It’s Christmas day and the Dallas Mavericks begin their quest to defend their championship. Last season was a magical ride for Dirk and friends, but can 2011-12 bring even more magic?
As Dallas starts their quest, here are some of the questions we have here at MavsMag that will be answered as the season unfolds:
- How will the team’s defense be now that Chandler is gone? Tyson got a lot of credit, rightfully so, for being the defensive anchor and guarding the rim. Will the team have the same commitment to defense without him?
- Will Dirk be hungry enough to keep improving now that he’s a champ?One of the the driving forces for Dirk since 2006 was to redeem himself after losing the Finals. Now that he’s won, will that drive still be there?
- How quickly can Lamar Odom’s role be solidified?The Mavs stole Odom for almost nothing from the Lakers, but there are some rumblings that it’s going to take some time for him to mesh with Dirk. Will Coach Carlisle be able to make that happen quickly?
Those are just a few questions about your defending champion Dallas Mavericks. What are your expectations for this season? Share in the comments.
I see the Mavs struggling A LOT on defense now that Chandler’s defensive quickness & height isn’t there to make up for Jet’s & Dirk’s defensive shortcomings. He was really good at redirecting opponents’ shots. I also think we’ll miss Stevenson’s tough & strong defensive presence. And though we didn’t have Butler for the postseason, he too was a good defender. Lamar Odom may be a good defender, but he can’t make up for the loss of 3 good defenders.
I think Dirk will still be hungry because he knows that he’s not getting any younger. Had he won it 5 years ago, he might have succumbed to some complacency, but not at this point in his career. Just look at KG, Pierce, & Allen. They certainly haven’t lost their desire to win another championship.
I’d like to see LO and Jet leading the 2nd unit. Opponents would never get a rest.