NBA Schedule: Struggling Dallas Mavericks Up Against Dominating Los Angeles Clippers
With the addition of Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut, the Dallas Mavericks were hoping that they added enough championship experience to help Dirk Nowitzki remain competitive during his final years in the NBA. Though the two players have helped, things have not turned out as the franchise had expected because they are sitting on a 2-11 record. Things might get worse on Wednesday. The Mavericks are up against the dominant Los Angeles Clippers, as reported by ESPN.
Seth Curry tied his career-high w/ 23pts last night! Last week he joined The Post Up for Ep2 to talk about taking on the starting role. https://t.co/TYORHVh9SG
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) November 23, 2016
Dirk Nowitzki has struggled this season to stay on the basketball court. He has been hampered by an assortment of ailments. Not having your franchise player available makes it harder to win, but many in the NBA believe that even with Nowitzki around, the Dallas Mavericks would not be a serious contender. The team is in a really rough spot as they appear to be holding off on a possibly needed rebuilding period.
Injuries have also robbed the Dallas Mavericks of their depth in the back court. Devin Harris and Deron Williams have missed some games this season. Neither players are superstars, but their absence has caused head coach Rick Carlisle to find different ways of using his guards.
JJ Barea is a beloved member of the Dallas Mavericks because of his hustle and energy. The fan base loves what he brings to the table on a nightly basis. For all the heart that he displays on the basketball court, Barea might not have enough to slow down Chris Paul. The All-Star point guard is one of the hardest guys to defend, which means that the Mavericks could be in for a long night.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is considered one of the best in all of sports as players have been raving about how well that he treats people who are under contract with his team. He has been praised for being extremely loyal to Dirk Nowitzki by doing what he can to field a competitive team under the German legend decides to walk away from the NBA.
One of the players that Mark Cuban attempted to sign was DeAndre Jordan, who is considered one of the five best centers in the NBA. Unfortunately for the Dallas Mavericks, Jordan had a change of heart at the last second and decided to return to the Los Angeles Clippers in free agency. Mavericks fans will more than likely shower Jordan with some boos as his team’s current success is a reminder of what could have been in Dallas.
Andrew Bogut was acquired from the Golden State Warriors because the Dallas Mavericks needed a defensive presence on the inside. Rick Carlisle likes playing smaller lineups, so most of the time, Bogut doesn’t spend a ton of time on the court. Against someone like DeAndre Jordan, Bogut might need to play more minutes than normal.
With the absence of Dirk Nowitzki, Harrison Barnes has decided to turn himself into a star player. He has been putting up some impressive numbers since being signed to a huge free agent contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Against the Los Angeles Clippers, Barnes might be expected to have a huge game against Blake Griffin, both offensively and defensively.
Of course, even if Harrison Barnes has a career game against the Los Angeles Clippers, it might still not be enough for him to pick up a victory. The Dallas Mavericks are currently on a six-game losing streak, and that can cause negative ripples through the entire organization. The team might need the return of Dirk Nowitzki to return before they can start believing that they can win games again.
[Featured Image by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images]
