Cuban made some very bold statements this year about how good the Mavs would be (most talented they have been in a long time and believes they are going to challenge for the championship this year.) They may be surprising some around the league . . . but many fans in Dallas are getting what they expected.
Dallas is a very good defensive team (5th in the league) and a nice offensive team - with a superstar that plays like one this year. I am not buying the idea that they are a contender, yet, but they seem to be much improved from last year (and they gave us fits last year, Dirk is a real mismatch issue for us).
I also don't know if they are contenders, but here is a quote by Cuban in the pre-season: When Mark Cuban says the team that the Dallas Maverickswill put on the floor for tonight's opener against the Wizards is more talented than his Finals squad, and Jason Terry calls the chemistry the best since he's been in Dallas, the question seems obvious: Are ticket sales really that flat? Anytime someone makes unsolicited comparisons with the best team in franchise history, you should be a little dubious about their intent. But upon further review, the claims may not be a blatant attempt at hucksterism after all. http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/dallas-mavericks-news/91678966ba27aed7f6ba92067af05270
Coaching? Dallas is 17th in SOS. Portland is 21st for Nate, who asked how hard their schedule has been.
Probably more of a "less adjustments". Their primary pieces are the same. They just upgraded the rooks etc.. Wayne Ellington (or whatever his name is) which used to be their stats expert commented why they went after their coach (too lazy to check for correct spelling here) - and commented that they noticed that he most often played his most efficient lines against them. He later commented on Portland's substitution lines and commented that they were very good as well, as far as the statistical evidence is. So...
Gooden is a good addition. Marion is though he's out right now. And Dirk's always been good. By the way, Ellis has ELEVEN turnovers right now against the Mavs.
Warriors playing 6 guys! 3 players have played the entire game...Morrow, Ellis, Radmonivic. About to win.