NBA Schedule: Five Reasons The Spurs and Mavericks Deserved Coverage
When the NBA released the first installment of the 2010-2011 schedule Tuesday evening, two teams were noticeably absent: the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs.
The slate of games features the usual assortment of perennial powers and a handful of teams with new faces, including the New York Knicks and the Washington Wizards.
Upon further review, the NBA's omission of these teams seems a bit odd, especially considering both Golden State and Sacramento make cameos on Christmas and Martin Luther King Day.
Here are five reasons why the league should have given the Mavericks and the Spurs more exposure on the biggest national stage:
No. 5: Storied Franchises
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Both the Spurs and Mavericks have enjoyed considerable success in the last decade. The Spurs have won four championships in the last 11 years, while the Mavericks have won 50 games in each of the last 10 seasons.
Amidst the uncertainty in the new-look NBA, San Antonio and Dallas are safe bets. Both teams have established rotations and should get off to great starts next season.
They might not be the sexiest franchises the NBA has to offer, but they are clearly two of the best.
No. 4: Promising Young Talent
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Dallas and San Antonio have assembled a nice collection of young talent that will be fun for NBA fans to watch develop.
The Mavericks have resisted the temptation to move young Rodrigue Beaubois, who gives Mark Cuban an exciting piece to build around in the future.
Beaubois should have plenty of terrific battles with Spurs guard George Hill, who could take over the team as soon as next season if Tony Parker is dealt.
The engaging DeJuan Blair is headed for a productive NBA career, as is Mavericks rookie Dominique Jones.
No. 3: Established Star Power
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Although there are young players waiting in the wings, superstars Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki aren't anywhere close to the end of the road.
The Spurs did a terrific job of limiting Duncan's minutes last season thanks to the development of Blair and should do so again this season. The 34-year-old should be fresh at playoff time.
Nowitzki has stayed healthy for the majority of his career and hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. The Mavericks have surrounded him with an outstanding supporting cast that should lead to another All-Star caliber season.
Even though Jason Kidd and Tony Parker appear to be on the decline, both veterans are still among the more exciting and effective point guards in the NBA.
Caron Butler and Manu Ginobili provide two more players capable of playing at a high level.
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No. 2: Global Marketability
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The Spurs and Mavericks have a nice mix of young talent and established stars. They also have stockpiled plenty of talent from all over the world.
The teams have a total of eight players combined who were born outside of the United States or its protectorates. Five of those players should see significant action next season.
If the NBA is truly a global game as commissioner David Stern loves to profess, it should be well aware of catering to its global audience.
No. 1: Contenders, Not Pretenders
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Even though the Mavericks and Spurs are absent from the headlines, both teams enter the upcoming season as contenders.
They won't be considered favorites, but they will present huge problems for opponents.
The Spurs' tenacity and depth will makes them a team designed for playoff success. The Mavericks have been constructed, position-by-position, to create problems for the Lakers.
All hype aside, the Spurs and Mavericks are right in the thick of things in the quest for the 2011 NBA Championship.
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