Why the Maverick’s winning streak is just a set-up for failure….

A dozen win streak is something to be proud of in the NBA. But when it comes to the Mavericks its just a set-up for a potential failure. We’ve seen this before, the team with the best record in the NBA a few years back getting killed by an 8-seeded Golden State Warrior team, a playoff upset that will go down in history. That’s why its appaling to me that fellow NBA fans and Dallas natives are imagining a Lakers upset in the playoffs as well. Let’s get one thing straight: the Mavericks will never be “that team” unless they return the Finals and win it all with a killer instinct.

We could be seeing the same faces for Nowitzki and Cuban again this year

Not only did the Warriors upset this team, the Heat did also. Oh wait, it was actually Dwayne Wade who single-handedly took the trophy out of the Maverick’s hands. Until the Mavs can show some sort of toughness when it counts (and the regular season doesn’t count), no one should take this streak or their game seriously. It’s a mind game with the Mavericks and it starts with Dirk Nowitzki. His complacent attitude is clearly shown when it matters the most. It still appalls me how a much smaller Stephen Jackson or Jason Richardson could toy with Nowitzki’s head in that playoff upset. The truth of the matter is that every team eventually follows their leader’s attitude. Lakers follow Kobe’s jugular instinct when it matters the most, the Cavaliers follow off of Lebron’s monstrous dunks and brute strength and the Heat play off of Wade’s quick-scoring abilities. If Nowitzki falters when it matters the most (which is often the case) then the rest of the Mavs will.

Why the Mavericks could make this year different?

Okay so after all that, there IS still a way for the Mavs to get this banana-hungry monkey off their backs. The addition of Haywood, Butler and Stevenson was more of a benefit in terms of toughness than talent in my eyes. The Mavs were already a very talented team but they lacked that integral toughness when opposing teams decided to turn it on. We’ve seen early instances where Butler’s tenacity is shown and the bench loves it. But how long can 1 to 2 players alone keep it up? Will Butler and company eventuall fall into the notorious complacent Maverick behavior? Only time can tell. But if the Mavs can adapt to Butler’s “take no prisoners” attitude this just might be the year for the Mavs.