The Dallas Mavericks are a team that has been retooled so many times that it’s hard to imagine how many players have worn their uniform. When the season began, their alumni base stood at 177, but no NBA championships.
Twice, they have reached the Western Conference Finals, and twice they have failed. Head Coach Avery Johnson played on the 2003 team, a team that lost to San Antonio.
“This team has Darrell Armstrong, that team had me, so we know who wins in that area, right, ha ha ha,” Johnson says laughing.
The Mavericks are so different that except for two players, the entire team has been replaced since they lost to the Spurs in 2003. The only holdovers are Adrain Griffin, who left and came back, and Dirk Nowitzki, the only player who has been here the whole time.
So how does a team maintain its consistency and continue to win a very high level? “Well that's a great question ha ha ha,” smiles Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban. “I think Donnie Nelson, the teams President, has done a great job of drafting, we've really focused on chemistry. I mean we really learned out lesson after the Western Conference finals years there, and we've tried to get younger with guys who are open to learning and buy into the team concept. Obviously Head Coach Avery Johnson has had a huge impact.”
Bill Walton, NBA analyst for ESPN’s Television Coverage, likes what Cuban and the Mavericks are doing. “Their ability to sustain excellence over time comes directly from Mark Cuban,” he says. “His driving, challenging, demanding personality that's always in a positive, constructive and upbeat frame of mind, creates a work environment where everybody says, ’I want to be a part of the Dallas Mavericks,’ and how special is that.”
Its special because Dallas has become a consistent winner. Not only did they tie the franchise record for wins this year, but over the last six seasons, they are averaging an amazing 56.6 wins per year. Through it all, there has been one constant, and that’s Nowitzki.
“For one, they have a super star player, and I don't know that Dirk has always been truly appreciated for the sensational talent that he is, but the bottom line is that he has gotten better ever year,” says Mavericks Play By Play man Chuck Cooperstein. “Then you bring in a guy like Josh Howard. Jason Terry is not Steve Nash, but he does things differently than Steve Nash that compliment what's going on. They brought in some nice complimentary players to fill in around the star, Dirk Nowitzki.”
Jason Terry has now played in Dallas for two seasons, while Josh Howard just completed his third. In fact, eleven players are back from last year's team and that in itself is a change from previous years, filled with roster turnovers.
“Well it’s very difficult, I mean we brought in nine new players one year,” says Mavericks Assistant Coach Del Harris. “I've been here the entire Mark Cuban era, so I've seen them all come and go. “We brought in nine new ones one year, seven new ones one year, and we still won. This year, we didn't bring in that many new ones, so I think the carry over from last year, and not having that many changes, helped us a good bit.
Says Johnson, “Our team that we have assembled, we went to the semifinals last year, so we have some sense, some idea of what's going to happen. We got some new guys in that are going to play some minutes for us that haven't been to the playoffs. We have a combination of players. A lot of our competition has won Championships, and a lot of things like that, and we're trying to break through that barrier.”
“The mix just happens,” says Mavericks Forward Jerry Stackhouse. “Sometimes the mix isn't good, you can have a lot of good players on the same team, and it not be a good team, but you get that right mix. I think we've been able to have a formula, to have the right mix together. Also, there is no secret in this league. Whenever you’re changing players, your changing salaries and slots, normally determined by the caliber of player you are. So you trade a good player, normally your going to get a good player in return.”
Guard Jason Terry credits head coach Avery Johnson. “He’s Consistent, right there at the helm. I mean you look at Avery and what he's done, the coaching staff, the mentality of the players coming in, willing to do the extra things to get the job, and that's the difference.”
Walton likes what the Mavericks are about, and shares his enthusiasm. “The dream the goal, each step along the way to get incrementally better, they have done that because of Mark Cuban, because of Avery Johnson, because of Don Nelson, because of Donnie Nelson, this incredible building, the fans, its all right there, its time to throw the ball up and get down to business,” says Walton.
Of course, another reason the Mavericks have had so many changes throughout the years is that they've never been to the NBA Finals. So until that happens, the search for the right mix will continue.
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