturday at 9:30 PM EST on ESPN.

Saturday Slam: Five possible destinations for Carlos Boozer

                                          (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source) 

     Carlos Boozer is still on the open market and he is hellbent on playing in the NBA as opposed to playing somewhere overseas. Here are five teams that I think could most benefit from his services and be a good fit for him.

#1. Utah Jazz: Carlos Boozer has a history with the Utah Jazz that is somewhat mixed but overall positive. With the team looking to make a playoff push, Boozer's offensive abilities could be a nice compliment to defensive oriented guys like Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors down low.

#2. Cleveland Cavaliers: If Tristan Thompson isn't going to take the $80M offer from the Cavaliers, the Cavaliers will suddenly have lots of money to spend. Carlos Boozer isn't nearly as good defensively as Tristan Thompson, but he is better offensively and he will demand a lot less money. If Thompson goes elsewhere and if the Cavaliers decide they want another low post threat, Carlos Boozer could be a nice addition to their team.

#3. Dallas Mavericks: The Mavericks are desperate to keep in the playoff mix and with Deron Williams already on board, adding Carlos Boozer could be nice for the sake of making Williams feel even more at home. A reunion of Williams and Boozer in Dallas could work given how well they played together in Utah.

#4. Toronto Raptors: The Raptors should feel desperate to make another move after the way things went for them in the playoffs last season. Carlos Boozer could be a good fit to give them a veteran presence and another scoring threat.

#5. Atlanta Hawks: If the price is right, Carlos Boozer would be a fantastic fit with the Hawks. He could come off the bench to give Paul Millsap and Al Horford relief inside while also providing an additional scoring threat. Plus, he already knows Millsap and Kyle Korver from Utah, so he should be able to fit right in from a team chemistry standpoint.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Saturday Slam: The Dallas Mavericks don't need to retool, they need to rebuild

     The Dallas Mavericks, who won 50 games last season and finished 7th in the Western Conference, have been one of the more consistently competitive franchises in the NBA for the past 15 years. They haven't had a losing season since the 1999-2000 season (40-42) and have won at least 50 games in 12 of the 14 full seasons since. Their consistency has been remarkable and it has paid off, resulting in one NBA championship and two trips to the NBA Finals.

     But with Dirk Nowitzki entering his 18th season in the league, Mark Cuban and the rest of the Mavericks' front office needs to recognize that now is the time for the franchise to turn a new leaf and look ahead to the post-Nowitzki era. They've had a good run and accomplished more than anybody could have expected during their 17 years with Dirk Nowitzki, but at this point, there's no juice left to squeeze from the orange. It's time for them to move on.

     I'm not saying the Mavericks need to cut ties with Dirk Nowitzki. They should let him play for them as long as he wants. He's earned that right. However, there are things they can do to ease into the post-Nowitzki era like getting rid of other veteran players in favor of younger players and draft picks. They need to tank like the 76ers, build through the draft, and find a new franchise player to build around. This isn't a process that a team can go through overnight. It takes several years for this system to pay off, so the Mavericks better get to it sooner rather than later.

     I understand that Mark Cuban doesn't want to let go of this era because it has been so fruitful. I understand that he has the desire to give it one last shot before he finally closes shop. But at the end of the day, the writing is already on the wall. The team is losing ground in the Western Conference and there is no realistic move they can make which will turn things around for them. Moves like signing Deron Williams to a two-year, $10M deal only further delay the inevitable.

     Rather than retooling, the Mavericks need to rebuild. Once the foundation of a building is gone, a new foundation needs to be laid in its place. The foundation of the Mavericks (Dirk Nowitzki) is running out of steam and the only true remedy for the situation is to begin the process of finding his new replacement through the draft.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news. Also, like my page NBA Lord Nation on Facebook. 

   

Saturday Slam: DeAndre Jordan doesn't owe the Mavericks an apology

                                             (Credit: Keith Allison. Click here for source) 

     The biggest story of the week in the NBA was DeAndre Jordan backing out of his verbal agreement with the Dallas Mavericks to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. It was a total shock since players hardly ever decommit from a team during the free agency moratorium period, a period in which players and teams can agree to deals, but not yet sign contracts.

     This year, the period was from July 1 at Midnight EST through July 9 at Midnight EST. During this time period, DeAndre Jordan agreed to a four-year contract with the Mavericks worth over $80M and then decided to change his mind and re-sign with the Clippers for approximately the same contract.

     As a result of his decision or indecision, depending on how you look at it, Clippers fans rejoiced over the news and Mavericks fans got really upset. DeAndre Jordan recognized that there would be some backlash for what he did and so he decided to smooth things over on twitter by apologizing to the Mavericks organization and their fans.

I want to publicly apologize to one of the best owners in the world @MCuban, the @DallasMavs and their fans.

— DeAndre Jordan (@deandrejordan6) July 11, 2015

I am humbled by @DallasMavs & @MCuban kindness and understanding. I am sorry to have a change of heart.

— DeAndre Jordan (@deandrejordan6) July 11, 2015

 While it was certainly a nice gesture by Jordan to apologize in the manner that he did, it was also a totally unnecessary gesture. DeAndre Jordan doesn't owe the Mavericks any apology whatsoever. The NBA is a business where players, owners, and coaches look out for themselves as individuals ahead of everybody else. All that DeAndre Jordan did was look out for himself and do the right thing at the expense of a team who he was trying to beat last season.

     The Mavericks only have themselves to blame for not being able to convince DeAndre Jordan to sign with them. At the end of the day, DeAndre Jordan realized that he had a better gig with the Clippers and he ultimately made the right decision for himself. That is all.

     If he should apologize for doing that, then every star in the NBA should apologize to the other 29 teams he chooses to not sign with. E.g. David West should apologize to the Pacers for leaving them to go to the Spurs while taking a massive pay cut. I understand that the way this all went down was sloppy and not pretty, but that doesn't mean DeAndre Jordan owes the Mavericks an apology.

     The larger question here is whether or not the free agency moratorium period should exist or not. In my opinion I'm all for it because I think it gives both teams and players more flexibility and freedom to get deals done that benefit themselves. Obviously, the Mavericks got hurt by this system, but DeAndre Jordan benefited tremendously as a result of it.

     If there is anything we learned from Mitt Romney, it is that corporations are actually NOT people. They are merely a collection of people who share a common interest or goal with the hopes of making money. The Dallas Mavericks are a corporation and DeAndre Jordan is an individual person who has a job, friends, family, and feelings.

     People are making the mistake of acting as if both DeAndre Jordan and the Dallas Mavericks are the same type of entity. They are not the same type of entity. One is a corporation and the other is an individual person. When it comes down to an individual versus a corporation in matters of doing what is best for either the corporation or the individual, we should always side with the individual and not the corporation. The end decision clearly has a bigger impact on the individual from an emotional standpoint, financial standpoint, and an overall well-being standpoint.

     DeAndre Jordan did what was best for him emotionally, financially, and what was best for his overall well-being. That alone is why he doesn't owe the Mavericks an apology. If anything, they should thank him for considering them in the first place. If he hadn't done the little dance that he did and instead agreed to a deal with the Clippers on July 1, the end result would still be the same. He would be on the Clippers and the Mavericks would be entering a period of rebuilding and retooling.

     As a matter of fact, entering such a period is what the Mavericks need to do if they want to win another NBA championship. The harsh reality for the Mavericks is that the addition of DeAndre Jordan would have only delayed them from doing something that they ultimately would have needed to do anyways. They need to look at his departure as a blessing in disguise.

     In conclusion, DeAndre Jordan doesn't owe the Dallas Mavericks an apology. He did something that was unusual and surprising, but that doesn't mean he owes the Mavericks an apology. If I eat a banana while drinking a diet soda through a long curly straw, it may be weird, but I don't need to apologize to anybody for my bizarre behavior. If some dude wants me to apologize to him because what I did in front of him traumatized him, that's his problem to deal with and not mine. If on the other hand I throw the straw at him and use it as a weapon to put a gash in his leg, then I owe him an apology because I did something illegal and also something that did him direct harm.

     The Mavericks act as if DeAndre Jordan did direct harm to them. He didn't do direct harm to them. He merely got them excited for a future that didn't actually exist in any sort of metaphysical way. The Mavericks forgot that time as far as we conceptualize it, exists only in the present and in the past. Anything in the future is purely hypothetical and subject to change pending on what happens in the present and in the past. Reality as far as we understand it, is constructed this way and the Mavericks have to deal with its sometimes unfriendly consequences.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

Western Conference Playoffs Preview: Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks

     #2 Houston Rockets (56-26) vs. #7 Dallas Mavericks (50-32): 

     The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets come into this series as division foes, having played each other four times in the regular season with the Rockets taking the season series 3-1. Both teams have had injuries to deal with, but the Mavericks are healthier at the moment. Both Mavericks guard Devin Harris (toe) and Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (knee), who were listed as questionable for Game 1, will play tonight. As for the Rockets, they are currently without point guard Patrick Beverley, center Donatas Motiejunas, and small forward K.J. McDaniels. Only Beverley has any hope of playing during this series or later on in the playoffs.

     The injury factor does help out the Mavericks a little bit, but the Rockets overall feel good on the injury front with Dwight Howard back in the lineup. James Harden has really carried this team in Howard's absence and so it is definitely huge for Harden to have Dwight Howard back on the floor. Given the overall pieces at play in this series, I still give the advantage to the Rockets despite the current injury report.

     Probably the most important battle in this entire series will be the battle between James Harden and Dirk Nowitzki. Harden is the number-two scorer in the NBA and Dirk Nowitzki is still the go-to option on this Mavericks team. This series in many ways will come down to which guy steps up better in the clutch. Harden will score more points in the series because he is asked to carry the scoring load for the Rockets whereas Dirk Nowitzki has more help thanks to Monta Ellis and Chandler Parsons. But when we get to the final few minutes of the game, all eyes will be on James Harden and Dirk Nowitzki to step up and hit clutch shots. In essence, their roles will become the same in those final few minutes and whoever performs better will likely be on the winning end of the series.

     Another key factor in this series will be Rajon Rondo and how well he plays for the Mavericks. The Mavericks acquired Rondo with the hopes of him being able to get them back to the NBA Finals and it remains to be seen whether or not he can deliver in the way that they expected him to. The jury is still out on the Rajon Rondo experiment, but so far it has been a rocky road for Rondo and the Mavericks.

     If Rondo plays well and helps them win this series, odds are good he sticks in Dallas. If the Mavericks lose and Rondo doesn't perform well, odds are good he is out. This is a whole different story in and of itself, but as it pertains to this series, Rajon Rondo is a huge piece in all of this and it's important that you be aware of his role. What Rondo was really asked to do was be a pass first point guard who could help get the ball to Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis, and Chandler Parsons for easy shots. Whether or not Rondo makes an impact in this series will largely come down to whether or not those guys score with more ease as a result of his presence.

     At the end of the day, I think the Rockets will win this series because James Harden is the best player in the series. While Stephen Curry likely wins MVP, James Harden has made a pretty strong case for himself in the MVP race and it's due to his explosive scoring (27.4 points per game). Assuming Harden scores right around his average and has a couple of games where he goes off for 35+ points, the Rockets should win this series. To put it simply, the Rockets have more ammunition and if they don't win this series it will be because their extra ammunition didn't produce. I think the Rockets will win this series in 6 games.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news