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The second round of the NBA Playoffs is upon us without a usual participant: the Dallas Mavericks.
Eliminated by the New Orleans Hornets in the first round, the end of an era was effectively ushered in. The end of an era of Maverick relevancy.
Ever since the snub in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, this team has not been the same, subsequently getting humiliated and run off the court in the first round of the playoffs by the 8th seeded Golden State Warriors.
The next season started, and the Mavs were slow out the gate in a much improved Western Conference. Following the Pau Gasol blockbuster, teams entered panic mode. Brash decisions were made in a last ditch effort to gain an edge and get to the promised land.
Enter: Jason Kidd. Exit: the Mavs’ future
The move was definitely a bold one, but in case you didn’t see the team in action the second half of the year, it didn’t play out too well. The trade already had its skeptics, as Dallas gave up their future point guard, Devin Harris, in the deal.
The Mavs still made the playoffs as a seven seed and had the pleasure of being handled by the Hornets.
Cue the subsequent firing of head coach Avery Johnson, and where is this franchise?
From the top of the world at the NBA Finals to a struggling seven seed and a franchise in dismay.
My, how the mighty have fallen.
